Vintage coast guard outwits foreign armada

PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: Despite often being straddled with just vintage patrol boats, the coast guard showed that it was still a force to be reckoned with when a single patrol vessel captured eight illegal fishing boats.

The 23-man crew of the Sadewa, captained by Maj. Edy H., on Monday captured eight fishing boats manned by Thai crews in waters near Bawal Island.

"Luckily they didn't put up a fight or try to run," remarked senior crew member Lt. Harlianto here Thursday.

"Our ship could only go about six knots while their's could reach between 12 to 20 knots," he remarked honestly.

The crew are being charged with, among others, violating Law No. 9/1995 for entering Indonesian territorial waters without proper documents. (22)