By: Yunus Korowa
The humanist approach has proven to be a key strategy in the operation to free Susi Air pilot Philip Mehrtens, who was held hostage by the Free Papua Organization (OPM) for 19 months. The Cartenz Peace Task Force 2024 prioritizes dialogic measures through a soft approach, rather than employing more aggressive military force. That success serves as evidence that an approach through peaceful means can yield real solutions amid the prolonged conflict in the Land of Cenderawasih.
Brigadier General Pol Dr. Faizal Ramadhani, as the Head of Operations for the Cartenz Peace Task Force 2024, stated that since the beginning of the operation, they have decided to prioritize a soft approach, involving religious leaders, traditional leaders, and the family of Egianus Kogoya, the leader of the Papuan separatist group responsible for the kidnapping of Philip.
The approach is taken to minimize casualties, both from the security forces, civilians, and the kidnappers themselves. The main objective of this step is to ensure the safety of Pilot Philip during the negotiation process.
The humanistic approach is not just a tactical choice, but also a moral one. The Cartenz Peace Task Force understands that the excessive use of military force in the region nicknamed the Little Paradise at the edge of Indonesia could worsen the situation.
Therefore, the important role of local community leaders is highly prioritized. An intensive dialogue with those close to Egianus Kogoya is expected to touch on the humanitarian aspects of the captors and open up more effective negotiation avenues. After a long process, on September 21, 2024, the joint TNI-Polri team that is part of the Cartenz Peace Task Force successfully rescued Philip in good health.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Public Relations Task Force for the Peace Operation Cartenz 2024, KBP Dr. Bayu Suseno, added that Pilot Philip was successfully rescued in Yuguru Village, Maibarok District, Nduga Regency, and was then flown directly to the Brimob Battalion B Headquarters in Timika.
Upon arriving in Timika, Pilot Philip immediately underwent medical mitigation to ensure his health was stable, both physically and psychologically. This step was important to ensure that the release process did not leave lasting trauma for Philip.
The quick evacuation and recovery process demonstrates how well the coordination among all levels of security forces, including the military (TNI), police (Polri), and the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), is functioning on the ground. Police Commissioner Bayu emphasized that although the hostage situation ended peacefully, vigilance must be maintained to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
Therefore, more intensive monitoring of community activities in the region must continue, especially in areas prone to conflict with separatist groups.
The success received direct appreciation from President Joko Widodo. The seventh President of Indonesia praised the performance of the military and police in carrying out operations by prioritizing negotiation and avoiding repressive actions.
According to the President, this achievement reflects how a humanistic approach can be an effective solution to resolve the crisis in the region known as the Little Paradise in Eastern Indonesia.
The President also emphasized the importance of the continued support from security forces in every development activity in Papua. This includes infrastructure development and logistics distribution, which require close supervision from the authorities to ensure that the development process runs smoothly without disruptions from separatist groups.
In addition, the President also reminded that every development effort in the region nicknamed the City of Gold must not be separated from the presence of the military and police. The protection of vital projects such as bridge construction and other public facilities must be continuously carried out, so that the people of Papua can enjoy the results of development safely and comfortably. This effort is also expected to prevent the recurrence of hostage situations like the one experienced by Pilot Philip.
The success of the liberation reflects the government’s commitment to maintaining security stability in Papua through a more humanitarian approach. This operation proves that a peaceful solution can be achieved amidst a long-standing conflict.
In addition, the active role of local community leaders and a dialogical approach offer hope that the conflicts occurring in the Land of Cenderawasih can be resolved without sacrificing lives.
The Cartenz Peace Task Force has demonstrated that a soft approach is not only an effective tactic in dealing with troublemaking groups in the region, but also a form of commitment to maintaining peace and safety for the people of Papua.
The implementation of that strategy could serve as inspiration for security operations in other conflict-prone areas in Indonesia. In the future, maintaining a balance between law enforcement and a humanistic approach will be an important challenge for security forces, especially in efforts to resolve prolonged conflicts in regions vulnerable to separatist movements.
With this strategy, it is hoped that security in the Papua region will be further maintained, allowing the local community to enjoy development without threats. The ongoing dialogue is hoped to reduce the tension in the Little Heaven that has Fallen to Earth, so that the future of this region will become brighter.
*) Senior Researcher on Papua Issues – Papua Mandiri Institute for Social and Political Studies
