Thaksin says RI justified in sinking Thai trawler

Thaksin says RI justified in sinking Thai trawler

Agencies, Jakarta

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra admitted on Monday that Thai fishing trawlers had trespassed into Indonesian waters and that the sinking of a vessel with a Thai crew here last week was justified.

"It's true that our fishermen have violated (Indonesian) waters without seeking any permission or license, they have arrested five Thai fishing trawlers so far," Thaksin told reporters as quoted by Agence France-Presse.

Thaksin said the Indonesian navy had sunk the latest offending boat on Friday after evacuating all 18 men on board.

"The Indonesian navy sank the Thai fishing trawler to set an example to others that they should not violate its territory," he said.

Indonesia has been applying strict measures against illegal fishing as it costs the country more than a million dollars annually.

In the past week, the Indonesian Navy sunk two Thai trawlers and confiscated four others in the country's territorial waters.

More than five Thai boats were also seized by Indonesian authorities last month.

Thaksin said he was warning Thai fishermen against fishing illegally in the waters of neighboring nations.

"The Indonesian authorities have repeatedly informed us that they are willing to give licenses to us as long as the fishermen pay fishing fees ... but Thai fishermen continue to violate their territory," Thaksin said.

"If we continue to steal property from our neighbors, they have to teach us a lesson to deter us from further violations," he said.

Indonesian authorities had released 23 crew members after negotiations with the Thai government, Thai Foreign Minister Suraikart Sathirathai said as quoted by Associated Press.

"They have the right to seize the trawlers ... all we can do is to appeal for cooperation from fishermen not to violate other countries' territorial integrity," he said.

Thaksin said the Thai government will pay the air fare and other costs to bring back the fishermen, who were scheduled to arrive back in Thailand later Monday. He declined to say if they would face legal action at home.

Thailand's fishermen often encroach upon the seas of neighboring countries including Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Indonesia, creating diplomatic headaches for the government.

Scores of Thai nationals have been caught stealing fish in Indonesian waters over the past few years as the kingdom's own fishing stocks have become depleted through over-fishing.