Fate of Indonesians at Mavi Marmara not yet clear

Family members and colleagues of Santi Soekanto, a former journalist of The Jakarta Post, and her husband Dzikrullah W Pramudya say communication was broken off at dawn yesterday, around the time of the attack.

Amirul, Dzikrullah's younger brother, told The Jakarta Post by phone that he was chatting with the two, who were on board the mother ship Mavi Marmara, "but communication was on and off", since hours before dawn.

They had said an Israeli ship was seen following them, "showing off military equipment" and warning them to turn back.

But the passengers said they "were in international waters and Israel had no right to tell them to turn back."
 
Shortly after communication was broken off and TV footage from the Turkish aid NGO IHH showed Israeli soldiers climbing down on the deck by helicopter.

Amirul said he was comforting his parents who were distressed at the hordes of media people coming to their home in East Jakarta.

"Santi's family is also in panic" because a reporter called to confirm a report saying Santi was a victim, he said.

"Insya Allah (God willing), nothing's happened to them," he added, though he voiced concerns that the aid workers might be jailed or harassed before their release or deportation.

Israel says the passengers of the Freedom Flotilla were allies of Hamas and al Qaeda.