Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force Denies Dropping Bombs in Nduga
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26 April 2023 18:56 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force rebutted the statement that the joint Indonesian military (TNI) and police (Polri) team dropped bombs in Nduga as conveyed by a New Zealand pilot Philips Max Mehrtens held hostage by the Papuan separatist group in a video released on April 24.
The task force’s spokesperson Sr. Comr. Donny Charles Go said the video message was merely propaganda created by the Free Papua Movement (OPM) to corner the TNI. "That's just propaganda to corner the TNI and Polri,” said Donny when contacted, on Wednesday, April 26.
Donny clarified that the Cartenz Task Force did not carry out the bombing. The actions taken by the joint team were only gunfire or return fire when they were attacked. “We are not equipped with that [bomb],” he said.
The Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force keeps striving to find the Susi Air pilot. Regarding the combat alert status announced by the TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono, Donny said that since the beginning, the National Police had dispatched the task force covering several districts in Papua, Papua Pegunungan, and Central Papua.
“This task force is also working together with the Aman Nusa Operation Task Force to deal with the KKB (Armed Criminal Group),” Donny explained.
Earlier, West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM) spokesman Sebby Sambom released a video of the New Zealand pilot Philips Max Mehrtens today. In the 1-minute and 38-second video, Mehrtens asked Indonesia to stop the military operation.
EKA YUDHA SAPUTRA
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