JAKARTA: Spokesperson for the armed group West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM), Sebby Sambom, released a video of Susi Air’s New Zealand pilot Captain Philip Marten as a hostage. In the video, the group explained why they took Philip hostage.
“We arrested this pilot from Paro, we arrested this pilot because the TNI (Indonesian National Army) has never recognised Papua as independent. So we arrested the pilot because all countries must open their eyes for an independent Papua,” said one TPNPB-OPM member in the video as seen by Tempo on Wednesday.
According to the armed group, other countries do not want to pay attention to the fate of the Papuan people. However, when it comes to Papua’s natural wealth, such as Freeport, many countries want to enter Papua.
“I will take this person, I will rotate him across 32 districts,” said the man in the video.
Previously, TPNPB-OPM had also released Philip’s hostage photo. In the photo shared, Philip appears to be guarded by a number of armed men under the Morning Star flag.
In addition, in one of the photos Philip is seen wearing shorts and a jacket with a T-shirt bearing the Free Papua flag.
Sebby Sambom said that the photo was released to refute the claim by the TNI Commander, Admiral Yudo Margono, that the Susi Air pilot was not taken hostage by OPM, but saved himself.
“We say that the TNI Commander is a big liar, because the TPNPB has admitted responsibility for burning the plane and the hostage of the Susi Air pilot who is a New Zealand citizen, and we have kept our promise and are politically responsible,” said Sambom in an earlier statement.
Sambom said that Philip was his guarantee for conducting political negotiations with Indonesia. Previously, TPNPB-OPM requested that the Indonesian government release Papua so that it could become an independent Papua with Captain Philip’s guarantee.
Before the TPNPB-OPM released the video, the fate of the Susi Air pilot, Captain Phillip Marthens, had been unclear after a week of being held hostage by the armed group.
Philip Marthens and five Susi Air passengers namely Demanus Gwijangge, Minda Gwijangge, Pelenus Gwijangge, Meita Gwijangge and Wetina W, were taken hostage by the TPNPB-OPM.
The PK-BVY aircraft with the pioneer flight route Timika–Paro that they were travelling on was shot and burned by the TPNPB-OPM separatist group led by Egianus Kogoya after landing at Apro Airport, last week.
National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo said that five passengers on the Susi Air plane had been evacuated successfully, but the whereabouts of the pilot were unknown.
“For now, all of the passengers have been secured, they have been evacuated. No one (is being held hostage),” Listyo told reporters after a meeting in South Jakarta, Wednesday.
Currently, the joint TNI-Polri (National Police) apparatus consisting of the Carstensz Peaceful Ops, Nduga Police personnel, and the TNI are continuing to investigate the whereabouts of the Susi Air’s New Zealand pilot.
“We, the joint team from the Carstensz Peaceful Operation, are currently carrying out a search operation,” Listyo said
