JAKARTA/MANILA: Jakarta banned on Friday any Indonesian-flagged vessels from sailing to the Philippines, the Transport Ministry said, after yet another violent kidnapping in the strife-torn waters between the two nations.
Besides, Indonesia said, a halt on coal shipments to the Philippines will remain in place until Manila can secure its waters after seven Indonesian sailors were kidnapped, the latest in a string of abductions.
The ruling was issued after the government confirmed the Indonesian sailors were kidnapped at gunpoint earlier this week, and were being held hostage by an unknown group.
It’s the third time this year Indonesian sailors have been abducted in the Sulu sea, a vital waterway that’s seen a spike in seaborne crime like armed robberies and kidnappings.
In response to the latest incident, the Transport Ministry issued a notice informing all harbor masters they were “strictly prohibited from issuing permits to all Indonesian-flagged vessels bound for the Philippines, without exception.”
Besides, Indonesia said, a halt on coal shipments to the Philippines will remain in place until Manila can secure its waters after seven Indonesian sailors were kidnapped, the latest in a string of abductions.
The ruling was issued after the government confirmed the Indonesian sailors were kidnapped at gunpoint earlier this week, and were being held hostage by an unknown group.
It’s the third time this year Indonesian sailors have been abducted in the Sulu sea, a vital waterway that’s seen a spike in seaborne crime like armed robberies and kidnappings.
In response to the latest incident, the Transport Ministry issued a notice informing all harbor masters they were “strictly prohibited from issuing permits to all Indonesian-flagged vessels bound for the Philippines, without exception.”
