TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The State Palace rejected a statement made by Megawati Soekaroputri, Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) that the Indonesian ship crews held hostage by Abu Sayyaf armed group was released after the Indonesian government paid ransom as demanded by the group.
Megawati made her statement during a discussion on public official recruitment process in Jakarta.
In response to the statement, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung argued that the hostage was freed through diplomatic negotiation. "As I have explained previously," Pramono said on Monday, May 2, 2016.
Previously, a Filipino news agency, Rappler, reported that the hostages, which were held by Abu Sayyaf since March 26, 2016, was released after Patria Maritime Lines, the company that owns the hijacked ship had paid US$1 million ransom on April 29, 2016.
Pramono was reluctant to provide further statement on the issue. Similarly, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan, claimed that he cannot provide any statement in relation to Megawati’s claims.
ISTMAN M.P.