Timika – Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Hadi Tjahjanto emphasized that the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) led by Egianus Kogoya did not ask for compensation to free Susi Air Pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens.
Philip Mark Mehrtens is a New Zealand pilot who has been held hostage by Egianus Kogoya’s group in the mountains of Papua since February 7 2023.
“There isn’t any. They didn’t ask for anything. “We only (take) a persuasive approach,” said Hadi at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, Saturday, September 21 2024.
Hadi explained that Mehrtens’ release required a very long negotiation process, and was carried out by the Cartenz Peace Operations Task Force from the TNI-Polri.
“From time to time, from day to day, we monitor developments in the Nduga area, and we are grateful that what we want in the field can go well,” he said. However, he said that the negotiation process also involved traditional leaders, the community and the church. According to him, all parties greatly influenced the process of releasing Mehrtens.
“Imagine one year and seven months, we were negotiating, and thank God, our Task Force team, and assisted by all components, were able to complete this task well,” he explained.
Mehrtens was released on Saturday and picked up by the Cartenz Peace Operations Task Force team in Yuguru Village, Maibarok District, Nduga Regency. Then, the Task Force flew Mehrtens to Timika for a health check. After being declared healthy, Mehrtens was flown from Timika to Jakarta using an Indonesian Air Force aircraft.
Upon arrival in Jakarta, Mehrtens was handed over by the Indonesian Government, represented by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Hadi Tjahjanto, to the New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia Kevin Burnett, who represented his country’s government.
