By : Recky Rumbiak )*
The security forces from all joint personnel, all of them emphasized that they would never grant and never give a damn about how the demands put forward by KST Papua led by Egianus Kogoya were to barter Papuan independence for the release of Pilot Susi Air.
Efforts to evacuate, rescue or free the pilot of the Susi Air airline, namely Captain Philips Mark Mehrtens who was taken hostage by the Papuan Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST) led by Egianus Kogoya, are still being carried out by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) and in collaboration with various other parties.
Then, the separatist group on Earth of Cenderawasih also made a number of threats to kill the pilot who is a citizen of New Zealand. It didn’t stop there, but they also demanded a number of things from the Government of Indonesia to be fulfilled so that they would release the hostages.
Some of them are KST Papua asking for weapons supplies and also being the most important thing, they are still asking and demanding for the independence of the Land of Papua to break away from the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
However, in response to various requests that clearly violated the rules and contradicted the country’s constitutional mandate, especially the request from the group led by Egianus Kogoya who had a treacherous tone, it was clear that all of them could not be granted immediately.
The Head of the Papua Regional Police (Kapolda), Inspector General of Police (Irjen Pol), Mathius D Fakhiri emphasized that there would absolutely be no bartering of independence with the mission to free Pilot Susi Air from the hands of KST Papua.
Nevertheless, the Government as well as all security forces from the joint forces of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) do not at all want demands in the form of granting Papua’s request for independence, but efforts to free Papua Captain Philips Mark Mehrtens has continued to be carried out even since last February 2023.
It was not half-hearted, efforts to carry out the evacuation and rescue mission were carried out by many parties who were all integrated and coordinated with each other, such as the security forces and also the central government and also assisted by the Nduga Regency Government (Pemkab).
Inspector General Mathius further emphasized that KST Papua and Egianus Kogoya himself must immediately hand over Captain Philips Mark Mehrtens. Because there really was no other solution than they had to immediately release the pilot.
Regarding the demand that was put forward by Egianus Kogoya regarding the granting of independence for Papua, it is clear that the Indonesian state will never approve of this. Because everything has become the authority or sovereignty of the state. There was absolutely no offer of independence or an offer to ask for weapons and ammunition that was granted by the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.
Then, for the rescue efforts and missions themselves, so far intense communication has been continuously carried out and continues to be built with all parties. The Papua Regional Police Chief has also submitted his latest report to President Jokowi and is very strongly committed that efforts to free the Susi Air Pilot will definitely be carried out to the fullest.
In fact, since being taken hostage by KST Papua on 7 February 2023, the security forces themselves have communicated a lot and have continued to discuss many matters with the Acting (Acting) Regent of Nduga at that time, namely Namia Gwijangge, including also with the Chairperson of the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPR). DPRD) Nduga to the Kingmi Church.
The involvement of a number of parties from all elements of society has indeed also become one of the important strategies and is very well carried out by the Government of Indonesia, because of course the rescue mission for Captain Philips Mark Mehrtens will not be possible at all if it is carried out only by a few or a few parties.
Instead, in this mission, all parties must be able to help each other and carry out maximum integration or coordination with each other. This includes local community leaders, traditional leaders and religious leaders. Because basically, the government and security forces want to continue to put forward the existence of humane liberation efforts.
The humanist liberation effort itself is an approach taken in dealing with KST Papua led by Egianus Kogoya, but does not use a military or weapons approach at all, but continues to try to open up communication, dialogue and negotiation spaces as widely as possible.
The request demanded by KST Papua clearly contradicts the text of the constitution or has the tone of treason against the state, so it is clear that it will never be granted. Including how their demand for the release of Pilot Susi Air was carried out by bartering for Papuan independence.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Manado