Dozens of protesters from the Confederation of Indonesian Worker's Unions, or KSPI, rallied at the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta on Thursday (14/07), demanding the Philippine government make more effort to release ten Indonesian sailors taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf militant group.
KSPI general secretary Muhammad Rusdi told reporters the Philippine government had no control over the militant rebels led by Abu Sayyaf and is unable to maintain security in Southern Philippines.
“The Indonesian and the Philippine governments had both failed to protect our sailors. We've fallen into the same trap four times in the last four months,” said Rusdi at the Philippine Embassy on Jalan Imam Bonjol in Central Jakarta.
He said the group supported the Indonesian Military's (TNI) plan to launch a military operation to release the hostages and prevent further attacks.
“The government never told us how they negotiated with the kidnappers. We believe that paying ransoms will only encourage them to kidnap more Indonesian sailors. It's time for Indonesia to show some dignity,” Rusdi said.
The protesters brought provocative banners during the rally, two of which say “Go to Hell the Philippines and Abu Sayyaf” and “Free the Hostages or We Will Destroy the Phillipines and Abu Sayyaf.”
The Philippine Embassy let in two representatives of the group to discuss their demands with embassy staff.
The protesters plan to march on to the Manpower Ministry office on Jalan Gatot Subroto, saying that the ministry has done nothing to protect the Indonesian workers who were taken hostage.
Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia have been in intensive talks to find ways to free the ten Indonesian ship crews.
Three more Indonesians were kidnapped by an armed group — allegedly part of the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group — off the coast of Lahad Datu in Sabah, Malaysia, on Saturday. They were reportedly taken to the group's base in the Sulu Sea in Southern Philippines.
This was the fourth kidnapping of Indonesian sailors in as many months.
Last month, seven Indonesian sailors were abducted by two armed groups, also affiliated with the Abu Sayyaf, in the Sulu Sea.
Chief Security Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said on Tuesday that a military operation is not an option at this stage as the Philippine constitution forbids foreign military operations within its borders.
The Asean Code of Conduct also restricts military involvement by member states in other Asean countries' domestic affairs.
“The government never told us how they negotiated with the kidnappers. We believe that paying ransoms will only encourage them to kidnap more Indonesian sailors. It's time for Indonesia to show some dignity,” Rusdi said.
The protesters brought provocative banners during the rally, two of which say “Go to Hell the Philippines and Abu Sayyaf” and “Free the Hostages or We Will Destroy the Phillipines and Abu Sayyaf.”
The Philippine Embassy let in two representatives of the group to discuss their demands with embassy staff.
The protesters plan to march on to the Manpower Ministry office on Jalan Gatot Subroto, saying that the ministry has done nothing to protect the Indonesian workers who were taken hostage.
Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia have been in intensive talks to find ways to free the ten Indonesian ship crews.
Three more Indonesians were kidnapped by an armed group — allegedly part of the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group — off the coast of Lahad Datu in Sabah, Malaysia, on Saturday. They were reportedly taken to the group's base in the Sulu Sea in Southern Philippines.
This was the fourth kidnapping of Indonesian sailors in as many months.
Last month, seven Indonesian sailors were abducted by two armed groups, also affiliated with the Abu Sayyaf, in the Sulu Sea.
Chief Security Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said on Tuesday that a military operation is not an option at this stage as the Philippine constitution forbids foreign military operations within its borders.
The Asean Code of Conduct also restricts military involvement by member states in other Asean countries' domestic affairs.
http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/protest-philippine-embassy-jakarta-hostage-crisis-worsens/
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