RI protests fishing-boat sinkings

Sat, 19 Jun 2004, 00:00 WIB | Source: DPA

AUSTRALIA: Indonesia has lodged a formal protest over a crackdown
on poaching by Australian authorities that led to last month's
sinking of two Indonesian fishing boats and the repatriation of
their crews from Darwin, news reports said on Friday.

Indonesian ambassador to Canberra Imron Cotan requested an
explanation of the new policy, under which offending vessels are
sunk, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Previously, boats were impounded and crews held aboard until
their cases had gone to court, after which the Indonesian owners
could repossess their boats.

Canberra officials said the change in policy reflected the
increasing size and sophistication of Indonesian trawlers caught
poaching in Australian waters. -- DPA

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