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Friday, March 29, 2024

Widodo: Joint patrols to stop abductions

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JAKARTA—President Joko Widodo on Tuesday proposed joint maritime patrols with Malaysia and the Philippines in response to the kidnapping of 14 Indonesian sailors taken hostage in Philippine waters.

“This week, we will invite the Malaysian military chief and foreign minister, and the Philippine military chief and foreign minister to discuss the possibility of a joint patrol to ensure that the sea lane is safe,” Widodo said at the State Palace in the Indonesian capital on Tuesday.

The president said the process of releasing the Indonesians held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf would not be simple or easy.

“We will find it hard. We must understand that the other cases which have lasted for six and eight months have not been resolved either. In fact, any of them has been executed,” he said, referring to the beheading Monday of Canadian hostage John Ridsdel.

Jakarta President Joko Widodo

“As Philippine soldiers have cordoned off an area… the hostages have been removed to another area,” he said.

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The president said he will never give up trying to release the Indonesian hostages.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that Canada would not pay ransoms for the release of its citizens held hostage overseas.

His comments come after Trudeau delivered the grim news on Monday that Ridsdel had been killed by his captors—the Abu Sayyaf militant group—in the Philippines. Efforts, however, were continuing to try to secure the release of three others, including another Canadian national, he said.

Trudeau said payouts helped to support criminal or terrorist activities, and “endangered the lives of every single one of the millions of Canadians who live, work and travel around the globe” as they could become targets for abduction.

Trudeau said he and British Prime Minister David Cameron agreed in a telephone conversation earlier to press allies on the issue.

“We agreed that it is something that we are going to make sure that we do bring up with our friends and allies around the world as we come to grips with the fact that the world is a dangerous place,” he said.

“We need to make sure that terrorists understand that they cannot continue to fund their crimes and their violence from taking innocents hostage,” he added.

Ridsdel, fellow Canadian tourist Robert Hall, Hall’s girlfriend Filipina Marites Flor, and Norwegian resort manager Kjartan Sekkingstad were kidnapped seven months ago from yachts at a marina near the major city of Davao.

In a recent video, Ridsdel, a retiree in his late 60s, said his captors would kill him on April 25 if a ransom of $6.4 million was not paid.

Hours after the deadline passed, police in the Philippines said two people on a motorbike dropped a head in a plastic bag near city hall on Jolo, one of the Abu Sayyaf group’s main strongholds. 

The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines on Wednesday joined international and local leaders in condemning the murder of Ridsdel.

In a statement, Amcham extended its deepest condolences to the Ridsdel family, friends, and others who were close to him.

“John Ridsdel was well-known to the American business community in   Manila, where he was based for many years. He was a strong believer in the   development of the Philippines, to which he contributed as the senior executive of a   mining company known for its highly responsible practices. He regularly addressed   foreign chamber business fora and advised Arangkada Philippines on responsible  mining policies,” the statement said.

Ridsdel had decided to retire in the Philippines. He made many friends  among many nationalities and loved to sail among the islands from his base at  Puerto Galera.

It was when he responded from his boat moored on Samal Island to a call for help from a neighboring boat that he was seized.   

On Wednesday, military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla confirmed the relief of Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado as commander of the Army’s 501st Infantry Brigade based in Sulu.

He said Arrojado did not resign, because Army officers may not relinquish their post until properly relieved.

Colonel Jose Faustino Jr. replaced Arrojado.

But a source familiar with Arrojado’s departure said Arrojado and Maj. Gen. Gerry Barrientos had a heated discussion Tuesday evening on what approach to take against the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Barrientos is the commander of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division and concurrent commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu which under the Joint Task Force “Zambasulta” (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi).

Padilla, however, explained that such disagreements are normal among officers.

He also dismissed talk that Arrojado was relieved because of Ridsdel’s execution.

“There is no blame game,” Padilla said, noting that Arrojado had served with distinction for two years and five months.

“In the last 18 months he led the campaign against kidnap-for-ransom groups in the island of Jolo.  Army officers usually serve a minimum of one year and six months in major positions to complete their billet requirements.”

Just recently, Arrojado was relieved as commander of the Joint Task Group Sulu, a position he held concurrently with brigade commander. 

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