Five TNI Soldiers still Sought for After a Shooting Contact in Nduga

KOMPAS

The operation to free the hostage of Susi Air pilot Philip Mehrtens has yet to produce results. The current conditions, the release operation was expanded to four districts namely Nduga, Lanny Jaya, Yahukimo and Puncak Papua districts.

JAYAPURA, KOMPAS — Five soldiers of the Indonesian Military (TNI) until Monday (4/17/2023) were still being searched for after the shooting contact with armed criminal groups on Saturday (15/4/2023) afternoon while carrying out the operation for the release of Susi Air pilot, Philips Merthens, in Nduga regency, Papua Highlands. A number of parties encouraged an evaluation to formulate the best strategy to prevent more casualties in the pilot rescue operation.

TNI Commander Adm. Yudo Margono together with the Army Chief of Staff Gen. Dudung Abdurachman and Commander of Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Lt. Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak were already in Mimika regency, which borders Nduga, on Monday (17/4/2023). Yudo ordered the evacuation of soldiers in the ravine. From the location of the incident in Mugi-Mam, Nduga, it was known there was the body of a TNI soldier, namely the first soldier (Pratu) Miftahul Arifin.

Pratu Miftahul died after being shot and fell into a ravine with a depth of 15 meters in a gunfire with armed criminal groups (KKB) on Saturday (15/4/2023) afternoon. He came from the Task Force of the Infantry Battalion (Yonif) Raider 321/Galuh Taruna involved in the Susi Air pilot rescue operation of Philips, who was captured by KKB in February 2023.

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"We are at the location post. As of now there is one body obtained. Evacuation is still not possible given the difficult weather and condition of the location," said head of the TNI Information Center Rear Adm. Julius Widjojono, who accompanied the TNI commander in Papua on Monday.

In Jakarta, Chief of TNI General Staff Lt. Gen. Bambang Ismawan said there were still five TNI personnel who had not yet been confirmed by their whereabouts after contact with the KKB. He asserted KKB's statement that it had killed nine TNI soldiers and had confiscated nine weapons was not true. Bambang said four soldiers who had lost contact had returned to good health. Therefore, there are still five soldiers who are being searched for.

Julius said the field of search and evacuation had indeed been difficult because the ravine had been very deep. According to him, there was a possibility there were still TNI soldiers who were injured in the cliff as deep as dozens of meters. "Therefore, the TNI commander ordered evacuation by all means," said Julius.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Head of the TNI Information Center Rear Admiral Julius Widjojono (center) gives a press statement regarding the attack by an armed criminal group (KKB) on members of the Indonesian Army who were carrying out an operation to free a Susi Air pilot hostage in Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains, at TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, Jakarta, Sunday (16/4/2023).

Evaluation

People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) chair Bambang Soesatyo conveyed his deeply felt condolences over the death of Pratu Miftahul. He also strongly condemned the KKB action and asked the TNI-National Police (Polri) to immediately arrest and impose strict sanctions on the KKB. Bambang also asked the government and the TNI-Polri to evaluate the incident. The right strategy and approach must be immediately determined to prevent the recurrence of KKB actions, especially for the operation of the search for Susi Air pilot Philips.

"We also ask the government and the TNI-Polri to ensure the security and safety of the soldiers in charge of the Susi Air pilot search operation," he said.

The Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD said the government was continuing to coordinate related to the policy of mitigating violence in Papua. Similar coordination was done to solve the problem of the Susi Air pilot hostage. The government continues to try to free them with the main priority the safety of the hostage.

We also ask the government and the TNI-Polri to ensure the security and safety of the soldiers in charge of the Susi Air pilot search operation.

Separately, the Regional Representative Council (DPRD) of Nduga regency and the Papua Peace Network assessed that there needs to be an evaluation of the operation of the search for Susi Air pilot held hostage by the Egianus Kogoya group.

The chairman of the Nduga regency DPRD, Ikabus Gwijangge, contacted from Jayapura, Papua, on Monday night, hoped Philips' release only involved the Nduga regency government and local community leaders. He claimed they would be more easily accepted by the Egianus group to negotiate for the release of Philips.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Papua's peace network, Yan Christian Warinussy, regretted the attack of TNI members in Nduga. He argued it was time for the military approach to the release of Philips to be reviewed. He hoped negotiations would be put forward.

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Spokesman for the National Liberation Army of the Free Papua Organization, Sebby Sambom, claimed the number of TNI soldiers who died were more than the number announced by the TNI. He also said the shooting contact was still ongoing.

In Jakarta, the Special Staff of the Vice President for Communication and Information Masduki Baidlowi through video statements, on Monday (17/4/2023), said Vice President Ma'ruf Amin had ordered the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry to immediately plan and build a Christian Center or a Christian Study Center in Papua. The development of the Christian Center in Papua is the aspiration and desire of church leaders.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.