The New Zealand Police met with the Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius D Fakhiri at the Headquarters of Battalion B Mobile Brigade Papua, Mimika, Central Papua, Wednesday (15/2/2023).
Papua Police Chief says that their visit was to gain the information regarding the effort in freeing Susi Air pilot, Captain Philip Mark Merthens who has been taken hostage by the Armed Criminal Group of Egianus Kogoya.
“Well, as you know police is part of government institutions, in this is part of our police relationship through International Relations Division. Today our colleagues from New Zealand came to Indonesia to find out our efforts in freeing their citizen,” says Papua Police Chief Inspector General Mathius D Fakhiri after their meeting.
According to Fakhiri, steps taken by New Zealand government in sending their envoy to Papua is fair as it concerns one of their people.
During their meeting, Fakhiri explains that they are still persuade the group to let go Captain Merthens through local and religious leaders of Papua.
“Every country wants to rescue their people, thus we hoped that our measures are correct,” said Fakhiri.
Previously, Susi Air reveals that one of their commercial planes have been burned after landed safely in Paro Airstrip. Later that day, they found that the pilot along with five passangers were missing.
On Tuesday (14/2), the spokeperson of The West Papua Liberation Army, Sebby Sambom, claimed that the group have taken hostage the pilot as seen by photos and videos released by the group. According to the group statement, they did not demand foods or drinks, but independence from Indonesia.