(8/7/2010)
Tens of passengers on board the Trisila Bhakti Ferry were momentarily shocked on Monday, August 8, 2010, when armed and masked men suddenly boarded their vessel crossing the straits between Bali and Java.
As reported by TvOne, "terrorists" quickly took control of the ship, demanding Rp. 1 billion (US$108,690) in ransom.
Like a Hollywood action-film, the cavalry soon came to the rescue in the form of a combined force of Indonesian Navy raiders and U.S. Navy Seals who boarded the ship and disarmed the terrorists.
Fortunately, these action scenes were only staged; a training simulation to enhance response to terrorist threats in Indonesia.
After receiving the "simulated" report of a terrorist hijacking, the Indonesian Navy dispatched ships carrying special marine forces assisted by U.S. Navy seals to intercept the ferry traveling from Bali's Gilimanuk Port to Ketapang in East Java. Fully armed and carrying sophisticated weaponry, the combined Indonesian-U.S. special forces team boarded the ferry, disabled the "terrorists" and regained full control of the intra-island ship.
The Commandant of the joint exercise, Indonesian Major Sri Gunanto, told the press that joint preparedness exercises including U.S. Navy Seals had been taking place since July 14, 2010 in the area of Surabaya and the Bali Straits.
A number of anti-terrorist scenarios were practiced in order to improve the ability of the Indonesian forces to respond to any eventuality in the waters of eastern Indonesia.
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