Indonesia Issues Travel Ban for Ships, Citizens to Philippines
12 July 2016 15:44 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Samarinda-The Port Authority Office (KSOP) of Samarinda, East Kalimantan, announced that it would no longer issue sailing approvals (SPB) for ships heading to Philippines in response to Transportation Ministry’s telegram No. 134/VII/DN-16 banning Indonesian ships sailing to the country.
“The order is clear. We will not issue sailing approvals to Philippines without exceptions,” Samarinda KSOP head Col. Yus K. Usmany said on Tuesday, July 12, 2016.
The telegram was issued on July 11, 2016, banning not only Indonesian ships but also foreign ships transporting Indonesians to Philippines.
“Therefore, foreign ships must disembark Indonesian passengers before continuing their journey to Philippine,” Usmany explained.
The order was issued following an abduction of three Indonesian nationals in Malaysian waters allegedly perpetrated by Philippine militant group Abu Sayyaf.
Before the recent incident, seven crew members of the Charles tugboat were held as hostages by Abu Sayyaf on June 22, 2016. The tugboat was hijacked in Philippine waters when heading to Indonesia. Six other crewmen were released.
IRMAN HIDAYAT
