MEDIA PAKUAN, JAKARTA – A short voice message was the final, tense communication for Ashari Samadikun’s family. The captain of the tanker Honor 25 reported that death was lurking in Somali waters.
Now, the fate of Ashari and three other Indonesian citizens (WNI) hangs in the balance, trapped in the arms of merciless armed pirates.
In the midst of excruciating uncertainty, prayers and hopes now rest on the shoulders of President Prabowo Subianto.
Moments of Horror in Omani Waters
This piracy drama began on April 21, 2026. The Omani-flagged tanker was carrying 17 crew members when a group of Somali pirates began to surround it.
Santi Sanaya, the captain’s wife, told how her husband had sent a distress signal before their communication was forcibly cut off by the darkness of the ocean.
However, the most heart-wrenching moment occurred three days later, on April 24 to be precise. Through the ship’s video facilities, the family was able to see Ashari’s face. However, it was not an ordinary longing call.
“In the video call, he (Ashari) was seen being closely guarded by armed pirates. His condition was very psychologically depressed,” said a family representative.
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A Mother’s Moaning to the President
At her residence, Sitti Aminah, Ashari’s mother, could no longer hold back her tears. In a trembling voice, he begged the Head of State to immediately send rescue assistance before it was too late.
“I asked Mr. Prabowo for help, help my child. Now he is in dire need of help,” groaned Sitti.
For the family, this is not just a statistical figure about four Indonesian citizens who were taken hostage, but about the life of a child, husband and father whose lives are now valued with ransom demands by pirates.
Negotiations Under the Shadow of Guns
Until now, the threat of pirates continues to loom. If the ransom is not met immediately, the safety of the ship’s crew is at stake.
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) stated that it had moved quickly through the Indonesian Embassy in Nairobi, coordinating with Somali authorities and local community leaders.
However, diplomacy in conflict areas like Somalia is not an easy matter. Until this news was published, there was no certainty when the four Indonesian citizens would be able to breathe free air.
Real Test of Indonesian Citizen Protection
The Honor 25 case is now a crucial test for President Prabowo’s government in maintaining the sovereignty and safety of its citizens abroad.
The Somali territorial waters are known as the “death route” for international shipping, but the family’s hope remains one: The government must not be defeated by pirates.
Now, the victim’s family can only wait between anxiety and hope, waiting for news that “National Fortress” has succeeded in bringing their foreign exchange heroes back to their homeland safely.***
