Almost A Year Of Susi Air Pilot Who was Taken Hostage By Armed Criminal Group, Egianus Kogoya Has Not Been Released

Head of the Cartenz Peace Task Force, Kombes Faizal Rahmadani. BETWEEN/HO/Satgas Damai Cartenz.

PAPUA - Kaops Peace Cartenz, Commissioner (Kombes) Faizal Rahmadani expressed hope that hostage Philip Mark Mehrtens, who works as a Susi Air pilot, could soon be released from captivity by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB).

"It is true that we hope that the hostages who are currently still being held by the KKB led by Egianus Kogoya can be released immediately considering that various efforts are being made, especially negotiations carried out by the Nduga Regional Government," said Kaops Peace Cartenz Kombes Faizal Rahmadani, quoted from Antara, Thursday, January 11.

He acknowledged that efforts to free the hostages who have been held captive since February 7, 2023 are a challenge in themselves, but with the support of all parties, it is hoped that Philip, who is a Susi Air pilot, will soon be released.

"Hopefully this hostage-taking case can be resolved properly in 2024," said Commissioner Faizal.

He explained that currently the Cartenz Peace Task Force is prioritizing law enforcement efforts against the KKB and political criminal groups (KKP) in the Land of Papua in order to maintain security stability and public order in four provinces in Papua.

Moreover, he said, the operations of the Cartenz Peace Task Force have been extended until December 2024, so that apart from carrying out law enforcement, his party also approaches and provides guidance to the community, as well as carrying out detection to support law enforcement efforts.

Faizal said the target of the operation covered the Central Papua and Mountain Papua Provinces, with a focus on nine districts, namely the Bintang Mountains, Yahukimo, Mimika, Intan Jaya, Dogiyai, Puncak, Nduga, Jaya Wijaya and Jayapura districts.