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Four Indonesians now safe in Nairobi after 4 years held captive
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Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi speaks at a working meeting with the House of Representatives' commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs at the House complex on Aug. 31. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
F
oreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi on Monday confirmed the safe release of 26 crewmen, including four Indonesians, who were taken hostage by Somali pirates in 2012. The minister had credited the success down to prolonged and intensive coordination between related governments, civil and non-governmental organizations, including the UN.
Retno said all 26 men had arrived safely in Nairobi on Sunday evening local time, following their release on Oct. 22.
The release was made possible following an extensive process involving close coordination between governments of the hostages’ country of origin, she added, which included crewmen from Cambodia, China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
"The Indonesian government had also closely coordinated and cooperated with several non-governmental organizations, international non-profit organizations, as well as with the support of the UN," Retno said during a press briefing in Jakarta.
The four— Ade Manurung, Nelson Pesirero, Sudirman and Supardi—are currently under the protection of Indonesian Embassy officials while they undergo medical checkups beginning Monday. They would return to Indonesia following recovery, which was expected to take several days, Retno said.
"The condition of the men are in general good," Retno said, adding that she had spoken to Sudirman shortly following their arrival in Nairobi.
The Indonesian sailors were among 29 crewmen on board the Naham 3 when it was hijacked on March 26, 2012. (bbn)
