Indonesian fishermen advised to be careful

TAWAU: Indonesians here have been advised to be careful when carrying out fishing activities in Sabah waters following reports that Abu Sayyaf are looking for “value kidnap” targets.

The Indonesian Consulate here in a statement yesterday urged its citizens, especially fishermen who normally operate in Sabah waters to increase their awareness and take precaution.

It also urged shipowners with Indonesian crew to refrain from carrying out fishing activities. Likewise, Indonesian fishermen are advised not to sail into Sabah waters until the security situation is seen as conducive and security guarantees obtained from the local authorities.

If they have to go to sea, the consulate urges Indonesian citizens to take precautionary steps through their respective employers to coordinate and, wherever possible, involve the security apparatus when carrying out their activities and to equip their ships with complete security and communication apparatus.

Reports said that 17 Abu Sayyaf gunmen led by subcommanders Salip Mura, Majan Sahidjuan @ Apo Mike and Abu Radin, left their stronghold in Jolo three days ago and headed towards the Tawi-Tawi chain of islands that borders Sabah's east coast to take hostages.

Intelligence reports in the Philippines stated that the group was going to team up with its Tawi-Tawi-based criminal elements who acted as spotters or lookouts for hostages in the eastern Sabah sea border.

They were looking for higher value targets as they had failed to gain much attention following the kidnappings of Indonesian and Malaysian fishermen.

Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) is on full alert and its commander Datuk Huzani Ghazali said they have deployed all available forces into the area.

He said the focus of operation was across the east coast sea border with southern Philippines that included Semporna, Lahad Datu and Sandakan.

The kidnap groups resurfaced in September last year after a lull of nearly two years amid talk that certain powerful political groups in Sulu were against the new expanded Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao that replaced the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The Philippine military has also stepped up operations against the Abu Sayyaf whom they believe were behind the deadly bombing of a cathedral in Jolo in January this year.

Abu Sayyaf gunmen are still holding a Malaysian and two Indonesian fishermen snatched from the Pegasus Reef in the Kinabatangan area on Dec 5.