INDONESIA FACES MORE HOSTAGE-TAKING CRISES by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 11, 2017 (Antara) - From March to July 2016, Indonesia faced at least five hostage-taking incidents, with a total of 24 Indonesians being kidnapped for ransom by the Abu Sayyaf terror group hiding in the Philippines forests.

         However, most of the captives from the hostage-taking crises were gradually released unharmed until Oct 2016.   
    Four more Indonesians were also kidnapped in two separate incidents before 2016 ended. 
    On Nov 6, 2016, two Indonesian sailors, La Utu bin La Rali (52) and La Hadi bin La Adi (46), were abducted by the same Filipino kidnappers while fishing off Sabah in Malaysian waters.

         The two were taken from different ships by gunmen. La Utu bin La Raali worked on SSK 00520F ship and La Hadi bin La Adi on SN 1154/4F ship of Malaysia.

         The two Indonesians were believed to be held in Sulu region in the Philippines, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said following the kidnapping in Nov 2016.

         "(They are) in Sulu. A day after the kidnapping, I received information from my colleague in the Philippines that they had been taken to Sulu," Retno said.

         Retno did not have any further information on whether they had been taken hostages along with two other Indonesians who were kidnapped earlier by the Abu Sayyaf group in the Philippines waters.

HOSTAGE CRISIS FINALLY ENDS WITH RELEASE OF LAST TWO INDONESIANS by Fardah

 Jakarta, Dec 27, 2016 (Antara) - The year 2016 was tainted by five hostage-taking incidents, occurring between March and July, with a total of 24 Indonesians being kidnapped for ransom by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group hiding in the Philippine forests.

       The first incident occurred on March 26, when 10 Indonesian ship crew members were abducted in waters near the Philippines.

       They were released in May as a result of effective cooperation between the Philippine and Indonesian governments, according to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

        Flanked by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) General Gatot Nurmantyo, the head of state revealed that both formal and informal approaches had been deployed to secure the release of the abducted Indonesians.  
   The latest incident occurred on July 9, when three Indonesians were abducted from a Malaysian-flagged trawler, LLD113/5/F, in the Felda Sahabat waters, Tungku, Lahad Datu, Sabah State, Malaysia.

        Most of the captives from all incidents were gradually released unharmed in September and October, except for two persons identified as Mohammad Nazer, 62, and Robin Peter, 32, taken hostage with five other crew members of the tugboat Charles on June 22, off the waters of Sulu.

JOINT PATROL CRUCIAL TO PREVENT RECURRENCE OF HOSTAGE-TAKING INCIDENTS by Fardah

Jakarta, July 13, 2016 (Antara) - With hostage-taking incidents happening repeatedly along the maritime borders shared by Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia, the Indonesian government has called for a trilateral joint patrol to prevent and pre-empt such misadventures.

         So far, 24 Indonesian sailors have been taken hostage in five separate incidents since March this year, reportedly by Filipino separatist group led by Abu Sayyaf. 
    Of these 24 hostages, 14 were released safely and peacefully. While ten were freed on May 1 after being in captivity since March 26, 2016, four, who were abducted on April 15, 2016, were set free by the same group on May 11.

         Ten Indonesians are still being held captive by the kidnappers hiding in southern Philippines.

         Seven of them, all crew members of Tugboat Charles 001 and Barge Robby 152, were abducted in two incidents, of which the first occurred on June 20, 2016, at 11:30 a.m. local time and another at 12:45 p.m. local time in the Sulu Sea while they were on their way back after delivering coal to the Philippines. 
    Three others were kidnapped in the latest incident on July 9, aboard a Malaysian-flagged trawler LLD113/5/F in the Felda Sahabat waters, Tungku, Lahad Datu, Sabah State, Malaysia. 

MILITARY OPERATION TO BE FINAL OPTION TO FREE INDONESIAN HOSTAGES by Fardah

Jakarta, July 12, 2016 (Antara) - In the last five months, Indonesia's government has faced five hostage-taking incidents involving 24 Indonesian sailors being kidnapped by a Filipino separatist group Abu Sayyaf in the maritime borders of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

       The government is contemplating several options to handle the hostage crisis but has ruled out paying ransom. Meanwhile, the use of military operation will be the last resort.

         So far, 14 teen hostages have been freed peacefully and safely, while 10 are now still held captive by the kidnappers hiding in the southern Philippines.   
     Of the 14 freed sailors, 10 were released on May 1 after being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group since March 26, 2016, while the four others abducted since April 15, 2016, were set free by the same group on May 11.

          Later, seven Indonesian ship crew members of Tugboat Charles 001 and Barge Robby 152 were abducted in two incidents, with the first occurring on June 20, 2016, at 11:30 a.m. local time and another at 12:45 p.m. local time in the Sulu Sea while they were on their way back after delivering coal in the Philippines.

