Coordinating Minister For Political, Legal And Security Affairs Calls Susi Air Pilot Philip Mehrtens Freed In Healthy Conditions

Coordinating Minister For Political, Legal And Security Affairs Calls Susi Air Pilot Philip Mehrtens Freed In Healthy Conditions/ Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Hadi Tjahjanto revealed that Susi Air Pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens is in good health.

"We carried out a medical test, and it was declared good, and the TNI Commander, the National Police Chief, continued to monitor when they left (to Jakarta, ed.), and I was informed by the TNI Commander and the National Police Chief that Philip was in good health," said Hadi at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, Saturday night, September 21.

Hadi's statement was the answer to the second question from journalists regarding the possibility of providing information by Philip to the Indonesian Government regarding how the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) operations in Papua when held hostage for 1 year and 7 months.

Philip is a New Zealand pilot who has been held hostage by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) led by Egianus Kogoya since February 7, 2023.

For the first question, Hadi answered about the involvement of the TNI and Polri in the development process in Papua which aims to improve the welfare of the people.

"In the development process, due to the severity of the terrain, we involve the TNI and Polri to secure the development process, and the part we convey or we provide support is in areas that are considered to have disturbances, and until now we continue to carry out these activities," he said.

Philip was released on Saturday, and picked up by the Cartenz Peace Operations Task Force team in Yuguru Village, Maibarok District, Nduga Regency.

After that, the Task Force flew Philip to Timika for a health check process. After being declared healthy, Philip was flown from Timika to Jakarta by plane belonging to the Indonesian Air Force.

Currently, Philip has been handed over by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia represented by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Hadi Tjahjanto to New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia Kevin Burnett representing the New Zealand Government.