Indonesian Seafarer Repatriated After Being Held Hostage by Houthi Rebels

An Indonesian seafarer has been repatriated after being held hostage by Houthi rebels in Yemen for 111 days.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Surya Hidayat Pratama, a chief officer in United Arab Emirates-flagged vessel Rwabee, arrived in Jakarta on Monday, April 25.

Antara reported that on January 3 this year, Rwabee and all its crew were seized by Houthi group when it was on Al Hudaydah waters in Yemen.

The Ministry, along with Indonesian Embassies in Muscat, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi engaged and communicated with various parties in an effort to liberate Pratama. It also maintained communication with his family in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

While being held hostage, Pratama was also reportedly able to communicate through phone calls with his family members.

And on April 24, he was liberated and able to fly from Sana’a to Muscat with the help of the government of Oman.

Pratama arrived in Indonesia on the next day and will return to Makassar later.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed its appreciation to the Oman government and all parties that were involved in the effort to repatriate the Indonesian seafarer.