Fishing firms attacked by mobs

Fishing firms attacked by mobs

JAKARTA (JP): Fishermen and fishing boats of PT Djarma Aru in
Merauke, Irian Jaya, have of late been afraid of going out to sea
after two recent brutal attacks by mobs, Arudya, chief of the
company's fishing fleet said.

Arudya said in a statement sent from Merauke on Thursday that
one fishing boat, MS Jala Perkasa, was attacked and torched by
30 people on Monday and its eleven crew members were still
missing as of Thursday.

Two days earlier, another fishing boat, MS Kimaam 15, was also
reported to have been held by a mob and the local police were
still searching for the seven crew members.

"The police should take firm action immediately to stop these
acts of brutality against local fishermen, otherwise local
fishermen and the two major fishing companies in the regency, PT
Djarma Aru and the Djajanti Group, will not be able to resume
normal operations," Arudya added. (iwa)