Thai seamen arrested

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Forty-nine Thai seamen, including five ship captains, are in detention after being rounded up by the Marine Police for illegally fishing in provincial waters.

Southern Sumatra Police Chief Col. Damanhuri said that they were caught during a massive police operation code-named Lumba Lumba (Dolphins) against illegal fishing in southern Sumatra.

Such unlicensed fishing has continued unabated because the local courts have been lenient with violators, Damanhuri complained, as reported by Antara.

All the Thais were arrested on board vessels that carried Indonesian names; Tayu Abadi, Sumber Laut, Charoen Suk, Jasamina and Sriguna. The report did not say whether the boats were registered in Indonesia or elsewhere.

Police also seized seven long nets and thousands of kilograms of fish from them.

The one-month operation that concluded on May 28 also netted 104 Indonesian fishermen and seamen as well as 22 boats for illegal fishing and smuggling attempts. (emb)