Regent protests arrest of fishermen

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