Last weekend, three Indonesian sailors were kidnapped in the waters off Malaysia. Armed men had approached the yacht in a speedboat, taken the crew members hostage and abducted them to one of the southern islands of the Philippines. The Islamist terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, which has been wreaking havoc there for years, also claimed responsibility for the kidnapping shortly afterwards.
This year, 24 Indonesian seafarers and several sailors from Malaysia have already been kidnapped. Only 14 of the hostages have been released so far, the rest are still in the hands of the kidnappers.
Each time, the kidnappers demanded a high ransom. Indonesia's government, which categorically rejects ransom payments, has now resorted to drastic measures in view of the latest kidnapping case: It imposed a ban on local yachts sailing to the Philippines.
Escort by warships
However, Indonesia's Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has now told the AFP news agency that they want to make the sailing routes between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines safer in future. Since May, the three countries have been endeavouring to find a joint strategy to put a stop to the ongoing terror in the region.
Until a solution is found, Minister Ryacudu plans to only allow convoys in future. At least ten boats should join together. These would then be accompanied by ships from the respective navies in the territorial waters of the three states.
Kidnappers act with extreme brutality
In view of the insecure situation, foreign crews are strongly advised not to set course for the affected waters. The terrorists are extremely brutal. They do not shy away from murdering their hostages in order to emphasise their demands.
Only at the end of April is the Canadian sailor John R. was cruelly killed after months of being held hostage - and a few weeks later his compatriot Robert H. The two were abducted from a naval resort by Abu Sayyaf supporters in September 2015. The Canadian government also strictly refuses to pay ransoms for compatriots kidnapped abroad.
One year previously, in April 2014, a German skipper couple which was also travelling in the south of the country, was abducted by Abu Sayyaf terrorists and held hostage for six months. And back in 2000, the Philippines hit the headlines in connection with the kidnapping of the Wallert family from Göttingen.
Pascal Schürmann
Editor YACHT
