Retno Meets Philippine Counterpart, Discusses Hostage Release

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi held a bilateral meeting with the Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Yasay Jr. Friday on the sidelines of Asean Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Laos. “Both discussed the efforts to release Indonesian hostage abducted by armed men in southern Philippines,” the Foreign Minister stated in a press release, Monday, July 25, 2016.

On June 20, 2016, seven Indonesian crewmen of tugboat Charles 001 and barge Robby 152 were taken hostage by armed men in Sulu Waters.

Another three Indonesian crewmen were abducted on July 9, 2016, at around 11.30 pm local time when a Malaysian-flagged tugboat LLD113/5/F was ambushed by armed militia in the waters of Felda Sahabat, Tungku, Lahad Datu, Malaysia. The three Indonesians were taken to Tawi-Tawi waters in southern Philippines.

Foreign Minister Retno has expressed that the Indonesian government would use all possible means to release the abducted crewmen, including cooperating with the Philippine government. “On July 1, the first day of the new Philippine government, I was in Manila to hold a bilateral meeting with the Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary. In the meeting, I delivered a letter from RI President addressed to Philippine President,” she said.

According to Retno, President Joko Widodo has particularly called upon the Philippine government to give special attention on the hostage crisis, which had occurred on too many occasions. “On July 7, RI President had also contacted Philippine President and reiterated what he had said in the letter,” Retno said.

GHOIDA RAHMAH | ANTARA