Aceh fishermen attack trawler

JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of Aceh fishermen attacked a suspected Taiwanese fishing vessel in West Aceh waters on Saturday for allegedly operating in Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The fisherman seized the documents to the Husada-1205 trawler. The ship was chartered to Jakarta-based PT Samudera Bina Utama and captained by a Taiwanese national Wang Chi Ching.

"The fishermen would not have had the courage to attack the vessel unless they felt that the vessel had violated regulations," chief of Aceh's fishery office Kasbani Kasim told Antara.

The government has banned trawlers to operate on Indonesian waters since 1980 as traditional fishermen could not compete with them. (prb)