Kidnapped Indonesian Sailors Return Home

The four sailors who were held hostage by Abu Sayyaf.

Jakarta, 06 Sya’ban 1437/14 May 2016 (MINA) – Four Indonesian sailors who were released by the Abu Sayyaf militant group in the Philippines on Wednesday returned to Jakarta on Friday (May 13).

Moch Ariyanto Misnan, Lorens MPS, Dede Irfan Hilmi and Samir arrived at the Halim Perdanakusuma airport in Jakarta, and were greeted by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Indonesian military chief Gatot Nurmantyo.

Speaking to the media, Ms Retno said the sailors will go through a series of health check-ups before reuniting with their families. “The families have been informed of their arrival,” she said.

“When everything proceeds smoothly, the government represented by the Foreign Ministry will return them to the families.”

The Indonesian government has denied any ransom was paid to Abu Sayyaf for the release of the men. The four men were kidnapped from their tugboat while ferrying coal from Cebu province in central Philippines to Tarakan in Borneo on April 15.

Six other seamen managed to escape, with one of them being shot. The four Indonesians were freed 10 days after the Abu Sayyaf released 10 other Indonesians they kidnapped on March 26. ((T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)