ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens was finally freed by the Cartenz Task Force (Joint Indonesian National Army and Indonesian National Police) after being held hostage by the armed criminal group Egianus Kogoya in Papua for 1.5 years.
Head of Cartenz 2024 Peace Operations Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani said that in this release his party was prioritizing soft approach efforts rather than hard approaches. In essence, this effort was carried out through the approach of a number of religious, traditional and close family figures from Egianus Kogoya.
“This approach is important to minimize casualties from both officers and civilians and at the same time maintain the safety of the pilots themselves,” said Faizal in a press release, Saturday, September 21 2024.
Meanwhile, Head of the Cartenz 2024 Peace Operation Public Relations Task Force, Bayu Suseno, said that now Philip had been picked up from Yuguru Village, Maibarok District, Nduga Regency and immediately flown to the Mobile Brigade Command Headquarters in Timika.
“Today we managed to pick up Pilot Philip in good health. Our pilot flew from Nduga straight to Timika,” explained Bayu.
After arriving in Timika, Philip then underwent a medical examination and confirmed his psychological condition.
As a reference, the Susi Air pilot, a New Zealand national, has been held hostage by the armed criminal group Egianus Kogoya since February 7 2023. The Susi Air pilot was taken hostage when his plane landed at the Paro airfield, Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains. At that time, the Susi Air plane dropped off five passengers. But suddenly, an armed criminal group attacked and burned the plane and took Philip Mark Mehrtens hostage. (AT Network)
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