After the report of the burning of Susi Air in Nduga, the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) came out and stated that they are the culprit behind the burning and had taken hostage the pilot of the Susi Air airline, Tuesday (7/2).
This claim is even confirmed by the Commander of the Regional Military Command of Cenderawasih Mayor General M. Saleh Mustafa, saying that Susi Air PK-BVY pilot Philips Marthen (37) is now taken hostage by the Armed Criminal Group.
“The pilot was taken by EK (Egianus Kogoya) group,” he wrote in his written message, Tuesday (7/2).
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of TPNPB-OPM Sebby Sambom says that the Indonesian Military Force and Indonesian Police need not to interrogate civilians as he stressed that they are the culprit behind the burning and the kidnapping.
“Today, Tuesday, February 7th, 2023, reported by Regional Defense Commander of Kodap III Ndugama-Derakma Brigadier General Egianus Kogoya that we, TPNPB KODAP III of Ndugama-Derakma have burned a plane owned by Susi Air with the registration number of PK-BVY at Paro Airstrip, Nduga, Papua,” he said in his official statement.
“This is our second time we did took a hostage,with the first time being in 1966 where we took Lorentz team at Mapenduma,” continued Sambom.
On the other side, Cartenz Peace Ops Task Force is conducting an investigation on the burning of Susi Air plane at Paro Airport, Nduga, Central Papua.
Head of Papua Police Public Relations, Grand Commissioner Ignatius Benny Prabowo, says that the joint personnel will also track down the missing pilot and the five passengers.
Based on their initial report, the plane lost contact after it landed on Paro Airstrip. Susi Air officials stated that the plane landed safely without incidents and believed that it was burned by other individuals or group.