... this is 'my business'...Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia continues to coordinate with the Philippines to secure the release of 10 of its citizens being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group, Chief of Indonesian Armed Forces, General Gatot Nurmantyo, stated here, Wednesday.
"As has been conveyed by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, our priority is to free our citizens. Based on monitoring and coordination with the Philippine team, their location has been traced, and it is in the Philippines," he stated.
"They have detected the location, and I will continue to coordinate with them and will be ready to offer assistance if they need anything from us," he remarked at the TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.
With regard to the preparations, this is "my business," he emphasized.
Nurmantyo said during a meeting with Marsudi, he had informed her about the location of the hostages, which is in the Philippines, and thus, the TNI could only monitor the developments.
"I have informed the Philippine commander that we are ready to offer any form of help," he noted.
He affirmed that currently, he had maintained constant coordination with them in order to be prepared to offer any necessary assistance.
He said he had spoken to the commander, stressing that the Indonesian governments priority was the safety of its citizens.
When questioned whether the TNI had prepared its forces at Tarakan, Nurmantyo revealed that all TNI personnel were on standby at Tarakan as a naval base was also located there.
"Our Quick Response Reaction Assault Forces deployed there are making the necessary preparations. We conduct an exercise there every year," he remarked.
General Gatot said that cooperation between the TNI and the Philippine military had been sound and transparent.
Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu had earlier stated that TNIs forces were ready in case the Philippines sought assistance to deal with the hijackers who had captured two Indonesian ships and held 10 citizens hostage.
"I think the forces have been ready, and it all depends on their decision. If they (the Philippines) say they are ready, we will just see, and if they want help, we will offer it," he said at his office.
Ryamizard affirmed that TNIs patrol vessels were on standby to anticipate any eventuality, while emphasizing that the Indonesian forces could not operate in the Philippines at will but would require a permit from the Philippine authorities for conducting any operations.
Based on information from the foreign ministry, the hijacking of the Indonesian-flagged Brahma 12 and Anand 12 vessels occurred while they were sailing from Sungai Puting in South Kalimantan to Batangas, South Philippines.
"It is not known exactly when the hijacking occurred. The ships' owners only came to know of it on March 26 when they received a telephone call from someone claiming to be from the Abu Sayyaf group," Indonesian foreign ministrys spokesman, Arrmanatha Nasir, revealed.
Brahma 12 has been released and is now with the Philippine authorities, while Anand 12 and the 10 crew members are still being held by the hijackers.
During a telephonic conversation with the ships owners, it was revealed that the hijackers had demanded a ransom.
Since March 26, the hijackers had made contact with the ships owners twice, he added.
With regard to the preparations, this is "my business," he emphasized.
Nurmantyo said during a meeting with Marsudi, he had informed her about the location of the hostages, which is in the Philippines, and thus, the TNI could only monitor the developments.
"I have informed the Philippine commander that we are ready to offer any form of help," he noted.
He affirmed that currently, he had maintained constant coordination with them in order to be prepared to offer any necessary assistance.
He said he had spoken to the commander, stressing that the Indonesian governments priority was the safety of its citizens.
When questioned whether the TNI had prepared its forces at Tarakan, Nurmantyo revealed that all TNI personnel were on standby at Tarakan as a naval base was also located there.
"Our Quick Response Reaction Assault Forces deployed there are making the necessary preparations. We conduct an exercise there every year," he remarked.
General Gatot said that cooperation between the TNI and the Philippine military had been sound and transparent.
Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu had earlier stated that TNIs forces were ready in case the Philippines sought assistance to deal with the hijackers who had captured two Indonesian ships and held 10 citizens hostage.
"I think the forces have been ready, and it all depends on their decision. If they (the Philippines) say they are ready, we will just see, and if they want help, we will offer it," he said at his office.
Ryamizard affirmed that TNIs patrol vessels were on standby to anticipate any eventuality, while emphasizing that the Indonesian forces could not operate in the Philippines at will but would require a permit from the Philippine authorities for conducting any operations.
Based on information from the foreign ministry, the hijacking of the Indonesian-flagged Brahma 12 and Anand 12 vessels occurred while they were sailing from Sungai Puting in South Kalimantan to Batangas, South Philippines.
"It is not known exactly when the hijacking occurred. The ships' owners only came to know of it on March 26 when they received a telephone call from someone claiming to be from the Abu Sayyaf group," Indonesian foreign ministrys spokesman, Arrmanatha Nasir, revealed.
Brahma 12 has been released and is now with the Philippine authorities, while Anand 12 and the 10 crew members are still being held by the hijackers.
During a telephonic conversation with the ships owners, it was revealed that the hijackers had demanded a ransom.
Since March 26, the hijackers had made contact with the ships owners twice, he added.
Editor: Ade P Marboen
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
