Requests For KKB Barter Pilot Susi Air Philip Mark With Firearms, Cannot Happen

Susi Air Pilot Philip Mark Merthens, a New Zealand national, is being held hostage by the KKB led by Egianus Kogoya (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The House of Representatives (DPR) assesses that the Indonesian government must not compromise with the desire of the armed criminal group (KKB) to barter the Susi Air Pilot Philip Mark with firearms and ammunition.

Member of Commission I DPR RI Muhammad Farhan emphasized that negotiations to free the Susi Air pilot who is still being held hostage by the KKB led by Egianus Kogoya must be within the framework of the sovereignty and security of the Republic of Indonesia.

According to him, the request for firearms and ammunition to be chartered or redeemed by New Zealand's Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Merthens should not be fulfilled.

"Negotiation must be within the framework of the sovereignty and security of the Republic of Indonesia. So the fulfillment of demands for independence and weapons must not be fulfilled," said Farhan, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, March 2.

For this reason, Farhan assessed that the next option that the Government should take in an effort to free hostages is rescue operations.

He said negotiations must also make the KKB led by Egianus Kogoya depressed because it has violated the pilot's human rights.

"The negotiation process must try to buy time to prepare for rescue operations so that they can be carried out properly," he said.

He also hopes that the New Zealand government and its allies, including the United States, can provide assistance to the TNI so that data regarding the whereabouts of pilots Philip Mark Merthens and the KKB who took him hostage can be known.

"Assisting the facilities and access of the TNI to their defense satellites, both geostationary and orbital, to provide complete data on the whereabouts and movement of the KKB to kidnap Susi Air pilots," said Farhan.

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.

Papua Police Chief Inspector General Fakhiri previously 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.

He emphasized that the request could not be fulfilled because it was dangerous and could interfere with security and cause casualties.

"It has been confirmed that the request will not be fulfilled," said the Papuan Police Chief.

Pilot Philip, who was carrying a Pilatus plane belonging to Susi Air, has been taken hostage by the KKB since February 7, 2023 after setting fire to the plane at the Paro airport, Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains.