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.