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No military operation to free New Zealand pilot yet: TNI chief
"What happens now is a law-enforcement operation and not a military operation. We carry out this law enforcement operation because there's a foreigner involved. We will continue trying persuasive ways," Yudo was quoted by Kompas daily as saying in Denpasar, Bali.
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State-owned shipbuilder PT PAL director Kaharuddin Djenod (left) speaks to Adm. Yudo Margono on the sidelines of the ceremonial handover of hospital ship KRI Dr Rajiman Wedyodiningrat-992 in Surabaya, East Java, on Aug. 15, 2022. (Antara/Didik Suhartoni)
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ndonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm. Yudo Margono said on Wednesday that he would not be launching a military operation to free a New Zealand pilot held hostage by separatists in Papua soon to allow for negotiations with the hostage takers to continue.
"What happens now is a law-enforcement operation and not a military operation. We carry out this law-enforcement operation because there's a foreigner involved. We will continue trying persuasive ways," Yudo was quoted by Kompas daily as saying in Denpasar, Bali.
Yudo said that another reason not to launch a military operation was the conducive security situation in Papua and that no local civilians were harmed during the kidnapping incident.
He said that currently, Namia Gwijangge, the acting regent of Nduga where New Zealander Phillip Mehrtens was taken hostage, together with local religious and tribal leaders was still engaging with the separatist group.
Mehrtens, a Susi Air pilot, was abducted by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in early February after landing in the remote region of Nduga.
A spokesperson for the TPNPB shared photographs and videos of Mehrtens last week surrounded by about a dozen fighters, some armed with guns and bows. Mehrtens is heard saying his captors asked for the TNI's withdrawal from Papua, otherwise he would be held for life.
Also last week, a local TNI commander said that if talks with the separatist group failed, a "law-enforcement operation," would soon be launched.
