"We are waiting for an order from our leaders," Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mulyono affirmed.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian army has expressed its readiness to secure the freedom of hostages abducted by armed groups in the southern Philippines, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mulyono remarked.

"I have ensured that the personnel stand prepared. If and when the army receives an order, it will attack the armed groups soon," General Mulyono said during a meeting with a number of editors-in-chief here on Wednesday.

He said the Army Special Forces (Kopassus), the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) and Indonesias Rapid Reaction Strike Force (PPRC) have always been ready at any time.

"We are waiting for an order from our leaders," he affirmed.

"I cannot answer about how to secure the release of the hostages because it does not fall within my authority. My job is just to prepare the troops," he pointed out.

Terrorism expert at the University of Indonesia Al Chaidar had earlier stated that the governments of Indonesia and Philippines should hold joint military operations soon to secure the hostages' release.

"The abduction of Indonesians, who are Muslims, is not in line with the spirit of jihad, ostensibly being waged by the minority Muslim groups," Chaidar stated here on Tuesday.

He affirmed that the recurring incidents of kidnappings of Indonesian sailors by militant groups in southern Philippines amounted to a declaration of war and must be taken seriously by the government of Indonesia.

"The option to use force makes much more sense. If the government negotiates with the Abu Sayyaf group to release the hostages, Indonesian sailors will be kidnapped again," he emphasized.

He pointed out that the negotiation process was more complicated since the hostages were being held in the territory of the Philippines.

"Hence, the Indonesian government cannot act freely," he affirmed.

In addition, a member of the Houses Commission I Elnino M.H. Mohi has emphasized that the Indonesian government should urge the Philippines to implement the trilateral cooperation agreed to by Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia, to handle robbery and hostage-taking cases in their maritime areas.

"We must demand the Philippines to carry out trilateral maritime patrolling properly," Mohi stated.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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