Hostage-taker Demands Release of Papua After Kidnapping Pilot and Passengers of Susi Air

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - After taking hostage the pilot and passengers of the Susi Air plane, the leadership of the West Papua National Liberation Army Forces-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) made demands on the Government of Indonesia. In one of their demands, the TPNPB-OPM led by Egianus Kagoya demanded Indonesia to let go of Papua region.

"We, TPNPB Kodap III Ndugama-Derakma, will not release the pilot we are holding hostage, unless the Unitary Republic of Indonesia recognizes and releases us from the colonial state of Indonesia (independent Papua)," said TPNPB-OPM spokesman Sebby Sambon quoting Kogoya's statement, Tuesday, February 7, 2023.

Sebby through his written statement also demanded that the Government of Indonesia immediately close all incoming flights to Nduga Regency. He also conveyed demands that TNI-Polri members to not shoot or interrogate Nduga civilians.

Apart from that, they also demanded that the construction that had been carried out by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on Ndugama land be completely stopped. If development activities are still found, said Sebby, they will threaten to wipe out all existing developments.

In his official report, Egianus claimed that his troops had taken the pilot of the Susi Air plane hostage. It is known that this is the second time that a similar incident was carried out by TPNPB-OPM since the Lorenz Team in 1996 in Mapnduma. "The pilot had been taken hostage and we are on the way out," said Egianus in his report.

Not only holding a pilot and five passengers hostage, Sebby said that Egianus' troops also burned a Susi Air plane with registration number PK-BVY at the airfield in Paro district, Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains. The plane flew from Mimima to Paro district at 06:26 WIT. "TPNPB troops succeeded in burning it," said Sambom.

In order to thoroughly investigate this case, National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo said the Peaceful Carstensz Operation team in Papua would be deployed to rescue the pilot and passengers of the Susi Air plane who were being held hostage.

"We are a joint team from Operation Peaceful Carstensz currently carrying out a search operation. We will inform you about the results," said National Police Chief General Sigit in a press conference, as quoted from the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel, Tuesday, 7 February 2023.

HARIS SETYAWAN

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