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Involving military in hostage rescue creates bad precedent: Expert
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This Google Maps image shows the Lahad Batu area. Three Indonesians were believed to have been kidnapped by five armed men off Lahad Datu late on July 9. (The Star/Image taken from Google map)
T
he government should not involve the Indonesian Military (TNI) in an operation to rescue 10 Indonesian sailors held hostage in the Philippines, but to just entrust the matter to Manila to handle, an expert said on Tuesday.
International Law expert Hikmahanto Juwana said the TNI's involvement could serve as a bad precedent for the country, especially since Indonesia is now also faced with a separatist issue. “Military of other countries might try use the same reason to enter Indonesian territory to save their citizens.”
Even if later the Philippine government decided to officially allow Indonesia to enter its territory and join a military operation to rescue the hostages, Indonesia should be very careful in making the decision, Hikmahanto said, adding that Indonesia should not enter into an internal conflict between separatists and a lawful government of a neighboring country.
He also said that an offensive operation involving Indonesian troops would incite the kidnappers, suspected to be the Abu Sayyaf militant group, to counterattack against Indonesian citizens or officials in ways that did not merely involve demanding ransom.
"If someday other companies or sailors unintentionally drive their vessels into the wrong route [in the regional sea], it will endanger their lives," Hikmahanto told The Jakarta Post.
Last Saturday, three Indonesian sailors were abducted in Malaysia's Sabah waters while they were fishing in the area. It was the latest incident in a kidnapping spree, occurring less than a month after seven Indonesian ship crewmen were taken hostage by two different militant groups and held on different islands in the southern Philippines. (iik)
