By : Alfred Jigibalom )*
The Indonesian security forces are trying to prevent the public from becoming victims in efforts to secure and rescue the Susi Air Pilot from being held hostage by the Papuan Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST). Therefore, they make efforts with a persuasive approach so that the situation can be safe, under control and remain conducive.
High appreciation should be given to the Security Forces who have succeeded in arresting members of the Papuan Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST) Yomce Lokbere on Wednesday (5/4). He was one of the perpetrators of the burning of a Susi Air plane in Paro, Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains some time ago. Not only that, not only burning the plane, Yomce and his group of terrorists even took the Susi Air pilot hostage.
Regarding the hostage-taking, the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security (Menko Polhukam), Mahfud MD admitted that indeed the pilot from Susi Air PK-BVY, namely Captain Philips Max Mehrtens had been taken hostage by KST Papua. In fact, he also stated that until now the pilot with New Zealand citizenship had not been released.
Furthermore, Coordinating Minister Mahfud admitted that until now, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) has also continued to make every effort to be able to save the pilot. Then, the pattern of approach taken by the government in the rescue effort is persuasive.
The Government of Indonesia also continues to establish communication with the government of New Zealand. Mahfud MD then emphasized that indeed the taking of civilians as hostages could not be justified for any reason. Despite using a persuasive approach, the Government of Indonesia also does not rule out other efforts.
In addition, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs also revealed that Papua itself is still a legal part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), both constitutionally and under international law.
Meanwhile, the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), Admiral Yudo Margono emphasized that there was absolutely no deadline for rescuing the Susi Air Pilot. It is known that it has been 2 (two) months that the pilot is still being held hostage by the Papuan Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST).
Next, Admiral Yudo Margono explained the reasons behind why the operation to free the Susi Air pilot had no deadline at all. According to him, the hostage-taking was completely different from other hostage-takings, because one of the factors was the location.
He emphasized that the joint team is still carrying out various methods, including a persuasive approach to be able to save the Susi Air Pilot, Captain Phillips Max Mehrtens who has been held hostage by KST Papua since February 2023.
The TNI Commander emphasized that his party was still carrying out its duties to be able to carry out the release and use a persuasive approach. This approach was also assisted by collaborating with several other parties such as religious leaders, community leaders to the Regent of Nduga to be able to do it persuasively.
Although, he continued, the TNI could have carried out a rescue by military means, given the large number of TNI soldiers owned by the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and complete war equipment. However, this military method carries enormous risks.
How could it not be, because if the TNI carried out a rescue using military operations and did not use a persuasive approach, then it would have the potential to cause victims, namely civilians who were completely innocent. In fact, on the other hand, the military forces owned by the Republic of Indonesia have complete equipment and also have many professional soldiers.
Moreover, from the intelligence operations that had been carried out, it turned out that Admiral Yudo Margono found there was a discourse that if his party used military operations, then there was talk that revealed that KST Papua did not hesitate at all to shoot and kill TNI soldiers. Apart from that, he also minimized accusations later if it turned out later that there were accusations that the TNI actually killed the pilot.
So it is very clear, KST Papua is using the hostages as a tool to threaten the Indonesian security forces so that if they use military operations, they will absolutely not hesitate to directly kill the Susi Air Pilot. Meanwhile, the TNI Commander did not want this to happen at all.
Even though he did not use military operations and continued to use a persuasive approach, he emphasized and ensured that the TNI would continue to make efforts to release them in a safe, conducive manner so that no civilians would be affected at all. Furthermore, the TNI Commander also emphasized that his party already knew the position where the Susi Air Pilot was being held hostage by KST Papua.
Thus, the entire process of securing and rescuing Pilot Susi Air who was taken hostage by KST Papua continues to be carried out using a persuasive approach by security forces in Indonesia. This is because the security forces really want to prevent innocent civilians from being affected and victims.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Bali
