Lesson Learned from the Release of Phillip Mehrtens
The kidnapping of pilot Phillip Mehrtens was ended through negotiation. This is a lesson for the Prabowo administration about how to resolve the Papua conflict.
Tempo
September 30, 2024
ALTHOUGH it took 19 months, the release of hostage Phillip Mark Mehrtens is an important lesson for the new administration regarding how to respond to the conflict in Papua. The release of the Susi Air pilot kidnapped by the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) was the result of intensive negotiation and dialogue involving local people and family members, not the use of force nor deployment of troops.
Initially, af
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