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TNI chief rejects New Zealand help in freeing pilot
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In this undated photo sent by a Papuan separatist group, a man identified as New Zealand national Phillip Merthens stands in a forest surrounded by a group of people armed with rifles, spears and bows and arrows. (Courtesy of TPNPB/-)
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ndonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm. Yudo Margono has turned down New Zealand's offer of assistance in an operation to release the New Zealander pilot who has been held hostage by an armed Papuan rebel group in Nduga regency, Papua Highlands, for about a month.
Yudo said New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia Kevin Burnett had offered assistance during the ambassador's visit to the TNI headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, last week.
“He offered to help, but I am still able to complete [the rescue mission]," Yudo told reporters on the sidelines of an event on Wednesday that was posted on YouTube. "He [the ambassador] hoped that no harm would come to the pilot. He hopes that the pilot will survive."
But Yudo did not provide further details on what kind of assistance Burnett brought to the table, except “diplomacy”. Prior to the offer New Zealand diplomats had reportedly traveled to Papua to monitor the negotiation process by Indonesia.
Yudo also reiterated that what was happening now was a law enforcement operation, not a military operation, and that they would continue with persuasion and patience to protect local civilians in the area.
"The TNI is currently still able to handle the problem of rescuing the Susi Air pilot following the government policy to resolve it with a soft approach," TNI spokesperson Cdre. Kisdiyanto told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
The authorities had chosen to allow negotiations with the rebels to continue as fears grew that the use of force in any rescue attempt would only repeat the errors made in previous operations that went awry.
