Indonesia returns 51 Vietnamese fishermen

Thứ Hai, 03/10/2016, 15:04

JAKARTA - Indonesia on October 2 at the Soekarno Hatta International Airport repatriated 51 Vietnamese fishermen who were detained within four months in Natuna island for illegal fishing in Indonesia’s seas.

Most of the fishermen were from the central provinces of Quang Binh and Binh Dinh, and the southern provinces of An Giang and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

According to Nguyen Thanh Giang from the Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia, some 300 Vietnamese fishermen have been brought home from the beginning of September until now, 228 of them was transported on September 15 by sea.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Hoang Anh Tuan in a meeting with Vietnamese fishermen in Tanjung Pinang jail in Indonesia (Source: Facebook of the embassy)

The number of Vietnamese fishermen arrested in Indonesia surged in recent times, raising difficulties for both countries’ authorities in bringing them back home.

The Embassy said some 800 Vietnamese fishermen captured by Indonesian forces for entering into their seas, have been repatriated so far this year. Almost tools and assets on the ships of Vietnamese fishermen were confiscated, while their ships were destroyed sunken.

Indonesia has affirmed that it will continue its strict measures against fishing vessels operating illegally in its waters. Two months ago, the country destroyed 23 impounded foreign fishing boats, some of which were from Vietnam.

VNA