TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir confirmed that the Indonesian government paid no ransom to free four Indonesian nationals held as hostages by Somali pirates.
"Our stance is clear that the government won't pay [ransoms] to pirates," Armanatha said at his office in Jakarta on Monday, October 24, 2016.
Arrmanatha revealed that the hostage rescue efforts involved several countries whose citizens were kidnapped. In addition, the rescue efforts involved international organizations, non-profit organizations, and United Nations’ representatives.
Arrmanatha said that the rescue was successful after organizations and countries involved gave pressures and persuasions to the kidnapers.
"We don't know in details about the rescue efforts, but many organizations are involved," he said.
Earlier on Saturday, October 22, 2016, Somali pirates released 26 hostages from Indonesia, China, Philippine, Cambodia, Vietnam and Taiwan. They had been held as hostages since March 2012, when the ship carrying the hostages were highjacked near Seychelles, Indian Ocean.
John Steed, Oceans Beyond Piracy Forum Manager for East Africa, revealed that an individual were killed during the highjacking incident, and two others died of sickness.
Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said that four Indonesians released by the Somali pirates are Sudirman from Batam, Supardi from Cirebon, Adi Manurung from Medan, and Elson Pesireron from Seram. Meanwhile, an Indonesian named Nasirin from Cirebon died of sickness.
ARKHELAUS W.
