The government is also open to any humanitarian organization willing to participate in the negotiation process for the release of the four hostages.
"Yes, we are open to anyone who wants to help, (but) of course, there must be coordination," Vice President Kalla stated here, Wednesday.
The vice president suggested that it would be better if the negotiations were held immediately.
However, the government and stakeholders need to understand the on-field conditions, given the fact that the location where the four hostages are being held is different than the site where 10 Indonesian hostages were earlier released at the end of last week.
Kalla also confirmed that the government will not comply with the request of the radical group by paying ransom to free the four Indonesians.
The government has continued to pursue negotiations for humanitarian sake and to ensure the safety of the hostages and the well-being of their families.
"The government has in no way given the ransom. No ransom. Therefore, we also do not want a similar event to recur, if the ransom is paid," Kalla explained.
Earlier, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi had stated that the location of the four abducted Indonesians was different from that of the earlier 10 hostages.
Therefore, Retno remarked that the negotiation efforts and the release of the four hostages depended on the on-field situation as the current case was different from the earlier one.
The Indonesian government continues to collaborate with various parties by using various means and strategies in a bid to release the four citizens still held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group in the Philippines.
The four Indonesians are the crew members of the TB Henry ship.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
