74 Cambodians deported

74 Cambodians deported

SURABAYA: Seventy-four Cambodians were deported on Thursday
after being detained at the Indonesian naval base here with 69
other Thai fishermen for nearly one year.

The naval base's spokesperson, Maj. Tony Syaiful, said that
the Cambodians left from Juanda Airport on a direct flight to
Cambodia.

The International Organization for Migrants (IOM)
representative office in Jakarta chartered a Malaysian Airlines
airplane to take them to Cambodia.

"All expenses were paid by the IOM," Tony said as quoted by
Antara.

Tony said that the boat crews were arrested while poaching in
Indonesian waters. They were picked up by Indonesian Navy warship
KRI NUKU 373 on July 27 and July 28 last year.

The captains, five of them, were sentenced to five years
imprisonment on April 18, plus fined Rp 5 million each.

Earlier on May 10, three Thai fishermen were deported from the
naval base as they were allegedly infected with Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

There are 66 Thai fishermen still being detained at the naval
base.

Tony said he did not know when they would be deported.(hdn)