ID :
36591
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 23:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/36591
The shortlink copeid
GOVT MONITORING SAILORS HELD HOSTAGE BY SOMALI PIRATES
Jakarta, Dec 19 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has set up a "crisis center" to monitor developments affecting the fate of 11 Indonesian sailors held hostage by Somali pirates.
Foreign ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said here on Friday the crisis center in carrying out its task would coordinate with various parties, namely the Malaysian government, the Malaysian ship owner, the governments of Yemen and Kenya.
The crisis center already had data on the 11 ship-crew members held hostage since December 16, he said but declined to unveil the crew's identities.
He only said they came from Java and Sulawesi and were born between 1960 and 1980.
The data on the sailors were obtained from the Malaysian ship owner who had been contacted by the pirates.
"Our principles are that we will not have contact with the pirates. We will only conduct coordination with the government and the ship owner," he said.
Until now it was not known how much ransom the pirates had sought nor when the sailors would be released, he said.
What is certain is, he said quoting the ship owner that the Indonesian sailors were all in good health. "Hopefully, they were insured by their company," he said.
The ship was pirated off the Yemeni coast. The pirates who are suspected from Somali also pirated a Turkish cargo ship.
The tug vessel that carried the Indonesian crew belongs to Mas Indra Shipping Malaysian Sendirian Berhad based in Port Klang. When the piracy took place the vessel was on lease to Muhibah Berhard for French company Total.
Foreign ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said here on Friday the crisis center in carrying out its task would coordinate with various parties, namely the Malaysian government, the Malaysian ship owner, the governments of Yemen and Kenya.
The crisis center already had data on the 11 ship-crew members held hostage since December 16, he said but declined to unveil the crew's identities.
He only said they came from Java and Sulawesi and were born between 1960 and 1980.
The data on the sailors were obtained from the Malaysian ship owner who had been contacted by the pirates.
"Our principles are that we will not have contact with the pirates. We will only conduct coordination with the government and the ship owner," he said.
Until now it was not known how much ransom the pirates had sought nor when the sailors would be released, he said.
What is certain is, he said quoting the ship owner that the Indonesian sailors were all in good health. "Hopefully, they were insured by their company," he said.
The ship was pirated off the Yemeni coast. The pirates who are suspected from Somali also pirated a Turkish cargo ship.
The tug vessel that carried the Indonesian crew belongs to Mas Indra Shipping Malaysian Sendirian Berhad based in Port Klang. When the piracy took place the vessel was on lease to Muhibah Berhard for French company Total.
