"I have called the Malaysian defense minister to coordinate the release of the hostages," Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu stated here on Monday.
The minister remarked that the government had traced the initial location of the hostages, but the authorities had yet to find where the victims would be taken to.
With regard to the joint patrol agreement, the minister affirmed that patrolling should be conducted by both countries.
"The exercise is scheduled to be conducted after the Eid al-Fitr holiday," the minister stated.
The minister said the government had prioritized the negotiation efforts to prevent any further loss of lives.
"The military operation is the last option. If we conduct the military operation, there will be some casualties," the minister affirmed.
Earlier, three Indonesian citizens hailing from East Nusa Tenggara Province were allegedly abducted by an armed group in Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia.
"I just heard about it, and I am now still seeking information to confirm it," East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Lebu Raya informed Antara here on Sunday evening.
Raya said based on information, three of the kidnapped Indonesians have been identified as Theodorus Koping, Emanuel, and Lorens Koten.
"We are still coordinating with the immigration authorities in East Nusa Tenggara to confirm the validity of the information," he emphasized.
Raya said he had already coordinated with several regional leaders to find a way out in case information on the abduction was correct.
Raya said he was yet to confirm whether the armed men, who had abducted the fishermen from East Nusa Tenggara, belonged to the Abu Sayyaf group in the Philippines that had also kidnapped 10 Indonesian seamen recently.
Brigadier General Heri Wiranto, chief of the 161/Wirasakti Military Resort of Kupang, confirmed the information.
"I have heard about it, but until now, no official information has been received," he remarked.
Chia Tong Lim, the employer of the three Indonesian citizens, had reported the incident to the police in Sabah, his state, on Sunday.
In his report given at around 4:17 a.m. local time, Lim stated that his workers, who were Indonesian citizens, were abducted while conducting fishing aboard his ship in the Felda Sahabat Tungky waters in Lahad Datu.
The ships owner reported that the kidnapping took place at around 12 p.m. local time when his ship, with the Indonesian crew on board, was intercepted by a speed boat, with five people armed with rifles.
Immediately three of the boats crew members were taken hostage by the armed group suspected to be linked to the Abu Sayyaf group of the Philippines, he remarked.
The four other crew comprising an Indonesian citizen and three Philippine citizens from Bajau Palauh tribe were released along with the ship bearing registration number LD113/5/F, which has now arrived at the Lahad Datu Port.
Lim, who resides in Kampung Cina, Lorong Satu, Pekan Kunak, Sabah, noted that the abducted Indonesian citizens were 34-year-old Lorence Koten, 42-year-old Teodorus Kopong, and 40-year-old Emanuel.
The Indonesian consulate general in Kinabalu, Sabah, confirmed the incident in a text message sent through the immigration staff, Nasriansyah, on Sunday.
Nasriansyah said the case is currently being handled by the foreign ministry in cooperation with the governments of Malaysia and the Philippines.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