         The latest hostage-taking incident occurred on July 9, aboard a Malaysian-flagged trawler LLD113/5/F in the Felda Sahabat waters, Tungku, Lahad Datu, Sabah State, Malaysia.

        When the incident happened, the vessel had aboard four Indonesian crew members and three Filipinos of the Bajau Palauh tribe.

        Of the vessel's seven crew members, three, all Indonesians, were kidnapped, while four others were released.

THIRD HOSTAGE CRISIS FORCES INDONESIA TO BAN PHILIPPINE-BOUND SHIPS by Fardah

Jakarta, June 29, 2016 (Antara) - Since March this year, Indonesia has faced three hostage incidents in the waters of southern Philippines, with the two earlier crises ending peacefully as 14 Indonesians were released safely.

         Ten Indonesian boat crew members were released on May 1 after being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group since March 26, 2016, while the four others held captive since April 15, 2016, were set free by the same group on May 11.

          In the latest crisis, seven Indonesian ship crew members of Tugboat Charles 001 and Barge Robby 152 were abducted in two incidents, with the first occurring on June 20, 2016, at 11:30 a.m. local time and another at 12:45 p.m. local time in the Sulu Sea while on their way back from the Philippines after delivering coal cargo.

        When the incident occurred, the vessels were carrying 13 crew members, but six of them and the ships were released.  
    According to a media report, one of the hostages recently called his wife and informed her that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of Rp20 million ringgits, or some Rp60 billion, and had threatened to kill the hostages if it was not paid.

AFTER HOSTAGE CRISIS GETS HAPPY ENDING, SECURITY BECOMES PRIORITY by Fardah

Jakarta, May 14, 2016 (Antara) - The hostage crisis in which 14 Indonesian sailors were held by Abu Sayyaf group finally ended peacefully as they were released safe and sound.

         The hostages were released in two stages, and came as a big relief to the Indonesian government as also to the  families of hostages.

         Ten Indonesian boat crew members were released on May 1 after being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group since March 26, 2016, while the four others held captive since April 15, 2016, were set free by the same group on May 11.

         "Thank God, the four Indonesian citizens, who were held hostage by the armed group, have been released," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated at a press conference on May 11.

         They have been released, thanks to good cooperation between the Philippines and the Indonesian governments, according to the president, with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) General Gatot Nurmantyo flanking him.    
    President Jokowi revealed that both formal and informal approaches were deployed to secure the release of the abducted Indonesians.

         Following the release of the first lot, Indonesia initiated a trilateral meeting, together with Malaysia and the Philippines, to discuss security measures along maritime borders of the three neighboring countries.

INDONESIA FACES FRESH HOSTAGE CRISIS AS FOUR MORE SAILORS KIDNAPPED by Fardah

Jakarta, April 16, 2016 (Antara) - With the Indonesian authorities still struggling to secure the release of the 10 sailors kidnapped by the Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf group, the nation is now facing yet another hostage crisis in which four more Indonesians were abducted in the Malaysia-Philippine maritime border waters.          The four Indonesian crew members were kidnapped on April 15 at 6:31 pm local time when unidentified pirates tried to hijack two Indonesia-flagged boats, tugboat TB Henry and Barge Christi.         The two boats were on their way from Cebu, the Philippines, to Tarakan, North Kalimantan, when the hijacking occurred, the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement in Jakarta, on April 16.        The boats carried 10 Indonesian crew members. Of the 10, one was shot, five managed to escape, and four were abducted by the pirates.        The injured crew member was rescued by the Malaysian Maritime Police and taken to Malaysia for medical treatment. He is in a stable condition, according to the ministry.          The five crew members, who had escaped the kidnapping, and the two boats were also taken by the Malaysian police to Lahat Datu seaport, Malaysia.         The ministry is currently communicating with the managements of the companies which own the boats, as also with the authorities of Malaysia and the Philippines, to seek details about the piracy incident and coordinate measures to ensure release of hostages.

INDONESIA PRIORITIZES SAFETY OF SAILORS HELD HOSTAGE BY ABU SAYYAF by Fardah

Jakarta, April 9, 2016 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has been carrying out a peaceful approach it its attempt to free 10 sailors being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group in the Philippines.          The safety of the hostages is the government's priority, the foreign ministry has stated.          "We never talk about the deadline. Our focus is to save the 10 Indonesians no matter when and how long it takes," Arrmanatha Nasir, spokesman of the foreign ministry, said in Jakarta, April 8.         Every effort to secure the release of the hostages was "well monitored," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said earlier, and added that Jakarta had intensified its coordination with Manila authorities.        She had received valid information that the 10 Indonesians, kidnapped in waters near the Philippines on March 28, 2016, were in good condition, she also revealed.         Various media reports have stated that the deadline for ransom had been set for May 8, but the ministry denied of having known nor mentioned about the deadline.          The Abu Sayyaf group has demanded a 50 million peso ransom, or about Rp14.2 billion.