"There are around 12,000 Indonesian workers on board both domestic and foreign ships which sail across international waters at present," Fadel said in an economic-related dialog.
He obtained the data about the number after a hijacking incident of an Indonesian ship with 20 crews by Somali pirates almost a month ago.
The minister explained that the thousands of Indonesian sailors spread in various regions in Asia and Europe.
Fadel pointed out that there were around 2,000 sailors in Spain, 600 in Taiwan, and 400 in Thailand.
Therefore he said the sailors had been asked to form an association amongst Indonesian seamen.
"I have asked them to form the association and to remain getting in touch with with Indonesian embassies abroad," Fadel said.
Meanwhile, chairman of Indonesian Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP) faction at the House of Representatives (DPR), Thahjo Kumolo urged the government to immediately rescue 20 Indonesian nationals being held hostage by Somali pirates.
"I urge the government to immediately take action to set free the Indonesian national who are being held hostage by Somali pirates," Tjahjo Kumolo said.
An Indonesian ship MV Sinar Kudus with a cargo of ferronickel belonging to state mining company PT Aneka Tambang was on its way from Indonesia to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, when it was pirated by Somali gunmen on March 16, 2011.
The ill-fated ship left Pomala, Southeast Sulawesi in April for Rotterdam and was expected to have arrived in the Netherlands but it was hijacked and still somewhere at Somali water.
Therefore Tjahjo said freeing the ship`s crew was a matter of national urgency and pride.
(Uu.O001/HAJM/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
