- AP Photo/ Arabian Navy
VIVAnews - Somali pirates have doubled their ransom demand over 20 ship crews of Indonesia's Sinar Kudus. Earlier, the pirates requested US$2.6 million. However, the demand was multiplied to US$3.5 million.
Son of the ship's captain Rezka Judittya Dian Pratama said the rising demand was a result of the unresponded claim offered by the pirates to both the Indonesian government and ship owner PT Samudera Indonesia.
"They raised the ransom demand because no responses have been forwarded," he said on Sunday.
Rezka said he can still maintain communications with Slamet Juari, his father and ship's captain, on Sunday morning. Yet, out of the blue, he lost contact with Slamet. The pirates seemed to restrict contacts with shipcrews' families.
According to Rezka, quoting Slamet, the pirates will not throw in much time to the Indonesian government and PT Samudera Indonesia to meet the demand. "My dad said that if either the Indonesian government or Samudera Indonesia fails to get the demand settled, more demands will follow," he said.
The latest update from the ship showed that 12 ship crews are suffering from serious illnesses. The pirates, on the other hand, ration out food and drink supply to the hostages.
Earlier, Presidential spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has instructed the related ministry to deal with the pirates. "It takes time to set out a rescue mission," he said.
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