Delivery Of Army Forces To Paro Papua Looking For Susi Air Pilots Detained By The KKB

Joint personnel of the TNI and Polri are still looking for the whereabouts of the Susi Air pilot named Phillips Mark Mehrtens, a New Zealand citizen who is strongly suspected of being held hostage by the Papuan KKB. Until now, the pilot from the city of Christchurch has not been found. Army Chief of Staff (KSAD), General TNI Dudung Abdurachman stated, his party had sent TNI AD troops to Papua. "Both (the rescue of hostages and chasing the perpetrators) must be targeted. The concept that I see remains persuasive, humanist and firm towards the perpetrators," said TNI General Dudung Abdurachman after chairing the TNI AD AD 2023 Leadership Meeting at Headquarters, Central Jakarta, Friday, February 10.

Meanwhile, General TNI Dudung was reluctant to explain the troops dispatched to Papua from any unit. According to him, this is confidential. "(Which unit) It's a secret, it's not allowed. There's no need (how many personnel are sent). Troops (sent) to the Paro area, Nduga Regency, Central Papua Province," he said. Search and rescue efforts for hostages were carried out not with a specific target time. "There is no target (time), basically the sooner the better," he explained. As is known, the Susi Air plane with registration number PK-BVY which landed in Paro Air Field, Nduga Regency, Central Papua Province, was burned by an armed criminal group (KKB) on Tuesday, February 7. The KKB led by Egianus Kogoya is strongly suspected of being the perpetrator of the burning of the Susi Air plane of theisi Porter type. In addition, they are also reportedly holding Captain Phillips Mark Mehrtens as the pilot of Susi Air. In addition, the sparatist group is also said to have detained 15 puskesmas workers.