Special team to catch pirates

TARAKAN, East Kalimantan: The local military has formed a special team to deal with armed pirates who have been terrorizing fishermen in the Sebatik village, Antara news agency reported.

Col. Sutardjo, chief of Tarakan military command, said the team will be deployed to monitor the Nyamuk River, Pancang River and offshore areas.

Sutardjo said that so far he did not see any political motive behind some of the recent pirate attacks. They were all purely criminal cases, he said, in response to a question.

Antara said that hundreds of fishermen have been living in fear because of the recent intensity of pirate attacks. In one incident, a fisherman was shot to death. (05)