Envoy summoned over sunken boats

Envoy summoned over sunken boats

MANILA: Philippine Foreign Secretary Blas Ople will summon the
Indonesian envoy to a meeting over the sinking of four Filipino
fishing boats by Indonesian warships, a diplomatic source said on
Thursday.

Ople will summon charge d'affaires Alexander Natuiriuw on
Friday to ask him to clarify the issue of the boats, which were
sunk Monday while reportedly poaching in the waters of the
Indonesian province of North Sulawesi, the source said.

During the meeting, Ople will ask for a copy of the Indonesian
navy's rules of engagement to see why they opened fire on the
boats.

The Philippines is awaiting an official report on the incident
before deciding whether to file a diplomatic protest, the source
said.

An Indonesian navy spokesman earlier said the boats carried a
total of 49 Filipino crewmen, ignored warning shots and tried to
flee, prompting the Indonesian navy to fire on the vessels' bows.
-- AFP