Palace Clarifies Jokowi Yet to Declare Civil Emergency in Papua

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy V of the Presidential Staff Office, Jaleswari Pramodhawardhani, stated that the government has not yet declared a civil emergency in Papua, following the hostage-taking of Susi Air pilot Captain Philip Marten by the West Papua National Liberation Army Forces-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM). According to her, the emergency status could only be determined by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

“Until now, there has been no declaration of civil emergency by the President in the Papua region,” said Jaleswari in a statement, Tuesday, February 14, 2023.

She explained that determining a state of emergency requires a formal-procedural mechanism regulated by prevailing laws and regulations. However, until now, her side has not received any information about the President’s decision regarding the situation.

“On this basis, steps taken to prosecute the KKB (armed criminal group) still refer to measurable law enforcement measures and by the applicable laws and regulations,” said Jaleswari.

On Friday, February 10, 2023, the House Deputy Speaker for Political and Security Affairs Lodewijk Paulus said Papua was under a state of civil emergency due to the hostage of the New Zealand citizen Susi Air pilot in Nduga.

Thus, Lodewijk said the regional head or governor must be responsible for resolving this case of Susi Air's plane hijacking and hostage, and that law enforcement officials must be deployed to launch a thorough investigation.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH

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