Indonesia rejects use of military force to rescue hostages held by Somali pirates

[News_Editor]

Indonesia rejects use of military force to rescue hostages held by Somali pirates

2011-04-14 04:10:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- The Indonesian government on Wednesday reiterated it will continue negotiating with Somali pirates to release 22 Indonesian sailors who were taken hostage during an attack last month, despite mounting calls for a military deployment.

The Jakarta Globe reported that the government maintained it will prioritize ransom negotiations since the use of force posed a greater risk to the lives of the hostages. Lawmakers are now calling for the use of force to deal with the pirates who hijacked the MV Sinar Kudus vessel, belonging to PT Samudra Indonesia, on March 16.



Initial reports indicate that the first ransom demand was worth about $9 million, as the Somali pirates declined an offer of $2.5 million. PT Samudra Indonesia then reportedly offered $6 million before reducing it again to $3.5 million.


M. Najib, a lawmaker and member of House of Representatives Commission I, which oversees defense and foreign affairs, said the government should not show weakness in dealing with piracy. However, Djoko Suyanto, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Legal, Political and Security Affairs, said there were cases when rescue operations led to fatalities.



The calls came after Somalian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mohamud Olow Barow, said sending Indonesian navy ships is an option if negotiations failed. He added that at least 70 percent of piracy cases were settled with the ship's owner paying the ransom, although negotiations on an acceptable amount could take months. 


In recent years, Somali pirates have hijacked hundreds of ships, taking in hundreds of millions of dollars in ransom, but hostages are usually treated well and released in healthy conditions after a ransom is paid. Ships are patrolling the shipping lanes near Somalia in an effort to reduce hijackings, but the anti-piracy force has warned that attacks are likely to continue.

According to a recent study, maritime piracy cost the global economy up to $12 billion last year, with Somalia-based pirates responsible for 95 percent of the costs.

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