TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Bisnar Pandjaitan has reactivated the crisis center to deal with the hostage situation involving seven Indonesians in South Philippine. The team of the crisis center has been mobilized to gather information on the situation for the next few days.

“We will hold another meeting on Tuesday before making any statements,” Luhut said at his office in Jakarta on Friday, June 24, 2016.

Luhut explained that the government needs to verify several things related to the abduction of crew members of Charles 001 Tug Boat and Robby 152 Barge owned by a shipping company in Samarinda, East Kalimantan.

“So, we don’t know what the options are yet. We just received the news last [Thursday] night,” Luhut added.

Luhut revealed that Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan has been in communication with the Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia, resulting in a decision to temporarily halt coal shipping to Philippines. Luhut viewed that the move might have an impact on the economy.

“Indonesia supplies 96 percent of South Philippine’s demands on coal. It could affect Indonesia’s economy,” Luhut said.

The decision to halt coal exports to Philippine had been initiated since two abduction cases occurred between March and April 2016. The coal export moratorium, Luhut said, would remain in effect until there is a guarantee of safe passage to Philippines.

YOHANES PASKALIS