TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Papua Police on Friday announced that the armed separatist group under Egianus Kagoya’s leadership had asked for an Rp5 billion ransom for the release of New Zealand Pilot captain Philips Max Mehrtens who had been taken hostage for the past couple of months. Police only noted this detail now despite the request coming from the separatist group early into the hostage situation.
“They demanded an Rp5 billion ransom in the early days of the hostage situation,” said the Papua Police spokesperson Grand Commissioner Ignatius Benny on Friday, June 30, 2023.
The police spokesman said that authorities initially intended to meet the demands by sourcing the huge amount of money from the Papua government’s local budget, however, the separatist group closed its communications with Indonesian authorities.
“There had been no communication with the Egianus Kogoya-led separatist group,” he explained.
New Zealand pilot Philips Max Mehrtens has been taken hostage by the OPM separatist groups since February 7, 2023, after the Susi Air charter plane he piloted lost contact as he approached the Paro Airport located in the Papua Highlands Province on February. It was only revealed that the plane was attacked and burned by OPM members led by Egianus.
The plane captained by Philips carried five passengers and took off from the Mozes Kilangan Airports at the Mimika Regency in the Nduga Regency. The five passengers were freed while Philips Max Mehrtens was taken hostage since.
Egianus Kogoya has threatened other countries to force Indonesia to acknowledge OPM’s independence at the cost of Captain Philip’s livelihood if their requests are not met. Police have opened communication with the separatist group in multiple attempts to free Captain Philips but to no avail.
M ROSSENO AJI
The New Zealander pilot was abducted by an armed separatist group affiliated with the Free Papua Movement and led by Egianus Kogoya on February 7, 2023. The group also torched the Susi Air Pilatus Porter PC 6 aircraft he was piloting after landing at Paro Airfield, Nduga District, Papua Highlands Province.
At the Police Headquarters here on Friday, Margono said the military believes that violence or an armed approach would not be the best strategy for rescuing Mehrtens. The Indonesian Government also shares the same view, he added.
"Yes, we are keen to avoid armed violence because it will harm the people. Hence, we are persisting on negotiation efforts through religious and public figures," he informed.
He said the instruction to prioritize negotiations has been conveyed to the regional authorities through the Cendrawasih Regional Military Commander and the III Joint Regional Defense Commander.
He also asked residents to be patient while waiting for the negotiation—which is currently being conducted by the acting head of Papua Highlands' Nduga District—to come to fruition.
Earlier, Kogoya had threatened to execute the New Zealander pilot if the Indonesian Government refused to negotiate with his group.
He set July 1, 2023, as the deadline for his demand.
At present, officers from the joint police-military task force are continuing their search mission for the abducted pilot in Nduga District.
On June 16, 2023, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri said his side believes the armed group and Mehrtens are somewhere on the border between Nduga and Lanny Jaya Districts.
Related news: Susi Air plane burning incident: One separatist detained
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