"They are in good health condition. I have communicated with one of them, namely Sudirman," Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Four Indonesian seafarers were freed after being held hostages by Somali pirates for almost five years.
"Four Indonesian sailors have been freed at around 13.00 pm local time. They have been transferred to Nairobi, Kenya, on Sunday," Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi stated here on Monday.
The minister said that the names of the seafarers were Sudirman, Supardi, Adi Manurung and Elson.
These four citizens were the crew of the FV Naham 3, a Taiwan-owned fishing vessel seized in March 2012, with 29 crew on board. The four Indonesians were among those taken hostages by the Somali pirates.
"The four Indonesians were among the 26 sailors released," the minister noted.
The 26 seafarers were from Vietnam, Taiwan, Cambodia, Indonesia, China and the Philippines.
The Indonesian Ambassador in Nairobi and a team led by Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, the director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Legal Entities Indonesia (PWNI-BHI) of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, had fetched the four Indonesian sailors.
"They are in good health condition. I have communicated with one of them, namely Sudirman," the minister remarked.
The minister pointed out that they would undergo medical examination for few days before being returned to their respective places.
"Last night, we informed their relatives about their condition," the minister said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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