The Susi Air pilot was freed from the Egianus Kogoya-led armed separatist group after being held captive for about a year and a half.
"(We can achieve it) through rigorous negotiations and our reluctance to resort to repressive strategies," the president stated at the Merdeka Palace here on Saturday.
Jokowi said such strategies aimed to ensure Mehrtens' safety while in captivity. He also praised military and police officers who exerted efforts in the negotiation rounds to secure the pilot's release.
"The military and police officers have done their job well. I commend them," he stated.
The president remarked that Mehrtens will undergo health checks in Papua before repatriation to New Zealand.
Meanwhile, 2024 Operation Peace Cartenz Task Force's public relations bureau chief, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Bayu Suseno, confirmed that the pilot was successfully freed and picked up by the joint team in Nduga District, Highland Papua.
The freed pilot was immediately flown to Timika, Central Papua. Mehrtens was then promptly taken to a special facility for medical mitigation while ensuring his psychological comfort, according to Suseno.
The New Zealand pilot was abducted by the armed separatist terrorist group on February 7, 2023, shortly after landing in Paro, Nduga District, Highland Papua. The group also torched the Susi Air aircraft that he had piloted. (INE)
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Mentari Dwi G, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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