By : Marcellino Angel Krey)*
Susi Air pilot Philips Mark Mehrtens is still under the status of a hostage by the Terrorist Separatist Group (KST). However , negotiations and a peaceful approach to free Philip will continue with the involvement of many parties , including the security forces .
Please note that each case has different complexity. Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS) military observer Khairul Fahmi said that every effort must be carried out carefully, and look at the opportunities and potential obstacles.
In the context of the Susi Air pilot, Fahmi said there were several demands from KST that absolutely could not be tolerated, such as the issue of a referendum and weapons. He also said that military operations could not be carried out. This is because there are many challenges and obstacles, such as terrain, weather, as well as the impact on security and safety, both for hostages, rescue teams, and civilians. Because it could be, even though the liberation operation was successfully carried out and Philip was successfully evacuated, then KST would attack the local residents.
Therefore the rescue of the Susi Air Pilot must be carried out with careful calculations. Do not let the sake of saving 1 person, then threaten the lives of so many. Moreover, many parties want the release to be carried out peacefully, persuasively, not using violence. Because it would be risky and cause many casualties.
On a different occasion, the Kompolnas Commissioner, Poengky Indarti, highlighted the efforts of the Cartenz Damai Task Force in freeing the Susi Air pilot. He considered that the security forces worked very carefully.
Poengky said in the release of the Susi Air pilot, there needed to be cooperation between a number of parties. Moreover, the group that took hostages made Philips to support its goals, namely the independence of Papua. However, the method used by the KST led by Egianus Kogoya actually violated national and international human rights law, because taking hostage-taking was a method of violence that was not justified. Moreover, apart from taking hostages, the group also burned the plane that the New Zealand pilot was carrying.
In an effort to free Philips hostages, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ir. Joko Widodo said that the government and security forces have been carrying out various efforts until now. He also said that what had been tried and done regarding the release of the hostages could not be disclosed. Certainly the government will continue to maintain its commitment in its efforts to release the pilot from New Zealand.
Previously, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo as the National Police Chief had held Operation Paro 2023 which involved 965 personnel, where these personnel had been deployed to certain points to carry out actions. He conveyed this in the DPR Commission III working meeting with the National Police Chief in the DPR Commission III Meeting Room.
In addition, Sigit also mentioned that his party had made foreign diplomacy efforts with the New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia. New Zealand Police Attache (Atpol), Australian Federal Police, Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), as well as various other foreign figures. Where they all respect Indonesian sovereignty and condemn the hostage-taking carried out by KST.
Meanwhile, the TNI Commander, Admiral TNI Yudo Margono, said he was optimistic that Philip Mark Mehrtens would be successfully released safely. He is optimistic that the release will be carried out in a persuasive way. According to him, if the rescue was carried out by military means, the KST would not hesitate to shoot the pilot.
Yudo also explained that the release by means of a military operation also threatened the safety of the community. Because of that Yudo did not want this to happen. Therefore, Yudo will put forward persuasive methods in efforts to save Philips, namely by establishing communication with religious and community leaders, as well as the local government. He also revealed that a community leader and acting head of the Nduga Regent, Naima Gwijangge, asked the TNI to be patient and not launch military operations.
Yudo also mentioned that there was no target time to save the Susi Air pilot. He considered that the hostage-taking of Captain Philips was a different case from other cases so that rescue efforts could not be carried out in a hurry.
Meanwhile, Expert Staff Office of the President, Theofransus Litaay emphasized that the government is continuing efforts to communicate with KST groups through local government intermediaries, religious leaders and traditional leaders. He also said that the Susi Air pilot hostage had had a widespread impact, especially for the people in Papua who were waiting for the delivery of basic necessities.
Especially since the incident, many companies have not dared to send planes to the Nduga region. This is of course a particular difficulty for the government which wants to free Philips, especially since access to air transportation is becoming increasingly limited.
Negotiation efforts will continue to be carried out to free Philips from being taken hostage, these negotiations will involve many parties in order to reduce the potential for military conflict. Because it is impossible for the government to grant KST’s request to grant independence to Papua.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Kalimantan
