RI files complaint over territorial violation by KL
RI files complaint over territorial violation by KL
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia has lodged a protest with the Malaysian government over
the foiled arrest of a number of fishermen aboard three Malaysian
trawlers and a possible territorial violation.
Director of the Water Police squad Brig. Gen. N. Sutisna said
on Thursday the fish poachers had used the presence of an
incoming Malaysian warship and helicopter to evade their arrest
by Indonesian officers.
The incident took place in the waters off Jumhur island in
North Sumatra on Wednesday, when the police patrol boat was
escorting the Malaysian trawlers to the nearest port, according
to Sutisna.
"We let go of the fish poachers as we were forced at gun point
by the Malaysian seamen. They intimidated us and made our
officers go aboard the Malaysian naval ship," Sutisna said.
When asked if the Malaysian warship had trespassed Indonesian
waters, Sutisna said: "It's a clear intrusion into Indonesian
territory."
Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials were not available for
comment on Thursday.
The incident added to previous territorial disputes involving
Indonesian and Malaysian military officers. Indonesian and
Malaysian warships brushed with each other on April 8 in the
border area near disputed oil and gas block Ambalat in the
Sulawesi Sea.
Sutisna said the latest incident began when the patrolling
water police intercepted the Malaysian trawlers in three separate
locations in North Sumatra waters, near the international lane of
the Strait of Malacca.
"We captured the first trawler, bearing registration number
PKSB 57, at 6:30 a.m. local time around 11 nautical miles from
Jumur island and found the second, PKSB 646, around 15 miles from
the island at 7:30 a.m.. The third trawler was located half an
hour after the second boat was intercepted," Sutisna said, adding
that the three trawlers were poaching in Indonesian waters.
Sutisna said several police officers had been placed in each
of the trawlers en route to the nearest port, where the fishermen
would undergo questioning.
"Suddenly we saw a Malaysian warship KP Knembela 14 and a M-
502 helicopter approaching," Sutisna said.
Encouraged by the arrival of the Malaysian warship and
helicopter, the fishermen put up a fight, using machetes and iron
bars.
"Since they are foreign citizens we did not fight back. We
were outnumbered," Sutisna said.
He said the trawlers were released after an argument with the
Malaysian navy officers.
"We contacted the Malaysian police afterward, asking them to
arrest the poachers and hand them over to us. But so far we
haven't received any respond," Sutisna said.
He added that he had contacted foreign ministry officials who
were in a meeting with their Malaysian counterparts in Yogyakarta
for talks on the Ambalat dispute.
"We were told the ministry would lodge a strong protest with
the Malaysian government regarding the incident," Sutisna said.