Susi Air Pilot Still Accompanied By KKB, Papua Police Chief: Efforts Continue To Be Made But Special Budget Additions Don't Exist

Susi Air pilot Documentation, Philip Mark Mehrtens, which has been supporting the KKB since 7 February. BETWEEN/HO

JAYAPURA - It has been almost eight months since the pilot Susi Air, Philip Mark Mehrtens, arrested the KKB. Papua Police Chief Inspector General Pol Mathius Fakhiri ensured that no special budget from the National Police Headquarters was allocated to free Susi Air's pilot, who is still being held hostage by the KKB led by Egianus Kogoya.

It is true that the National Police Headquarters did not allocate special funds to finance personnel involved in the effort to release New Zealand hostages.

"Personnel who are indeed from the Cartenz Peace Task Force who are assisted by units from the Resort Police so that funding continues to use funds that are indeed allocated to the task force and there are no additions," said Fakhiri.

Admittedly, efforts to free the hostages who work as pilots in Susi Air are still being carried out.

Various efforts have indeed been made, especially negotiating with the KKB which involves various parties, including religious leaders, the community, family and the Nduga Regional Government.

"Until now, negotiations have continued and hope that the group will release its hostages," Fakhiri hoped.

The Papuan Police Chief whose duties include four provinces, namely Papua, South Papua, Papua Mountains and Central Papua, admitted that currently, Phillip Mehrtens' hostages have been held hostage by the KKB for more than seven months since the group led by Egianus Kogoya burned the plane he was driving shortly after landing in Paro, Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains.

"From the reports received, the hostages are in good condition and hope that these conditions are true," Fakhiri said as quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, September 16.