JAKARTA - The founder and owner of the airline Susi Air, Susi Pudjiastuti, said that the Papuan people lost the fulfillment of their basic rights, as a result of the New Zealandese Susi Air pilot Mark Philip Mehrtens being held hostage by the armed criminal group (KKB) led by Egianus Kogoya.
The former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said that the Papuan people were disadvantaged by the distribution of logistics which included aspects of meeting basic needs being hampered due to disruption of the flight operations of Susi Air.
"From the business side, of course, this is a very big loss, but more in my opinion it is humanity, humanity, and people's rights to meet their basic needs," said Susi during a press conference at SA Residence, East Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, March 1.
In addition to basic needs, Susi said that the fulfillment of disrupted distribution also includes needs related to fuel and treatment that were originally needed by the Papuan people.
"Because we are also transporting fuel, transporting food, transporting all kinds of necessities, bringing sick people to treatment, bringing government programs for the progress of the Papuan people," he said.
Susi explained that the logistics distribution was disrupted because nearly 70 percent of the flight operations of the Susi Air type porter aircraft serving pioneering flights in Papua with a mountainous field were stopped.
"Because 70 percent of our flight porters have finally stopped now. If the projecter flies one day 30-40 flights, it means that more than 25 flights have stopped," he said.
Meanwhile, in general, almost 40 percent of the flight operations of Susi Air, a type of caravan aircraft in Papua, in general, were canceled and could not operate.
"So we apologize to myself as the owner and pioneer of Susi Air, in 2006 we entered Papua, now we can't serve anymore, of course, a lot because not one fleet has decreased with the burning of our plane. Last year we lost one, now one," he said.
In addition, he said the failure to resolve the pilot hostage-taking of Mark Philip Mehrtens has the potential to cause the high resignation of the Susi Air pilot, so that flight operations are increasingly hampered.
"Secondly, as well as the confidence between our pilots does not allow for another flight in the mountainous region and this will be very difficult. So the resignation will also be high if the completion of captain Philip also cannot be good," he added.
For this reason, Susi reminded that the hostage-taking efforts as carried out by the KKB would only cause disruption to the fulfillment of the humanitarian rights of the people in Papua.
"I hope everyone is aware that the local government, Papuan community leaders, Papuans and organizations claiming to be Free Papua are the interests of the community to get their basic needs and transportation are humanitarian rights that cannot be eliminated just like that," he added.
Previously, Monday (27/2), Pangdam XVII Cenderawasih Maj. Gen. Muhammad Saleh Mustafa stated that until now the TNI-Polri have continued to try to free the Susi Air pilot from the hands of the KKB led by Egianus Kogoya.
"KKB and its hostages always move from place to place so that until now their position cannot be known for sure," said Major General TNI Saleh to ANTARA in Wamena.
"Hopefully pilot Philip Mark Merthens can be released safely," hoped Pangdam XVII Cenderawasih Major General TNI Saleh.
Previously, the Papuan Police Chief Inspector General Pol. Fakhiri stated that the KKB led by Egianus Kogoya asked for firearms and ammunition to be chartered or exchanged for Susi Air pilots who were still being held hostage.
Pilot Philip, who brought Susi Air's Pilatus plane, has been held hostage by the KKB since Tuesday (7/2) after setting fire to the plane at Paro airport, Nduga Regency.
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