10 Indonesian Hostages Released, Indonesian Foreign Minister: This is a Total Diplomacy

10 Indonesian Hostages Released

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi quoted the statement from President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo saying that the release of 10 Indonesian nationals held hostage by a militant group in the Philippines, on Sunday (1/5), involved many parties and all Indonesians.

“Therefore, we need to assert that this is total diplomacy, which is not only focused on government-to-government diplomacy, but also involves informal networks,” Retno, who was accompanied by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno and Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, said in a press conference, on Sunday (30/4) afternoon at the Bogor Presidential Palace.

Retno asserted that the Indonesian Government has been established all communications, networks, and options in order to release 10 Indonesians.

“Alhamdulillah, the efforts have brought results,” the President said.

According to Minister Retno, the 10 Indonesians are now onboard at the Zamboanga Air Base to return to Jakarta.

Meanwhile, TNI Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo said that the focus on the effort to release 10 Indonesians held hostage by a militant group in the Philippines is to ensure their safety. ”That was the key,” Gatot said.

As Retno has said, Gatot added, the release of 10 Indonesians hostages is a total diplomacy measures, through both formal and informal networks, and involved the TNI.

“Therefore, the TNI conducted several operations coordinated by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, namely the intelligence operation,” Gen. Gatot explained.

Gatot also called on all Indonesian people to pray so that the other four Indonesian hostages could be safely released as well. “We, once again, will perform a total diplomacy,” Gatot said. (UN/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)