"We continue to work hard to secure the release of four other boat crew members who are still being held in the Philippines," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government is seeking the release of four other boat crew members still held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf militant group in the Philippines after 10 hostages were earlier set free on Sunday.

"We continue to work hard to secure the release of four other boat crew members who are still being held in the Philippines," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated here on Monday.

Marsudi made the statement while handing over the 10 former hostages who were released and returned home.

The minister affirmed that various efforts and strategies will be taken to free the four hostages.

"The government will take any option available to save the hostages," she emphasized.

The minister reiterated that the Indonesian government would never pay ransom to the Abu Sayyaf group in its efforts to free the four hostages and would continue to monitor the whereabouts of the hostages.

"The government would never spend any money to pay the ransom but will keep monitoring the locations where the hostages are held," she stated.

Retired army major general Kivlan Zein, one of the negotiators involved in the release of the 10 hostages, noted that he continued to take efforts to secure the release of the crew members of the TB Henry ship, who were being held in the Philippines.

"So, we already know where the hostages are. I have contacted the hostage takers. We hope to secure their release," he affirmed.

The former chief of the armys strategic reserve command has appealed to all parties to not make any moves that would disrupt the ongoing negotiations.

The Abu Sayyaf group has held 14 Indonesian sailors since March 23, 2016, but 10 of them have now been released, though four others are still being held captive.

There are 13 other hostages from several countries now being held by Abu Sayyaf, including four from Malaysia and others from Japan, the Netherlands, Canada, Norway, and also the Philippines.

The Abu Sayyaf group, which is known for its brutality, had earlier demanded Rp14.3 billion in exchange for the release of the 10 hostages.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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