Prabowo Appreciates The Release Of Susi Air Pilot Without Violence

The Indonesian Minister of Defense and the elected president, Prabowo Subianto at the Ri Jakarta DPR Building (doc Gerindra)

JAKARTA - Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto appreciated the release of Susi Pilot captain Philip Mark Mehrtens who was held hostage for more than a year and a half by the Free Papua Organization (OPM). Prabowo is grateful that the completion of the release was carried out without violence.

"Yes, we are grateful, of course, a good solution without violence," he said at the parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, September 25.

According to Prabowo, the approach to negotiations and dialogue in the effort to release is something important. He added that the unviolent release was the result of the cooperation of all parties.

"Unsur yang membantu, bersyukur sudah lepas. Kita selalu ingin melaksanakan pendekatan yang baik, untuk mencari jalan yang baik melalui negosiasi, negosiasi, dan sebagainya," tegas Prabowo.

It is known that Philip was held hostage by the OPM group led by Egianus Kogoya since February 7, 2023. He was held hostage after being ambushed while landing the Susi Air plane he was on in Paro, Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains.

After more than a year, Philip was finally successfully released and picked up by a joint TNI-Polri team in Yuguru Village, Maibarok District, Nduga Regency, on Saturday last week.