Indonesia confirms 3 fishermen abducted off Malaysia

By Ainur Rohmah

TUBAN, Indonesia (AA) – Indonesia’s foreign ministry confirmed Monday that three of its citizens were kidnapped by an armed group in waters off the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno LP Marsudi told a press conference at her Jakarta office that the abduction over the weekend would not be tolerated.

"Serious efforts must be undertaken immediately, by the governments of Malaysia and the Philippines," she was quoted as saying by kompas.com.

On Sunday, Malaysian police revealed that five gunmen in “military appearance” seized the trio from a Malaysian-registered fishing trawler the previous night, but released four other crew members.

The kidnapping was the fourth this year targeting Indonesian crew on the Sulu and Celebes seas -- where militants based in the southern Philippines, including the Daesh-affiliated Abu Sayyaf, operate.

Seven Indonesians were kidnapped in the Sulu Sea last month, and are believed to currently be held hostage by the group in the southern Philippine island province of Sulu. Those seized in the two earlier incidents were later released, with Indonesia insisting that the government had not paid ransom.

Indonesia’s top diplomat said Monday that one of the suspects involved in Saturday’s abduction had contacted the owner of the Malaysian-flagged ship.

"The hostage-taker had contacted the owner of the ship through the crew being held hostage," Marsudi said without revealing the name of the responsible group or the contents of the communication.

"The Indonesian government is ready to cooperate in efforts to free hostages as soon as possible. The safety of hostages remains a priority," she underlined, adding that she had communicated with her counterparts in the Philippine and Malaysia.

Marsudi stressed that the government also continued to coordinate and communicate with all parties involved, including the captors, in working for the release of the seven nationals held since mid-June.

"The seven crew members, though they sounded tired, they are still in good condition," said Marsudi, adding that authorities believe the hostages are being moved within Sulu as two groups.

President Joko Widodo has asked his Philippine counterpart, newly inaugurated Rodrigo Duterte, to give special attention to the kidnapping problem in the region.

Following the earlier abduction, Indonesia had halted coal shipments to the neighboring archipelago, saying they would only continue if Manila can secure its waters.

In June, defense officials of the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia agreed to conduct trilateral maritime and air patrols in the three countries’ maritime areas of common concern to beef up regional security and thwart criminal activities.

The seas between the countries are a popular route for cargo and passenger ships, with some vessels falling prey to pirates and kidnappers, while others use the route for smuggling.

Kidnap-for-ransom gangs operating in the region are known to hand over their captives to the Abu Sayyaf and negotiate for a ransom that, if paid, is shared with the group.

Since 1991, the Abu Sayyaf group -- armed with mostly improvised explosive devices, mortars and automatic rifles -- has carried out bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortions in a self-determined fight for an independent province in the Philippines.

Earlier this year, the group beheaded two Canadian hostages after ransoms failed to be paid. It has threatened to decapitate a Norwegian captured with them in September if a P300-million ($6 million) ransom demand is not met.