Indonesia Takes Persuasive Approach to Free New Zealand Pilot Taken Hostage in Papua
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15 February 2023 17:20 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD asserted that the government would use a persuasive approach to free Susi Air’s New Zealand pilot Captain Philip Mehrtens who is taken hostage by the armed group West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) led by Egianus Kogoya in Paro, Nduga, Papua Pegunungan.
“The government will keep doing its best to save the hostage by adopting persuasive approaches because the priority is the hostage’s safety,” said Mahfud in a press conference broadcast via the ministry’s YouTube channel which was monitored in Jakarta, Tuesday, February 14, 2023.
However, he underlined that the government did not close the possibility to take other ways of rescuing the pilot because taking a civilian hostage cannot be accepted for any reason.
“Thus, the persuasive approach is the key guideline for the safety of the hostage, but the government does not close ways to other efforts,” Mahfud added.
The Indonesian government also kept communicating with the New Zealand government to monitor and expedite efforts to release the pilot. Papua, Mahfud emphasized, is still part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, according to both the constitution and international laws.
When asked about ransom for the release of Philip Mehrtens, Acting Regent of Nduga Namia Gwijangge claimed no such demand is issued to date by the separatist group.
ANTARA | M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH
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