TNI ready for other options to deal with Somali pirates

Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Adm. Agus Suhartono says the army is ready to undertake options outside negotiation to free 20 crew members of the Sinar Kudus ship who are currently being held as hostage by Somali pirates.

“The other options are ready,” Agus said Thursday in Bekasi, as quoted by kompas.com.

The newswire reported that Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said Indonesia had conducted a patrol with a crew combining troops from Indonesia, the United Kingdom and South Asia, but declined to elaborate on it or negotiations with the other countries.

“Careful, Korea conducted a military operation and the hostages were shot. Everyone died. America also, [lost four citizens]. Korea went into the bunker, but then face a retaliation. We take all this into account,” he said Tuesday.

The public has been asked to entrust the rescue of the crew members to the government, since the hostages are reportedly in a poor health