A protest was held outside the Indonesia Embassy in Lebanon on Friday over the continued seizure of the Lebanese “Seniha-S” ship by pirates in Indonesia.
Employees who worked on the ship, which was hijacked by pirates in Batam, Indonesia, five years ago, participated in the protest alongside some of its owners, according to the National News Agency (NNA).
Security forces deployed in the area of the protest and initially attempted to prevent protesters from approaching the embassy building.
The protesters called upon Indonesian President Joko Widodo to intervene to “combat international terrorism and free the ship.”
One of the owners, Raef Sharafeddine, who is also the legal representative of the company that operates Seniha-S and the company’s official spokesperson, led the protest.
“We bet on the credibility of the Indonesian president and his keenness on the reputation of his country and its international obligations,” Sharafeddine said in a speech.
He also led a delegation that managed to gain entry into the Indonesian Embassy to discuss the situation of the ship.
According to the NNA, the delegation received a promise from embassy officials to pursue the case, and its members are now set to meet the Indonesian ambassador to Lebanon to follow up on the matter.
