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Military option ready, but TNI continuing dialogue in pilot rescue: Commander
Yudo suggested he was concerned that civilians could be hurt if a military operation to rescue Mehrtens was carried out.
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Philip Mehrtens, the New Zealand pilot being held hostage by a Papuan rebel group, stands among the separatist fighters in Papua in this undated photo released on Feb. 14. (Reuters/The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB))
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ndonesian Military (TNI) commander Admiral Yudo Margono has said that although soldiers and weaponry are ready for a military operation to rescue kidnapped pilot Philip Mehrtens, authorities will carry on with negotiations with the Papuan separatist group holding the New Zealand national.
Yudo suggested he was concerned that civilians could be hurt if the military operation to rescue Mehrtens was carried out.
"I have highly trained soldiers and weapons system to finish this off, but this will be a law enforcement operation [...]. We don't want civilians to be the victims of this operation, so we have to be patient," Yudo told reporters on Wednesday.
Mehrtens, a Susi Air pilot, was taken hostage by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TNPB) on Feb. 7 after landing in the remote region of Nduga in the Papuan Highlands province.
The rebels say they will not release Mehrtens, 37, unless the Indonesian government recognizes the region's independence and withdraws its troops.
Late last month, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD said security forces had located the group holding the pilot but would refrain from actions that might endanger his life.
