Regent protests arrest of fishermen

NUNUKAN, East Kalimantan: Nunukan Regent Abdul Hafidz Ahmad has cried foul over the impounding of 11 trawlers and the arrest of their crews for allegedly using nets in waters off neighboring Tarakan regency.

He said the arrests by authorities in Tarakan "belittled" the people of Nunukan.

Hafidz threatened to take legal action should the boats and their owners, from Nunukan, not be released soon.

The fishermen were arrested by the Navy when found using nets. Five of the trawlers are being held by the Nunukan fisheries office and another six by the Navy.

Lt. Col. Slamet, chief of the Tarakan Navy command, said the crew were arrested and charged with violating the country's fishing regulations because they used banned nets.

Slamet said the trawlers, which had been operating in Tarakan waters for a long time, were rounded up during a Navy operation involving traditional fishermen from Bunyu Island.

He acknowledged that the arrests were made despite the fact the fishermen were able to show fishing documents, including those issued by the Nunukan regency administration and the local maritime police. --Antara