IN PHOTOS: Emotional reunion of freed Indonesian fishermen with their families

Agence France-Presse

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IN PHOTOS: Emotional reunion of freed Indonesian fishermen with their families
The Indonesian fishermen were kidnapped by Somali pirates for almost 5 years.

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Four Indonesian fishermen had an emotional reunion with their families Monday, October 31 after returning home following a kidnap ordeal at the hands of Somali pirates, recalling the horrors they endured.

Looking skinny, weak and tired, the sailors hugged their sobbing relatives at a ceremony in the capital Jakarta that came about a week after they were released, along with 22 other Asian captives following almost 5 years as hostages.

HOME. Freed Indonesian sailors who were held hostage for nearly 5 years by Somali pirates arrive at the Foreign Ministry office in Jakarta on October 31, 2016. Photo by AFP

“We are still traumatized, we’re still afraid,” said one of the captives, 24-year-old Sudirman, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

“We don’t know what we are feeling right now. Even as we stand here, we can’t believe it. Is this a dream? This must be a miracle – thank you God.”

REUNITED. Elson Pesireron (L) hugs his brother Sammy as he and other freed Indonesian sailors who were held hostage for nearly 5 years by Somali pirates reunite with family members at the Foreign Ministry office in Jakarta on October 31, 2016. Photo by AFPThe four Indonesian sailors are part of a group of 26 hostages released by Somali pirates earlier this month after being held for nearly five years following the hijacking of their fishing vessel. / AFP PHOTO / ADEK BERRY

The crew, who also came from Cambodia, China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam, were taken hostage after their fishing vessel was seized in March 2012 south of the Seychelles. 

The Omani-flagged vessel, the Naham 3, was the last commercial ship seized at the height of Somalia’s piracy scourge, with its crew the second-longest held hostage by Somali pirates.

EMOTIONAL. One of the hostage victims Pesireron Elson (L) hugs family members witnessed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno LP Marsudi (R), who is also in tears, during the handover of vicitms in Jakarta. Photo by Antara

Sudirman said the Indonesians spent one and a half years on the boat before being taken ashore and held at a site in the wilderness.

He said the captives were usually only fed once a day with spoiled bread or rice and red beans, and half a liter of dirty water, leading them to suffer from constant diarrhea.

TEARS. One of the ship's freed hostage victims, Sudirman (L), hugged his family members during the handover of victims. Photo by Antara

Some days the hostages got nothing, forcing them to hunt for their own food in the form of rats and cats, he said, but added this could be dangerous.

“If we got caught our hands and feet would be tied up and we would be hung upside down, it hurt a lot,” he said. 

FINALLY TOGETHER. Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affair Retno Marsudi (R) looks on as Adi Manurung (3rd R), and Supardi (2nd L), two of four freed Indonesian sailors who were held hostage for nearly five years by Somali pirates, are reunited with relatives at the Foreign Ministry office in Jakarta on October 31, 2016. Photo by AFPThe four Indonesian sailors are part of a group of 26 hostages released by Somali pirates earlier this month after being held for nearly five years following the hijacking of their fishing vessel. / AFP PHOTO / ADEK BERRY

Pirates initially took 29 crew hostage, but one person died during the hijacking, and two more died from illnesses – including an Indonesian – during their captivity.

The first major commercial vessel was hijacked by Somali pirates in 2005 and the industry flourished in a country wracked by years of civil war and with few jobs and no central government. – Rappler.com

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