Free Papua Movement army led by Egianus Kogoya admitted that they had burnt the Susi Air plane that had just landed at Paro Airport, Nduga Regency, Papua Mountains, on Tuesday morning, February 7 2023. The Susi Air pilot, registered PK-BVY, Phillip Mark Mehrtens (35) who is a New Zealand citizen being held hostage.
Egianus Kogoya is a 24-year-old man in 2023. He becomes the Commander of the War Area III Ndugama Command which is part of the Free Papua Movement.
This armed group led by Egianus Kogoya is one of seven armed groups that are still active in Papua. It is estimated that his group numbered around 50 people.
His father was Daniel Yudas Kogoya, who during his lifetime was active as a figure for the Free Papua Organization (OPM) who was also involved in the kidnapping of the Lorentz Expedition team in 1996.
This is not the first time that Egianus has been allegedly the main figure in the conflict in West Papua. He is known to have led various attacks in Nduga Regency, such as:
Feb 2023 : Kidnap and hostage Phillips Merhtens, a New Zealander Pilot. Burnt the plane loaded with daily necessities for ordinary papuan
July 2022 : slaughtered a priest whom served in Nduga, Papua. Kogoya’s armed group killed nine civilians as well. The Priest was served at Yereitma Church
June 2022 : ambushed a civilian plane. Burnt the goods in plane
December 2018 : killed 23 workers in Kabo hills, Papua. The workers built road in Kabo area. Prior to being slaughtered, all workers were kidnapped and taken hostage by Kogoya’s armed group
October 2018 : Kidnapped and raped teachers and medical workers in Mempeduma
June 2018: attack two civilian planes in Timika-Kenyam, Papua. The planes were fired by several members of Kogoya’s armed group
