Timika – Deputy President (Wapres) Ma’ruf Amin stated that negotiations between the government and the armed criminal group (KKB), Egianue Kogoya, were carried out to free Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens while preventing casualties.
“It is more in the nature of negotiations, negotiations so that the hostages can be rescued. So to avoid more victims. I think that,” the Vice President explained during a working visit to inspect the green open space park in Fakfak, West Papua, Friday (14/7) .
The Vice President said that if a direct attack was carried out using military force head-on against the Egianus Kogoya group, there would be a risk of causing many casualties.
Therefore negotiations were carried out, namely through the local government together with community leaders and religious leaders.
“Yesterday the TNI Commander joined us, has also given an explanation of the plans. We are waiting to see what the results will be,” said the Vice President.
Previously, the TNI Commander, Admiral TNI Yudo Margono, said separately that his party would continue to monitor developments in the negotiation process with local governments, including traditional leaders.
Panglima Yudo emphasized that his party did not deploy troops in the release of the Susi Air pilot, because it avoided the potential for casualties, especially from the community.
