Thaksin says RI justified in sinking Thai trawler<\/p>\n
Agencies, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra admitted on Monday that
\nThai fishing trawlers had trespassed into Indonesian waters and
\nthat the sinking of a vessel with a Thai crew here last week was
\njustified.<\/p>\n
\"It's true that our fishermen have violated (Indonesian)
\nwaters without seeking any permission or license, they have
\narrested five Thai fishing trawlers so far,\" Thaksin told
\nreporters as quoted by Agence France-Presse.<\/p>\n
Thaksin said the Indonesian navy had sunk the latest offending
\nboat on Friday after evacuating all 18 men on board.<\/p>\n
\"The Indonesian navy sank the Thai fishing trawler to set an
\nexample to others that they should not violate its territory,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been applying strict measures against illegal
\nfishing as it costs the country more than a million dollars
\nannually.<\/p>\n
In the past week, the Indonesian Navy sunk two Thai trawlers
\nand confiscated four others in the country's territorial waters.<\/p>\n
More than five Thai boats were also seized by Indonesian
\nauthorities last month.<\/p>\n
Thaksin said he was warning Thai fishermen against fishing
\nillegally in the waters of neighboring nations.<\/p>\n
\"The Indonesian authorities have repeatedly informed us that
\nthey are willing to give licenses to us as long as the fishermen
\npay fishing fees ... but Thai fishermen continue to violate their
\nterritory,\" Thaksin said.<\/p>\n
\"If we continue to steal property from our neighbors, they
\nhave to teach us a lesson to deter us from further violations,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian authorities had released 23 crew members after
\nnegotiations with the Thai government, Thai Foreign Minister
\nSuraikart Sathirathai said as quoted by Associated Press.<\/p>\n
\"They have the right to seize the trawlers ... all we can do
\nis to appeal for cooperation from fishermen not to violate other
\ncountries' territorial integrity,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Thaksin said the Thai government will pay the air fare and
\nother costs to bring back the fishermen, who were scheduled to
\narrive back in Thailand later Monday. He declined to say if they
\nwould face legal action at home.<\/p>\n
Thailand's fishermen often encroach upon the seas of
\nneighboring countries including Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and
\nIndonesia, creating diplomatic headaches for the government.<\/p>\n
Scores of Thai nationals have been caught stealing fish in
\nIndonesian waters over the past few years as the kingdom's own
\nfishing stocks have become depleted through over-fishing.<\/p>",
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