JAKARTA - Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto ensured that his party would continue to monitor the development of arson events to the hostage-taking of Susi Air pilots in Nduga, Papua Mountains. Especially related to the rescue and search for the whereabouts of a Susi Air pilot named Phillips Mark Mehrtens.
"We will continue to follow developments," Prabowo told reporters at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Saturday, February 11. Prabowo said that currently Kodam personnel until the local Police continue to try to save the pilot. "Later I think the Kodam, Polda are handling it. We'll see the progress," said Prabowo.
Previously, joint TNI and Polri personnel were still looking for the whereabouts of a 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 that his party had sent Indonesian Army troops to Papua.
"Both (the rescue of the 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 2023 Leadership Meeting (Rapim) at Headquarters, Central Jakarta, Friday, February 10.
Meanwhile, General TNI Dudung was reluctant to explain which troops were 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). Troops (sent) to be in the Paro area, Nduga Regency, Central Papua Province," he said.
The search and rescue efforts for the hostages were carried out not with a specific target time.
"There is no target (time), the main thing is that the sooner the better," he explained.
As is known, the Susi Air plane with registration number PK-BVY which landed at Paro Airfield, Nduga Regency, Central Papua Province, was set on fire by an armed criminal group (KKB) last Tuesday, February 7. The KKB led by Egianus Kogoya is strongly suspected of being the perpetrator of the burning of the Susi Air aircraft of the type of Bead Porter.
In addition, they are also reportedly holding Captain Phillips Mark Mehrtens as a pilot for Susi Air. In addition, the sparatist group is also said to have detained 15 health center workers.
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