The Hostage Of Philip Mark By KKB Egianus Kogoya, Susi Pudjiastuti: Fight For Independence But Take The Rights Of Others

Former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti during a press conference in East Jakarta, Wednesday (1/3/2023). ANTARA

JAKARTA - Former Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti said that the actions of armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua to fight for independence by seizing the right to independence belonging to others were not wise. This was conveyed by Susi in response to the hostage-taking of a New Zealand citizen Susi Air pilot, Philip Mark Mehrtens, carried out by the KKB led by Egianus Kogoya. "As a personal (income) of fighting for independence by taking people's independence, of course, it is not a wise way," said Susi during a press conference in East Jakarta, Antara, Wednesday, March 1. Susi also admitted that she could not understand the actions taken by the KKB in Papua, so the impact was on the Papuan people as a whole. "For me personally what happened is something we really, really don't expect, and we can't stop thinking about it," he said. This, he said, was because the mobility of people in Papua is now difficult, because the operation of Susi Air's flight, which is often the mainstay of transportation in the mountainous area, was disrupted. "Susi Air's presence is very significant in Papua and now this incident is certainly surprising to us, sad, we also can't stop thinking about it," he said. He explained that Susi Air had served flights in Papua since 2006 with an average of 60-100 flights per day through caravan-type aircraft and porter pillatus. "From one plane, two planes, to 22 aircraft in Papua," he added. Susi said that since 2012, Susi Air has received a pioneer contract from the government with subsidies to serve pioneering routes in Papua because the existing airlines were no longer operating. "The pioneer route is a route determined by the government to fly and 65 percent subsidized by the government, so we sell only Rp250 thousand cheap tickets, some of which are paid by the government to us," he said. In addition to the disturbed mobility, Susi said that the Papuan people also lost the fulfillment of their basic rights, because the distribution of logistics was hampered by the disruption of Susi Air's flight operations. "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. As the founder/owner of the airline Susi Air, he also apologized to the Papuan people for disrupting mobility and logistics distribution as a result of the hostage-taking of pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens by the KKB led by Egianus Kogoya. "The rest, as the founder and owner of Susi Air, apologize to the Papuan People, the Regional Government, and Susi Air users in Papua, who are currently being disturbed because 70 percent of our flight porters have stopped now," said Susi. 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.