The Indonesian government has not yet entered a defense cooperation agreement with the Philippines."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Houses Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon urged the government to lobby the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) for releasing 10 sailors held by the Abu Sayyaf group in the Philippines.
"We should urge the MILF and MNLF to help rescue the Indonesian citizens being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group," Zon stated here on Thursday.
The two organizations have links with the Abu Sayyaf group.
"The government can involve the Indonesian Ulema Council, Nahdlatul Ulama, and Muhammadiyah that can hold informal diplomatic negotiations with the two groups," he noted.
The lawmaker remarked that the Philippine constitution did not allow the Indonesian army to conduct a military operation in the country.
"The Indonesian government has not yet entered a defense cooperation agreement with the Philippines," he pointed out.
Earlier, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi had stated that the Indonesian citizens being detained by the Abu Sayyaf militant group in the southern Philippines were in good condition.
"Based on the information we had received in Manila and Jakarta, the condition of all ten members of the Indonesian crew was good," Marsudi noted here on Thursday.
The ministry continues to coordinate with the Philippine authorities to free the hostages. She added that the Philippines security agency was monitoring all activities of the hostages.
Further, Retno said that the Indonesian government was working to secure the release of the hostages.
Additionally, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan stated that the ships owners had come forward to offer assistance, including expressing their willingness to pay the ransom being demanded by the Abu Sayyaf militant group.
Binsar stated that the company was ready to pay the ransom to ensure the release of the vessels crew.
He noted that the Indonesian government was still coordinating with the Philippine authorities to free the hostages.
Binsar remarked that Indonesia could not deploy its security personnel in the Philippines due to constitutional regulations.
"We understand the regulations. The best effort that we can make is to offer assistance of the Indonesian special forces," the minister affirmed.
According to the State Intelligence Agency, besides the 10 Indonesian citizens, there were also 11 citizens from Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, and the Philippines who are being held by the group.
The Abu Sayyaf group has demanded a ransom of 50 million pesos, or some Rp14.2 billion, with a deadline of March 31, 2016, to release the 10 Indonesians hostages taken aboard the Anand 12 vessel. The deadline has been extended by six days.
(Uu.A063/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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