President Jokowi: the Release of Four Indonesian Hostages is a Result of Trilateral Meeting
President Jokowi, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, delivers a press statement on the release of 4 Indonesian citizens, on Wednesday (11/5), at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta
Following the release of 10 Indonesian crew members, other four Indonesian sailors of Henry Tug Boat who were taken hostage by a militant group in the Philippines since 15 March 2016, have also been released.
The announcement was delivered by President Joko Jokowi Widodo in a press conference at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (11/5) afternoon. Finally, four Indonesian citizens who have been taken hostage since 15 March 2016 have been released. They are now in good condition, President Jokowi said.
During the announcement, President Jokowi was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo.
President Jokowi went on to say that the release process was successful thanks to good cooperation between the Indonesian Government and the Philippine Government. The Indonesians are now in the hands of the Philippine authorities and will soon be handed over to the Indonesian Government.
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Government of the Philippines for its good cooperation in the release of the Indonesians, President Jokowi said.
The President also said that he is glad that the initiative made by the Indonesian Government to hold a trilateral meeting (between Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines), which was held in Yogyakarta on May 5, has yielded results.
“This operation is one of the results of the meeting, the President added.
For the record, the four Indonesian hostages released were M Ariyanto Misnan (22), Loren Marinus Petrus Rumawi, Dede Irfan Hilmi, and Samsir, all of whom will be immediately flown back to Indonesia. (UN/ES)(RAS/EP/YM/Naster)
