Navy personnel free hostages at sea

Navy personnel free hostages at sea

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Personnel at the Indonesian Navy in Tanjung
Balai, North Sumatra, were engaged in an armed contact with
unidentified persons on Wednesday in waters near Berhala island
in North Sumatra, while trying to free dozens of hostages.

In the gunfight, a navy soldier Second Pvt. Atmoko was
reported to have been seriously wounded in the legs by shrapnel.
But the navy successfully freed the hostages along with three
vessels and detained five of the perpetrators.

Sgt. Maj. Thomas said on Thursday the armed contact occurred,
when two warships, KRI Sibarau and KRI Teluk Sibolga were
encountering three boats near Berhala island which were heading
to Aceh. There were 32 hostages and assailants on board KM Camar,
while other unknown assailants were suspected to have been on
board the other two boats.

When the warships tried to approach KM Camar, all of a sudden
the ships were showered with gunshots by the assailants.

Thomas explained that the warships immediately chased the
three boats and sank one of the vessels, while another one was
abandoned by the assailants.

The warships could hold KM Camar and freed the hostages.

Cases of fishermen being abducted by unknown people has lately
been rampant in North Sumatra waters.

Last week, four crew members from the Musim Mas shipping
company were taken hostage for a month by the assailants. -- JP