Belgium urges RI to free dredgers

Belgium urges RI to free dredgers

The Belgium government summoned the Indonesian ambassador
Thursday to protest Jakarta's refusal to release three Belgian
dredging vessels that have been cleared by an Indonesian court of
illegally operating in Indonesian waters.

Deputy Foreign Minister Annemie Neyts told Ambassador
Abdulmanan Suleiman that his government must "take immediate
steps to execute the judgment of Indonesian courts and release
the Belgian ships in question with immediate effect."

The three, along with 10 dredging vessels from other
countries, were impounded on July 26 last year and charged with
stealing sand from Indonesian territory for building projects in
Malaysia and Singapore.

On Oct. 9, courts in Karimum and Bintang dismissed the
charges, but levied minor fines for administrative infractions.
"The Indonesian government did not appeal against the verdicts,"
the foreign ministry said in a statement. It added that the fines
have already been paid but "the Indonesian navy ... refuses to
release the vessels." --AP