Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Twelve of 13 Indonesian nationals released recently by Somali pirates who had taken them hostage arrived at Jakarta`s Soekarno-Hatta international airport at 10 on Thursday night.

"Sorry, I cannot comment too much because I still feel stressful and just want to see my family first," said Imanuel Rahayaan, one of the former hostages said at Sukarno-Hatta airport.

Asked about his experience during his captivity, Imanuel just kept silent while his colleagues were also reluctant to talk much and tried to avoid the press.

They were then seen leaving the airport for their respective homes in a hurry.

Meanwhile, the hostages` legal counsel , Muhammad Ali, said only 12 of the 13 hostages from Indonesia arrived at Soekarno-Hatta airport by Qatar Airways on Thursday night.

But he added that the 13th ex-hostage, named Djasmil, would arrive on Friday night.

Ali said the Indonesian nationals had been held hostage by the Somali pirates since May 2011.

"But luckily , thanks to the assistance of the Indonesian government, they have now arrived back in Indonesia after being held hostage for seven months by Somali pirates," Ali said.

He said the 13 Indonesian crew of MT Gemini, a tanker under Singapore`s flag, were taken hostage when their ship was carrying 28,000 tons of crude palm oil from Indonesia to Kenya.

The ill-fated tanker was manned by a crew consisting of 13 Indonesians, five Chinese, four South Koreans, and four Myanmarese.(*)
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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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