TNI Commander Still Chooses Persuasive Ways To Free Pilots From KKB

TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono/ANTARA/Rolandus Nampu

TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono emphasized that he still chose a persuasive way in an effort to free Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens from being held hostage by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB).

This was conveyed by Yudo Margono after holding a meeting of top military officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at the 20th ASEAN Chief of Defense Forces Meeting (ACDFM) at Apurva Kempinski, Nusa Dua, Badung, Bali, Wednesday, June 7.

"For pilots, I have often said that we still prioritize dialogue, coordination with community leaders, religious leaders and traditional leaders as well as the Acting Regent of Nduga, we prioritize it in a persuasive way, not with military operations," he said as quoted by ANTARA.

Yudo said the reason he continued to take persuasive steps to save the Susi Air pilot was to minimize or anticipate casualties from the community.

He ensured that the rescue efforts continued without using violent means.

"We are still trying to find, of course, but it will not have a negative impact or have an impact on victims on the community," he said.

However, Yudo revealed that it was difficult to penetrate the area where the KKB took captain Philips hostage to make dialogue efforts.

According to him, it is not easy to have a dialogue with the KKB, so there is no target time when it will be completed, but his party always strives so that this persuasive step can find a bright spot.

"I don't think there is a target, but we will continue to try. Because if it is targeted how long it will take because of this dialogue or coordination, it will also be difficult to penetrate there. The agreement between these two parties is also not easy," he said.

Yudo also continued to communicate with the Acting Regent of Nduga, along with traditional leaders, community leaders and local religious leaders so that efforts to save the citizens of New Zealand did not cause any loss or casualties, especially for the people in the district around the location of the hostage-taking.

"Of course, the regent's PJ is still trying and agreeing to that and detains me from carrying out or carrying out military operations, including religious leaders, community stores as well, so that we continue to maintain the surrounding districts so that they remain conducive and the community does not evacuate because of this incident," he said.