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TNI won't deploy 'only' soldiers to rescue pilot: Yudo
Yudo said over the weekend that he would not deploy only soldiers to free New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens as the strategy could be used as justification by the separatist group to escalate the situation.
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This handout picture taken and released by the Indonesian Military (TNI) on Jan. 3, 2020 shows then commander of Region I of territorial command, Yudo Margono (front left) inspecting troops at Natuna military base in Riau islands. (AFP/Handout)
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ndonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm. Yudo Margono has said that the military will continue with its persuasive approach to freeing the New Zealand pilot who is being held hostage by separatist rebels in Papua.
Yudo said over the weekend that he would not deploy only soldiers to free pilot Phillip Mehrtens as this strategy could be used as justification by the separatist group to escalate the situation.
"I don't want to deploy soldiers only to save the pilot [...] if the TNI makes an attack, the pilot will certainly be killed," Yudo was quoted by Kompas.com, adding that the separatist group would blame the killing on the military or the National Police.
Yudo added that in recent weeks soldiers had arrested a number of separatist rebels in the region and seized weapons and ammunition from them.
It has been more than two months since the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) took Mehrtens hostage after he landed in Nduga, Papua Highlands, on a routine flight.
