Indonesia frees Thai fishermen

Tue, 07 Dec 1999 | 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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