REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The movement of the seven Indonesian sailors being held hostage by a Filipino armed group is being monitored, according to Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu.
The sailors had earlier been held in the northern mountainous area of Sulu Islands but were later moved to the south in Panadao, the minister revealed here, Friday.
"They have been there for three or four days. If they are moved again, I do not know where, but intelligence agents are there, and I will surely provide the information," Ryacudu emphasized.
Though the location is known, but based on an agreement reached between Indonesia and the Philippines, a team from the country cannot be sent there to free them, Ryacudu stated.
However, some six to 10 thousand Filipino troops have been positioned to surround the hostage site.
The Indonesian defense minister and his Filipino counterpart have been communicating and coordinating on efforts concerning the release of the hostages.
Since March this year, Indonesia has faced three hostage incidents in the waters of southern Philippines, with the two earlier crises ending peacefully as 14 Indonesians were released safely.
Ten Indonesian boat crew members were released on May 1 after being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group since March 26, 2016, while the four others held captive since April 15, 2016, were set free by the same group on May 11.
In the latest crisis, seven Indonesian ship crew members of Tugboat Charles 001 and Barge Robby 152 were abducted in two incidents, with the first occurring on June 20, 2016, at 11:30 a.m. local time and another at 12:45 p.m. local time in the Sulu Sea while on their way back from the Philippines after delivering coal cargo.
When the incident occurred, the vessels had onboard 13 crew members, but six of them and the ships were released.
According to a media report, one of the hostages recently called his wife informing her that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of Rp20 million ringgits, or some Rp60 billion, and had threatened to kill the hostages if it was not paid.
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