14 Filipino seamen on 2 hijacked Malaysian ships safe--owner

MANILA, Philippines -- The crew of two hijacked Malaysian ships, among them 14 Filipino sailors, are safe, a representative of ship owner Malaysian International Shipping Corp. (MISC) told reporters Thursday night.

Bakri Baharudin, MISC representative, said his company is now negotiating with the Somali pirates who took Bunga Melati 2, with 10 Filipino seafarers, including one who died during the takeover of the ship on August 21, and Bunga Melati 5, with five Filipino crewmen, on August 29.

"They are safe. They are in good condition. Their welfare is OK. They have enough food," he said of all the seafarers held hostage.

He said the MISC will do everything to get the seafarers back safely, "no matter what it takes, how long it takes."

Aside from the Filipinos, the Malaysian ships also had 65 Malaysian crew members when they were hijacked in waters off Somalia. "They are also our concern," Baharudin pointed out.

He explained that ongoing negotiations cannot be rushed. "Our prime concern now is the safety of the crew. We should let the process take place. Nobody can dictate when and where [it will end]," he said.

Asked if the company is willing to pay the ransom the hijackers are demanding, Baharudin said: "We do not have a straightforward solution. The whole thing must come to a balance. If we pay, this might encourage more [hijackings]. Balance must be achieved."

He said he and the Department of Foreign Affairs are meeting every day to keep each other updated on the goings-on in the negotiations.

Aside from the two Malaysian ships, Somali pirates have also in their custody five other ships with Filipino crewmen. These are the Dutch-owned freight ship M/V Amiya with five Filipinos hijacked on May 26; and Iranian bulk carrier M/V Iran Deyanat with two Filipinos, the German-owned freighter M/T BBC with nine Filipinos, and Japanese-owned M/T Irene with 16 Filipinos.

The last three ships were hijacked August 21. - Veronica Uy, INQUIRER.net, September 05, 2008