Indonesia frees Thai fishermen

Tue, 07 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB | Source: AP

BANGKOK (AP): About 1,000 Thai fishermen arrested by Indonesia
last month for intruding in its waters were freed with their
boats and returned home to southern Thailand, Thai television
reported on Monday.

The fishermen, back in the Thai port town of Ranong, 470
kilometers south of Bangkok, told the ITV television network they
were released after paying fines.

Around 200 Thais remain under arrest, but Thai foreign
ministry spokesman Don Pramudwinai expected them to be freed
soon. Thai embassy officials in Jakarta had been in contact with
the Indonesian government about their release.

About 56 Thai boats with more than 1,200 fishermen on board
were caught fishing in Indonesian waters late last month after
seeking seas to trawl when Thai boats were barred from Myanmar
waters during a bilateral spat.

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