Military operation to release Indonesian hostages awaits Philippines` approval

From Antara News (Apr 7): Military operation to release Indonesian hostages awaits Philippines` approval

Indonesia awaits an approval from the Philippines to conduct a military operation to release 10 Indonesians held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group, Commander of the Indonesian Armys Strategic Command Lt Gen. Edy Rahmayadi stated.

"We are just waiting for a hint from the Philippine government whether (we will) be involved," the commander noted in a statement, here, Thursday.

The Indonesian government is currently coordinating and negotiating with the Philippine government over the efforts to release the hostages held since March.

As there is no confirmation that Indonesia would be involved in the release efforts, Rahmayadi assumed that the Philippine government was still capable of dealing with the problem and was ready to take responsibility.

The commander affirmed that the Armys Strategic Command was ready to carry out any task for the country.

A joint exercise of swift reaction strike unit involving the Indonesian Army, Navy and Air Force, was held in Tarakan on Sunday.

The strike unit has the capability to secure the release of hostages in any condition, he noted.

He pointed out that the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) has had a good track record in hostage-release operations.

The TNI had succeeded in releasing Indonesian crew members aboard MV Sinar Kudus who were held hostage in Somali in May 2011.

The military operation had been launched after the Somalian government had hinted their inability to tackle the hostage situation and had finally urged the Indonesian government to handle it through a military operation.

In the meantime, President Joko Widodo stated that communication was ongoing, and he was personally monitoring the developments in the hostage case in the Philippines.

"Communications are on, and I have been following the case," he stated after inaugurating the port of Tobelo in North Halmahera in the Indonesian eastern province of North Maluku.

The Abu Sayyaf group had given eight days to the Indonesian government to pay the ransom. As of now, the deadline is just a day away.

http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/104053/military-operation-to-release-indonesian-hostages-awaits-philippines-approval