Jakarta. The Indonesian government is currently negotiating with the Somali pirates who have held hostage four of its citizens for almost a month, although it remains unclear what the hijackers have demanded for their release.

Armed Somali pirates had hijacked the Palau-flagged MT Honour 25 close to the Somali coast on April 21. The 17-crew product vessel had four Indonesian seamen aboard. Foreign Minister Sugiono said Wednesday that the government had spoken to the pirates, but left out details on how the discussions had progressed. 

“This is a hostage situation. So we have engaged in communications, including with the pirates themselves,” Sugiono said, shortly after a closed-door hearing with Indonesian lawmakers on Wednesday.

Asked about the demand, Sugiono only replied that “it is still under discussion”.

Indonesia's diplomatic mission in neighboring Kenya has made some coordination efforts, according to Sugiono. The embassy is also responsible for handling Somali affairs. Jakarta has reached out to the Indonesian Embassy in Islamabad since the Honor 25 crew were mostly Pakistanis.

Somali hijackings are making a comeback as the world scrambles for oil amid shortages fueled by the US-Israel war on Tehran. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping channel for petrol, has ground to a halt following Iran’s retaliatory blockade. The move has caused Brent -- the global crude benchmark -- to skyrocket by 50% since the start of the conflict, now topping $100 per barrel, thus making oil tankers more valuable to the pirates. MT Honour 25 was reportedly carrying 18,500 barrels of oil destined for Mogadishu. 

Family members of the abductees have called on the Indonesian government to bring the victims home. Aside from 10 Pakistanis and 4 Indonesians, the ship had one crew member from Sri Lanka, India, and Myanmar each. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahd Nabyl A Mulachela expressed hopes for the negotiations “to reach completion in the not-too-distant future”.

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