Confiscated boats for migrants

SEMARANG, Central Java: The government has agreed to give foreign fishing boats apprehended for violating Indonesian territorial waters to fishermen set for transmigration.

"The President has given the green light to the idea, and now his decree on the matter is awaited," Minister of Transmigration and Resettlement of Forest Nomads AM Hendro Priyono said after a meeting here Thursday.

He said that every year naval patrols confiscated many foreign boats for violating Indonesian territorial waters. It would be better if these vessels, mostly lying idle, be given to fishermen after they have been transmigrated to new areas, he added as quoted by Antara.

Two hundred and fifty six such boats have already been given to fishermen in the last two years.