Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens who was held hostage for 19 months in Papua Pegunungan Province, West Papua, Indonesia was released on Saturday, September 21, 2024. Even so, there are a number of things that have surfaced after the release of the pilot from New Zealand.

Egianus Was Considered An Enemy

The Papuan Separatist Central Headquarters considers that the leadership of the Separatist militia under the leadership of Egianus Kogoya in Nduga Regency, Mountainous Papua is no longer part of the struggle for Papuan independence.

See also: Pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens Released After 1.5 Years Hostage

Central Papua separatist spokesman Sebby Sambom said that Kogoya’s decision to release Philip outside the agreement of the Papuan Separatist Headquarters was a form of betrayal of the struggle for Papuan independence.

“We consider them enemies because they choose to submit to the Indonesian army and police,” Sebby said via a short voice message, Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

See also: Profile of Egianus Kogoya the Brains Behind New Zealand Pilot As a Hostage

He said that Central Papuan separatists condemned the actions of Kogoya and the Papuan separatist militia of the Ndugama-Derakma Defense Regional Command III who were suspected of receiving money in Philip’s release.

Sebby said that the suspicion arose because Kogoya chose to hand over Philip to the former Acting Regent of Nduga, Edison Gwijangge, on Saturday, September 21, 2024. Philip’s handover to Edison, he said, was outside the initial agreement between Kogoya and the Papuan Separatist Headquarters.

“Because on August 24, 2024, Egianus has agreed to release the pilot according to the proposal. However, suddenly they released us without any communication with us,” said Sebby.

Kogoya himself has dismissed accusations of accepting bribes in Philip’s release. In the recording, Kogoya said that Philip’s release was carried out by the Papuan Separatist militia on the basis of humanitarian values and principles.

“We freed the pilot through a humanitarian mission,” Kogoya said in the video recording.

Still in the 5 minutes and 18 seconds video recording, Kogoya appealed that Philip’s release not be associated with anything that could trigger provocations.

“There is no personal interest because we free the pilot for humanitarian missions,” he said.

Indonesia Army Asks No One To Hold Weapons In Papua Anymore

Indonesia Army Commander General Agus Subiyanto hopes that the condition of Papua will be safer after Philip’s release. Agus also warned about the ownership of weapons carried out by civilians. He asked that in the future no one would hold weapons other than Army officers and the Indonesian Police.

“Because as long as there are weapons, it is still dangerous, legally the weapon holder is the Indonesian Army and Police,” he said in a written statement.

No Withdrawal Of Troops

The Indonesian Army Headquarters ensured that it would not withdraw or add troops in Papua even though the operation to free Philip was completed.

Head of the Indonesian Army Information Center Major General Hariyanto said that the presence of soldiers and police personnel in West Papua is in order to help the government improve development, economy, and community welfare.

“Our presence there is to maintain conduciveness and ensure the safety of the community,” said Hariyanto.

The existence of the Indonesian Army and Police, he said, especially in the Nduga Regency area, Papua Pegunungan Province, West Papua has had a positive impact in preventing disturbances carried out by separatist movements.

According to Hariyanto, the disturbances that are often carried out by separatist groups in Nduga have caused the social life of the people in Nduga to become abnormal.

“So, the matter of troop withdrawal is Papuan separatist propaganda. However, what is clear is that we will not withdraw and increase troops, considering that the regional elections will be held simultaneously,” said Hariyanto.

Previously, the success of the soft approach in Philip’s liberation operation was considered a sure effort in dealing with humanitarian conflicts in the land of Papua.

Research professor at the Regional Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency, Cahyo Pamungkas, said that the success of releasing Philip must be a precedent for the government, especially the TNI-Polri in handling the conflict in Papua.

“In other words, immediately abandon the security approach,” said Cahyo.

The security approach that Cahyo was referring to is that the Indonesian army and police will no longer send additional troops to Papua. According to him, the existence of organic troops in West Papua owned by the Military Regional Command and Regional Police is more than enough to maintain conduciveness.