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Govt. advised to try informal diplomacy to free hostages
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Sopitje Salemburung, 60, shows a picture of his son, Peter Tonsen Barahama, the captain of the Brahma 12, who has been taken hostage by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Philippines. (Kompas.com/Ronny Adolof Buol)
T
he government is advised to seek help from Islamic organizations both in the Philippines and in Indonesia in effort to free 10 Indonesian sailors taken hostage by the Abus Sayyaf terror group in Sulu Island, the Philippines, a lawmaker says.
In such a situation, informal diplomacy could be an effective means to have the Indonesian hostages released, said House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon said on Thursday.
In the Philippines, the government could seek help from the Morrow National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Morrow Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), he added, while in Indonesia, the government could coordinate with the Indonesian Ulema Councils (MUI), Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah.
Two Indonesian-flagged vessels, the Brahma 12 and the Anand 12, were hijacked by Abu Sayyaf militants in Philippine waters. The Brahma 12 tugboat has been handed over to Philippine authorities. The militant group has contacted the owner of the vessel and demanded a ransom of US$1.08 million by April 8 to release its crew.
The government has intensified talks with the Philippine government and other relevant parties to free the 10 Indonesian sailors, but there has been no progress report to releasing the hostages.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the House’s Commission I overseeing intelligence, defense and foreign affairs, TB Hasanuddin, said the commission will summon involved government ministries for questioning because of the stagnant progress.
The House's general secretariat had arranged a hearing between the commission and the Foreign Ministry, said Hasanuddin added on Thursday. (bbn)
