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Indonesian hostages return home in good health
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Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (second left) and Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen. Edy Rahmadi (left) accompany four former hostages after their release from the Abu Sayyaf group, at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta on Friday. (Tempo/Imam Sukamto)
F
our Indonesian sailors who were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf terror group in the Philippines have been reunited with their families after being held hostage for almost a month.
"The four men have undergone medical examinations at the Gatot Subroto Army Central Hospital [RSPAD] and results have confirmed that they are in good health," Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said during a ceremony on Friday to mark the sailors’ safe return.
The ceremony officially marked the end of the hostage case, as the crew members were returned to their families, who were present at the event to welcome them home.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had given great attention to the safe release of the hostages, Retno added.
She also spoke with the sailors’ employer, PT Global Trans Energy International, to ensure that the crewmen's rights as employees would be fulfilled following their return.
In her remarks, the minister thanked all those who were involved in the release, giving special mention to the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Philippine government for their efforts.
The four sailors were freed by the terror group on May 11 and connected with local authorities in Sulu. After a quick health check, the Philippine government officially handed over the men to an Indonesian warship in waters bordering the two countries.
Accompanied by a team of Indonesian officials, the sailors continued by boat to Tarakan, North Kalimantan, before flying to Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta. The crew arrived at approximately 10:20 a.m. on Friday on an Air Force Boeing 737-200 aircraft.
TNI officials, including TNI commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, joined the foreign minister in welcoming the sailors back to Indonesian soil after they were held hostage for 25 days in the southern Philippines.
Ten crewmen were aboard the tugboat Henry and the barge Christie, traveling through Malaysian and Philippine waters, when they were hijacked by a militant group on April 15.
At the time of attack, five of the men escaped, while one suffered a gunshot wound and the remaining four were taken hostage by the militants.
Retno confirmed that the wounded man had returned to Indonesia on May 11 after undergoing treatment in Tawau, the Philippines.
Shipping company director Riswandi also spoke during the ceremony to express his gratitude to the President, the foreign minister, the TNI commander and all others involved in negotiations to free the four kidnapped crewmen.
"We hope that in the future no more similar incidents will befall any other Indonesian sailors," Riswandi said.
The director refused to disclose details behind the release, saying only that the company had coordinated closely with the government and had not had any direct contact with the terror group.
"We only found out about the incident from the government," he told journalists.
Riswandi said the tugboat and barge had been returned undamaged to Tarakan. The shipping company would temporarily suspend voyages to the Philippines, he continued, without detailing the duration of the planned break.
He reiterated that neither the government nor the company paid a ransom to secure the release of the crewmen. (dan)
