How Could the Abu Sayyaf Release Indonesian Hostages in 2016

After thesis defense with the lecturers and the Prof

In 2017 was one of the historical years in my life where I had obtained my degree in Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Communication Sciences. Before I got my degree, I had to finish my undergraduate thesis as the main requirement of graduation. The title of my undergraduate thesis is “Negotiation Communication Strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia in an Effort to Release the Indonesian Hostage by Abu Sayaf”. Most of my friends said, what Aulia? Are you insane? That’s very extreme. Meanwhile, I chose this topic as it is the combination of my educational background and my passion in International Relations. I am proud of myself that I nailed it and ended with a good GPA. That’s is a brief story on my undergraduate thesis so I will share to you about my thesis succinctly.

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In March 2016, 10 Indonesian citizens had been kidnaped by Abu Sayyaf (a military group part from MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) that always refuse any peace action with the Philippines Government) when they were sailing from Sungai Putting, South Kalimantan to Batangas, South Philippines. Before kidnaping the Indonesian crew ship, they had kidnaped people from various countries such as US citizens (in 2001), International Red Cross employee (in 2009), The citizens from Canada, Norway, and Malaysia (in 2015). Indeed this case itself threatened the credibility of both government Indonesia and the Philippines since the Abu Sayyaf group asked for the fine otherwise they would kill those Indonesian hostages. Remembering the protection of Indonesian citizen has always been the priority of Indonesia’s foreign policy under H.E Mrs. Retno Marsudi Chairmanship, Indonesia government team (particularly Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and Indonesian Consulate in Davao, Southern Philippines) had struggled for many efforts to liberate Indonesian citizens that were being kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf without pay for any fine.

In December 2016, the President of Indonesia, H.E Mr. Joko Widodo, and the Foreign Minister of Indonesia H.E. Mrs. Retno Marsudi proudly announced that 10 hostages had been released. They had emphasized that the liberation efforts had already been successful without paying any fines. However, it left many questions as at that time, there was no any media explaining how could it happened in detail. It brought me to explore what kind of diplomatic technic or strategic communication they had used, what kind of the steps for this negotiation communication, and what kind of obstacles they had to face. As a qualitative researcher, I had interviewed two diplomats in the Directorate of the Protection for Indonesian Citizen, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia who had been assigned to evacuate those Indonesian hostages in Davao, South Philippines; Mr. Clement Bektikusuma and Mr. Hernawan Bagaskoro Abid.

The Strategic of Negotiation Communication

MoFA RI had implemented five strategies successfully. First, maximizing the good relations between Indonesia and the Philippines. Historically, the relations of Indonesia and the Philippines have been established for a long time as Indonesia also influenced Islamic History in the southern Philippines area. Second, selecting the diplomats and providing advanced training. MoFA Indonesia provides training in three diplomatic levels; Junior, Middle, Senior. Third, evaluating the communication process from a previous similar case in order to prevent upcoming cases. Fourth, offering many aids to the local citizen in South Philippine in various sectors (particularly in the economic and education sectors) to leave a positive impression. Fifth, be flexible and optimized. The government did assistance to the company with the comprehensive communication approach to know more what Abu Sayyaf deeper, what they wanted, the reasons behind why they kidnapped Indonesian citizens. The Diplomats should be optimized during the tight negotiation time.

The Negotiation Steps

The MoFA RI had passed six negotiation steps effectively. First, prepare the command meeting from the director. Second, building the command center in the PT Patria Maritime Line as the company that employed those Indonesian hostages. Third, establishing the communication topic started by Islamic development in the Philippines to distract fine requests. Fourth, research on the development in the South Philippines. At this step, the Indonesian Embassy in Manila and the Indonesian Consulate in Davao assisted a lot. Fifth, Negotiating between Indonesian and the Philippines Government. The citizens of Southern Philippines’ daily needs very depends on the importer from Indonesia and the Indonesian government also offering the scholarship for those who want to study Islamic in Aceh’s province for South Philippines’ citizen. Moreover, the Indonesian government had assisted the reconciliation of local conflict in the southern Philippines in the past times. The last, releasing the ten Indonesian hostages in a safe situation without any fines and injuries.

The Obstacles

MoFA Indonesia faced four obstacles during liberation efforts. First, this case was unprecedented and the first piracy case on the big scale. Second, the anxiety after the execution of a Canadian citizen by Abu Sayyaf. They executed as the Canadian government refused to pay the fine. Third, unstable telephone networking. The Abu Sayyaf group only chose the telephone as a communication tool so that they had no other alternative communication tool. Fourth, the pressure from local media in Indonesia that susceptible to leak any upcoming plans of the Indonesian government.

Final Result

This international negotiation between MoFA Indonesia and South Philippines involved many elements between both government and non-government sides. The negotiation result gave benefit to both sides. On the Indonesian side, they could evacuate the 10 Indonesian hostages without any fines in safe situation. Meanwhile, from the Philippines side, they got the support to develop their region from the Indonesian government. The Diplomats from Indonesia has performed the assignment very well and professionally. Monitoring the development of the hostages and analyzing the potential aids. Representing their country and the most important thing is being the negotiator in the liberation effort.