Three Indonesian Citizens Held Hostage Handed Over to the Family

Jakarta, MINA – The government has handed over three Indonesian citizens (WNI) who were previously held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group in the southern Philippines to their families after they were released on Saturday (15/9).

The three Indonesian fishermen working on Malaysian fishing vessels operating in Sabah waters were kidnapped while fishing using BN 8384/F ships in Sabah waters, Malaysia, on January 18, 2017.

Deputy Foreign Minister A.M. Fachir handed Hamdan bin Saleng and Sudarling bin Samansunga from Selayar and Subandi bin Sattu from Bulukumba, South Sulawesi, to their families in Jakarta on Wednesday, witnessed by the Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Sinyo Harry Sarundajang.

The three Indonesians are Hamdan bin Saleng and Sudarling bin Samansunga from Selayar and Subandi bin Sattu from Bulukumba, South Sulawesi.

Also Read: Four More Indonesian Seamen Abducted off Philippine Coast

The handover ceremony took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building, conducted by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Wamenlu) RI, A.M. Fachir, and witnessed by the Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines, Sinyo Harry Sarundajang.

In his remarks, Fachir said their release was the result of hard work and cooperation of elements related to the Indonesian government and supported by the Philippine government.

“The conditions in the field are increasingly difficult but by utilizing the assets that we have in the field and the support of the Philippine Government, thank God, we managed to free them, “he said.

“The Foreign Minister asked me to seek the release of three Indonesian citizens without any single victim. And Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), they are still in good condition, even though when I review their condition before the release, there is such a pressure and burden of mind because we can imagine the hostage-taking for 20 months, “said the Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippine Republic of Sinyo Sarundajang.

Also Read: Sailors Return to Indonesia after Escaping Abduction off Southern Philippines

The process of their reease was closed to the media. While at his press conference, the Director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens and the Indonesian Legl Entity (BHI) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Muhammad Iqbal explained, his party did not bring the three victims of the hostage because they needed trauma healing, and gave more time to their families.

The three Indonesian citizens were released from hostage-taking on Sulu Island, Southern Philippines, on September 15, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. local time. Before being sent home, the three Indonesians underwent a medical examination and psychological recovery (trauma healing) at the Philippine military base in Zamboanga.

Also Read: Two Indonesian Hostages Escape from Philippines Captors

Since 2016, a total of 34 Indonesian citizens have been kidnapped by armed groups of Abu Sayyaf in the southern Philippines, 13 of them are fishermen who were abducted from the waters of Sabah, Malaysia.

With the release of the three Indonesian citizens, all Indonesian citizens abducted by armed groups in the Southern Philippines have been successfully released before 2019. (TL/R04/RS5)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)