iNDONEsiA sTEPs UP EFFORTs TO sAvE ABDUCTED sAilORs

Indonesia intensifies efforts to secure release as deadline looms

JAKARTA: The government has intensified communication with the Philippine government and other relevant parties to free the 10 Indonesian sailors being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf militant group in the Philippines, says Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi.

Indonesia and the Philippines are communicating daily on the issue, she added.

“Both governments understand that the safety of the hostages is of the utmost importance,” Retno said on Tuesday.

Two Indonesian-flagged vessels, the Brahma 12 and Anand 12, were hijacked by Abu Sayyaf militants in Philippine waters. Brahma 12 has been handed over to Philippine authorities.

The militant group has contacted the owner of the vessel and demanded a ransom of US$1.08mil (RM 3.94mil) by tomorrow to free the sailors.

A meeting on the hostage crisis on Monday led by Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan was attended by a number of ministers and security officials, including Law and Human Rights Minister Yasona Laoly, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, National Police chief Gen Badrodin Haiti, National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutiyoso and representatives from the Navy.

The meeting, said Retno, discussed the hostage crisis, including the results of her trip to the Philippines on Apr 1 and 2, in which she met with President Benigno Aquino III, her Philippine counterpart Jose Rene Almendras, commander of the Philippine armed forces, Gen Hernando Iriberri and other relevant parties.

During the meeting, the minister outlined the purposes of the Philippines visit: to intensify communications and coordination with the Philippine government for the safe release of the 10 Indonesian crewmen, reiterate the importance of the safety the hostages and to convey the government’s appreciation for the Philippine government’s cooperation on the matter.

Retno said all parties she met with during her visit were committed to securing the safe release of the hostages. — The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network