Papua- Spokesperson for the National Command (Komnas) of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) Sebby Sambom was furious at the release of Pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens who was being held hostage by Egianus Kogoya, leader of the TPNPB Regional Defense Command (Kodap) Nduga.
Sebby revealed that the pilot release process was not in accordance with the proposal issued by Komnas TPNPB.
“On August 20 2024, Commander Egianus Kogoya made a video call with the spokesperson for Komnas TPNPB, Mr. Sebby Sambom, at which time Commander Egianus said that if the spokesperson and the team can pick up the pilot, please immediately issue a proposal and (the pilot) will arrive,” he said.
“So we (Komnas TPNPB) have done according to his request by issuing a proposal and even sending a letter to the UN Secretary General asking for facilitation,” he said.
According to Sebby, the New Zealand Government has approved the proposal they put forward and is waiting for a response from the Indonesian Government. Sebby even admitted that all parties related to transmission from abroad support the proposal.
“We have built all high-level communication networks as well as diplomacy through our facilitators from Asia, Europe, America, Australia and New Zealand, we have done everything,” he said.
However, Sebby admitted that he was surprised by the steps taken by Egianus Kogoya and his group to free the pilot.
“It is surprising that Egianus and his group created Komnas TPNPB which was tasked with working hard day and night, we consider this to be sustainable,” he stressed.
Sebby even said that Egianus Kogeya and his group, who had been claiming to be members of the TPNPB, accepted it because they had handed over the pilot.
“On September 21 2024, Egianus proved that they were a group in disguise, they surrendered themselves to the TNI-Polri by handing over the pilot to them (TNI-Polri), which means they submitted to the TNI-Polri, which we consider the enemy,” he stressed.
Sebby even sent Egianus and his group, handing over the pilot through his family who were negotiators or deal givers, receiving bribes from the Indonesian government.
“We concluded that they had received bribes from Indonesia, frankly we want to prove it, but we have the quality, that will be true,” he said.
