Revealing the Heroic Story of the Indonesian Navy to Eradicate Pirates of the Malacca Strait through the Film The Hostage's Hero

Film Actor with Vice Admiral TNI (Ret.) Achmad Taufiqoerrochman (Virgi/VOI)

JAKARTA - The heroic action of the soldiers of the Indonesian Navy (AL) in freeing 36 hostages from the clutches of pirates in the Malacca Strait in 2004, is now being brought to the big screen. Through the film titled The Hostage's Hero, the public is invited to take a closer look at the courage of the crew of the KRI Karel Satsuitubun-356 warship.

In this tense operation, the command was held by Rear Admiral TNI (Purn.) Achmad Taufiqoerrochman. He revealed that the idea to film this real story originated from the desire of the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL), Rear Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali.

"This started with Kasal's initiative to raise this story into a film. The producer and director were assigned to my place in Sukabumi. Then I told the story to complete what was in the book, then the script was made," said Taufiqoerrochman in a press conference at the Epicentrum area, South Jakarta, Monday, March 30.

In the process of preparing the scenario, Taufiqoerrochman also joined hands with the Head of the Navy History Service (Kadisjarahal) First Fleet Admiral TNI I Made Wira Hady Arsanta Wardhana. This was done to ensure that the film still adheres to historical facts, but does not lose its appeal as a cinematic work.

Taufiqoerrochman had to think hard to translate the KSAL instructions so that this film would be an educational and entertaining spectacle for the general public.

"We combine the language of military operations with the language of cinema. I know exactly what was carried out at that time. We write the story, then it is processed by the director," he explained.

The retired three-star general also realized that cinema films need a touch of dramaturgy so as not to seem stiff like a library archive. He also gave room for creativity to the director.

"If it is purely from my story, it will be a documentary, not a cinema spectacle. Later, it will be more suitable to be played in a museum. Because this is for the cinema, I leave it to the film people, but I still give a red line (the history)," said Taufiqoerrochman.

Furthermore, Taufiqoerrochman shared a story about the difficulty of guarding the waters which are very different from those on land. According to him, the sea terrain has a unique characteristic because it has no physical boundaries that are visible.

"The sea is unique. If on land there are territorial boundaries, there are demarcation, monuments, and so on. In the sea there is none, there is delimitation. So the limitation is based on coordinate points," he explained.

Therefore, security at sea relies heavily on timeliness, instinct, and strategic placement of military fleets.

"The sea cannot be fenced or occupied, it can only be controlled. The way to control it is by deploying power at the right time and position. Don't let us come, (the pirates) are gone, it doesn't mean anything!" he added.

For information, The Hostage's Hero is a military action drama film that highlights the hijacking of the MT Pematang ship by a gang of armed pirates in the waters of the Malacca Strait.

The story will center on the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Taufiq (the rank of Taufiqoerrochman at that time) - a smart and brave officer - in designing a liberation tactic that seems impossible. Carrying the lives of 36 hostages on his shoulders, Lieutenant Colonel Taufiq and the KRI Karel Satsuitubun-356 team must race against time and the ferocity of the sea waves to launch a surprise attack.

This film, which promises high-level tension, is scheduled to be released simultaneously in Indonesian cinemas on April 2. A number of well-known actors and actresses also star in this film, including Donny Alamsyah, Rifky Balweel, Asri Welas, Bang Tigor, Aditya Herpavi, Chocky Sitohang, Ritassya Wellgreat, and Brata Santoso.