Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Susi Air pilot of New Zealand nationality, Philip Mark Mehrtens, has been released by Indonesia's TNI-Polri security forces from the captivity of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) led by Egianus Kogoya in Nduga on Saturday, September 21, 2024, after being held captive for approximately 20 months.
In a short video received by Tempo, the Susi Air pilot sat accompanied by former Nduga Regent Edison Gwijangge and two others. Based on Philip's statement, the video was taken before he was released.
"Good morning, today is the 17th of September 2024, I was only allowed to meet Edison Gwijangge's team now," Philip said in the video, quoted on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
Philip stated that he was in good health during his 20-month captivity. With quite fluent Indonesian pronunciation, the Susi Air pilot requested two things:
"Please help (me) with the documents," he said, as he requested assistance from the New Zealand government. Philip asked for all document matters to be resolved promptly by his country.
With that, Philip said, the release process could proceed quickly so that he could return to his country. On the other hand, Philip also conveyed the locals' wishes at the captivity site.
"People here told me that it's hard to get food. Please send food to the people here quickly," he said.
He further said that if the food request is sent to the locals, he could be released from the grip of the OPM soon. "Thank you everyone. I also hope to meet my family soon," Philip said.
Chronology of Philip Mark Mehrtens' release
Chief of Operational of Cartenz Peace Task Force, Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhan, said Philip's release was done with a soft approach by involving religious, church, and customary Papuan figures, as well as Egianus Kogoya's family.
"The effort was successful and there were no casualties from any party," Faizal said when confirmed by Tempo on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
According to the police report, the New Zealand pilot was picked up by a helicopter in Yuguru Village, Maibarok District, Nduga Regency on Saturday morning.
A Church administrator in Nduga confirmed this. He said Philip was picked up by the Cartenz Peace Task Force using a helicopter without any gunfire exchange with the armed group TPNPB-OPM who controlled the location.
The reason was that Commanders of TPNPB-OPM from District Defense Command III Ndugama-Derakma, Egianus Kogoya, forbade any gunfire.
The church administrator named Bunyamin – not his real name – recounted that Philip was handed directly by Egianus to former Nduga Regent, Edison Gwijangge in Yuguru Village at 08:00 Eastern Indonesian Time. In this handover, Egianus asked Gwijangge to instruct the TNI-Polri to immediately withdraw troops from Papua.
"The Regent immediately contacted Cartenz Task Force and halted the airstrikes in Nduga," said Bunyamin.
He claimed that the TNI-Polri escalated their attacks in Nduga after the TPNPB-OPM central headquarters suggested Philip's release.
This, he said, made Egianus immediately hand over the New Zealand pilot to prevent a major attack in the Nduga region, especially in the Mam District, Egianus's birthplace.
– Andi Adam contributed to the writing of this article.