Thai fishermen to be deported for murder

AMBON, Maluku: Indonesia will soon deport 26 Thai fishermen who are wanted in Thailand for murder.

The 26 are accused of murdering seven other fishermen on September 5 aboard a ship in the Aru Sea in Maluku provincial waters.

The murders allegedly took place after a dispute with the captain of the ship, who was backed by six other crew members.

First Adm. Lili Suparmono, the chief of Ambon Naval Base, said on Wednesday the deportations would be made at the request of the Thai government through its embassy in Jakarta. -- JP