By: Ferdy Mawirampakel )*
Susi Air pilot rescue mission, Capt. Phillips M, still done. The community supports this mission so that the pilot can be rescued soon and the hostage drama can end soon.
Until now, the Susi Air pilot is still being held hostage by the Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST) led by Egianus Kogoya. However, the government is not silent because the rescue mission is still ongoing. The community and other parties fully support this mission, so that the pilot will be released soon.
President Jokowi stated that the state would use all means to free the hostages. However, regarding the method taken, he was reluctant to talk much. The rescue mission is still a secret. The goal is that handling efforts are carried out perfectly and do not endanger the hostages.
In a sense, the government will continue to make efforts until Capt Phillips is released by KST. Even though the rescue mission is still a secret, it doesn’t mean the pilot is left alone. His safety will come first, although the strategy for his release was not disclosed to the public.
When the Susi Air pilot’s rescue mission was kept secret, there was a good response from the public for fear that when the method of rescue was published, it would be read by KST. They will be afraid of being found and then move from place to place so as not to be chased by the security forces. Therefore it is better to keep the rescue strategy a secret, so that it is 100% successful.
Even though the rescue mission was kept secret, it doesn’t mean that the government is hands off, because of the kidnapping incident of Capt. Phillips by KST is carried out in the territory of Indonesia. He is a foreigner but his life must be saved and kept away from the violence of KST.
The government also asked several traditional leaders and religious leaders in Papua to communicate and negotiate with KST, with the aim that they immediately release Capt. Phillips. In this way it is hoped that they will release the pilot and he can return to his country (New Zealand) safely.
Negotiations carried out by traditional leaders and religious leaders are usually successful because KST respects the elder figures in Papua. Especially if he has the same surname, then KST will comply and finally fulfill their request to release the hostage (Capt. Phillips).
Meanwhile, Kapolda Papua Inspector General Mathius D. Fahiri said there was a ransom request from KST. He said the request would be granted as long as it was not related to Papuan independence. Then, the money that was also requested would be prepared and handed over to Egianus Kogoya of origin. The hostage, who is a New Zealand national, was released and handed over to the security forces.
If they still ask for money or goods, they can still give them, as long as the hostages are released immediately. However, Papuan independence will never happen because according to international and national law, Papua is part of Indonesia. Moreover, KST misfired because the pilot was a foreign citizen, not an Indonesian citizen.
Even though the KST request was rejected, it does not mean that the government remains silent. The security forces continue to be deployed in the context of the KST eradication mission as well as hunting for their members, in order to save Capt. Phillip.
One of the KST leaders, Jefri Pagawak, is on the wanted list (DPO). Jefri’s whereabouts are known to be in Papua New Guinea (PNG). This was revealed by the Head of Peaceful Operations Cartenz 2023, Kombes Pol Faizal Ramadhani.
In addition, it is reported that the Susi Air pilot is still being held hostage by KST led by Egianus Kogoya and he is in good health. The apparatus continued to search and arrest KST until they succeeded in capturing Egianus Kogoya’s men with the initials YL. He served as a spy overseeing whether there were officers pursuing KST.
Having YL arrested is a good thing because he can be interrogated so he can confess where the KST headquarters are. He was also forced to tell the location of Capt. Phillip so that he can be found and released immediately.
KST must be dealt with firmly so that it doesn’t go around kidnapping and burning planes. What’s more, what was burned was a commercial plane, not owned by the government (a state-owned company), so it had nothing to do with the central government.
The Joint Team of Carstensz Peaceful Operations continues to search the Nduga area and its surroundings and they are determined to find the KST headquarters, which is suspected to be the hiding place of Egianus Kogoya cs.
When later meeting with the KST, the apparatus is allowed to take decisive, measurable action. The reason is because they are terrorists who have the heart to burn planes and kidnap passengers and pilots ruthlessly. Only with firm action can KST be eradicated and it will not repeat its crimes.
President Jokowi is trying various ways so that the Susi Air pilot who was kidnapped by KST is immediately released. The strategy is still kept secret, but the public need not worry because the pilot’s safety will always be prioritized. Meanwhile, the security forces continued to hunt down KST to get caught and provide information on where Capt. Phillips is hidden. The authorities are also still negotiating so that the hostage-taking will end soon.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Medan
