Indonesia sends troops for hostage rescue operation against Somali pirates

[News_Editor]

Indonesia sends troops for hostage rescue operation against Somali pirates

2011-04-16 06:13:32 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- Indonesia's National Defense Forces (TNI) on Friday announced that it had deployed troops to rescue the 20 nationals that were captured by Somali pirates last month.

TNI Commander-in-Chief Djoko Suyanto said two frigates with 401 members of the Marine Corps and the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) on board had been deployed to the Somali coast in a search and rescue operation for the Indonesian crew members taken hostage.

On March 16, Somali pirates hijacked the MV Sinar Kudus vessel, belonging to PT Samudra Indonesia and took 20 Indonesian crew members hostage. The vessel was on its way to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with a cargo of of nickel from Pomalaa, Sulawesi.

Only two days after the incident, the situation was discussed with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Suyanto said, adding that the president had prioritized the safety of the crew.

"Meetings were held again on March 20 and 22 producing two options, namely the government supporting the ship owner to negotiate with the pirates and preparing a special force to raid and take over the Sinar Kudus ship," Suyanto told Indonesia's Antara news agency.

On Wednesday, the Indonesian government had stated it would prioritize ransom negotiations since the use of force posed a greater risk to the lives of the hostages, despite lawmakers calling for the use of force to deal with the situation.

Initial reports indicated 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. Currently, reports say Somali pirates are asking for a $3 million ransom.

And on Thursday, TNI Commander Admiral Agus Suhartono said that if negotiations failed, TNI was ready to deploy forces, although he admitted paying a ransom to free the the sailors offered a better chance of freeing the hostages safely.

However, Suyanto explained that the two frigates had been deployed on March 23, and members of Kopassus were flown to Colombo, Sri Lanka, where the ships would pick up the troops and logistics. On March 30, the ship took off to the Somali coast, where the MV Sinar Kudus vessel had reportedly anchored almost two weeks ago.

Due to the distance between Indonesia and Somalia, the two deployed frigates have not been on schedule, but the ships have been stationed near Somalia to escort the hijacked vessel if negotiations turn out successful.

Suyanto also stated that a helicopter had been sent to check the situation and condition of the vessel, saying that the ship was spotted near the Somali coast, in the middle of dozens of other pirated ships.

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.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-16

[LaoPo]

Suyanto also stated that a helicopter had been sent to check the situation and condition of the vessel, saying that the (Indonesian, LP) ship was spotted near the Somali coast, in the middle of dozens of other pirated ships.

That's a very tricky situation.

I wonder what and how the 2 Indonesian frigates with commandos are going to do to try and save/rescue the Indonesian crew on board of this hijacked vessel in the middle of dozens of other pirated ships.

It wouldn't surprise me if that's the location where pirates are also holding the Danish family and children* who were captured on their yacht some weeks ago.

Tricky business....

* Somali Pirates 'Seize Danish Children' In Indian Ocean (family were taken to the mainland and later moved back onto one of the pirated ships since soldiers were trying to free them; 5 soldiers were killed; LP)

http://www.thaivisa....n-indian-ocean/

* Somali pirates threaten to kill kidnapped Danish family

http://www.thaivisa....-danish-family/

LaoPo