Indonesia to hold regional talks after kidnappings at sea

JAKARTA, Indonesia  — Indonesia’s president says the country will host talks with Malaysia and the Philippines this week to boost maritime security following the kidnappings at sea of Indonesians by suspected Abu Sayyaf militants.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said Tuesday that the meeting of foreign ministers and military chiefs will discuss joint patrols to protect shipping in waters between the three countries.

Fourteen Indonesians are among more than 20 people held hostage in the southern Philippines. They were crew members of two Indonesian tugboats hijacked in separate incidents in March and this month.

Abu Sayyaf militants beheaded a Canadian hostage Monday and dumped his head on a roadside in a plastic bag in the southern Philippine province of Sulu.

Jokowi said the government’s information is that the Indonesian hostages are in good health.