REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has stated that the government is still tracking the whereabouts of four Indonesian citizens, who were kidnapped in the border waters of Malaysia and the Philippines on April 16.
"We are still investigating the case of four citizens being kidnapped. In this case, we are still trying to figure out if it is linked to a political matter or just a matter for ransom as in Somalia. We are still investigating it," Luhut said at the office of the Ministry for Political, Legal and Security.
In anticipation of the recurrence of similar incidents, Luhut stated that foreign ministers from three countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, will hold a meeting on May 3.
The meeting will be aimed at discussing joint security efforts in areas that are prone to the hijacking of ships.
"There will also be a meeting between the Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Gatot Nurmantyo and the commanders of the armed forces of Malaysia and the Philippines," Minister Luhut added.
Related to the meeting of the three commanders of the armed forces from the three countries, Minister Luhut stated that it will talk about security cooperation in response to the kidnappings and secure the release of a number of Indonesian hostages.
"It will probably discuss the implementation of a joint patrol to avoid such actions in the Somali waters," Luhut remarked.
The four Indonesian crew members were kidnapped on April 15 at 6:31 pm local time when two Indonesia-flagged boats, tugboat TB Henry and Barge Christi, were hijacked in the border waters of Malaysia and the Philippines.
The two boats were on their way from Cebu, the Philippines, to Tarakan, North Kalimantan, when the hijacking occurred.
The boats were carrying 10 Indonesian crew members. Of the 10, one was shot, five managed to escape, and four were abducted by the pirates.
The injured crew member was rescued by the Malaysian Maritime Police and taken to Malaysia for medical treatment.
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