Thai seamen arrested

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)