Search for 5 Journalists and 3 Crew Members Terminated, Sports Minister Erick Thohir Offers Prayers for Families
The Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia, Erick Thohir, has expressed profound empathy to the families of five journalists and three crew members of the KM Arupadhatu I, who lost contact in the waters of the Sunda Strait while performing reporting duties on the activities of Mount Anak Krakatau.
Minister Erick made this statement following the decision by the joint SAR (Search and Rescue) team to terminate the search operation after ten days. During the operation, the SAR team conducted sweeps via land, sea, and air, but has yet to find any signs of the vessel or the eight individuals on board.
“After ten days of searching, this decision is certainly not easy for anyone, especially for the families who have been waiting for news and hoping that their loved ones will return. On behalf of myself and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, I express my deepest prayers and empathy to the families of the five journalists and three crew members. We understand that until this day, hopes and prayers continue to be offered,” said Minister Erick.
The Minister emphasised that the termination of the search operation does not mean that attention to the whereabouts of the journalists and crew members has ceased. He expressed hope that monitoring in the Sunda Strait waters would continue to provide opportunities for new, actionable information to emerge.
“The search has indeed been halted in accordance with procedure, but our prayers and hopes must not stop. We hope that monitoring continues, and if there is any new information or clues, they can certainly be followed up immediately according to the existing authority. We all still hope for good news to arrive,” he said.
Erick also reiterated the importance of safety for members of the press when performing their duties. According to him, journalists play a vital role in providing information to the public, even when working in high-risk situations.
“Journalists perform an important task for society. They depart carrying the responsibility to present information to the public. Their safety is also our collective responsibility and concern,” said Erick.