Jakarta,<strong><em> NU Online</em></strong><br /> Various steps have been taken to immediately release MV Sinar Kudus which is Indonesian flagged and owned bulk cargo carrier and has been hijacked by Somali pirates.<br /> <br /> The owner of the MV Sinar Kudus, PT Samudera Indonesia has called on secretary general of the International Conference of Islamic Scholars KH Hasyim Muzadi to help free the Indonesians currently being held hostage by Somali pirates through ulema grouped under the NU's international organization. <b<>r /> <br /> The PT Samudera Indonesia considered Hasyim one of key actors for successfully helping release Korean hostages by Taliban in Afghanistan.<br /> <br /> Concerning the case, Hasyim held a meeting with Somali Ambassador to Indonesia Muhammad Alu here over the weekend. The meeting was attended by officials of the PT Samudera Indonesia, Mali Mulya (president director) and Adham (director) and Sudanese prominent ulema Syarif Ahmad.<br /> <br /> "Yes, ICIS is asked to take all necessary measures to protect the MV Sinar Kudus owned by PT Samudera Indonesia," Hasyim said, adding that he would take strategic measures to deal with the Indonesians being held hostage by Somali pirates.<br /> <br /> "ICIS will conduct intensive efforts for seeking solutions. Through a network of ulema in the country, ICIS (will) try to figure out on how to be in contact with&nbsp; the (Indonesian) hostages," he said.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile the Indonesian Army (TNI) said it was considering the possibility of sending troops to free the Indonesians currently being held hostage by Somali pirates.<br /> <br /> &ldquo;We will consider [the possibility],&rdquo; TNI spokesperson Rear Adm. Iskandar Sitompul said, as quoted by <em>tempointeraktif.com</em> on Sunday.<br /> <br /> Several legislators have said the military should send officers to Somalia, where 20 Indonesians are currently being held captive by pirates since their ship was hijacked in the middle of last month near the Arab peninsula.<br /> <br /> Iskandar said the military had yet to receive an official request from legislators on the matter.<br /> <br /> &ldquo;We have only heard about it from the media,&rdquo; he said.<br /> <br /> The military has sent special forces to rescue hostages before, for example the rescue of 48 passengers of a Garuda Indonesia aircraft in Don Muang, Thailand, in 1981. (dar)

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