"The boats were seized in different sea operations," the commander of the Eastern Fleet Commands task force, Commodore I.N.G Ariawan, said here on Saturday.
The operations included Benteng Ambalat-16 Operation (in the waters along the Indonesia-Malaysia border), the Benteng Tuna-16 Operation (in the waters along the Indonesia-Philippines border), Benteng Kanguru-16 (in the waters along the Indonesia-Timor Lester-Australia border) and Siaga Yudha Operation. These were carried out to check combat readiness in the Indonesian eastern region and were carried out from May till mid-June.
During the operations, the task force deployed KRI Badau (BDU-841), KRI Sura (SRA-802) and KRI Karel Satuit Tubun (KST-356).
"They have caught and detained nine Philippine boats fishing in the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone without any document issued by the Indonesian government," Ariawan stated.
The Philippine boats that have been seized are: KIA Robert Jon Fishing GT 15, KM Santo Nino Jon OI GT 22, Sun Nicholas GT 20, Kkury Guapa GT 15, FB/LB Twin J-105 GT 40, F/BCA Nano Aqua-4 GT 30, FB/LB Rashell DH 101 GT 35, FB Yareyo 291 GT 88 and F/B Rashell GT 125.
"The boats have been taken to the naval bases that were the closest --- Lantamal XIII/TRK, Lanal Ternate and Lanal Morotai --- for further investigation," he added.
Ariawan pointed out that the success was proof that patrol units under the task force (Gupurla) were able to carry out their duties professionally.
"We hope operations like these can be continued so that the security and sovereignty of the Indonesian territorial waters is well protected," he stressed.
The navy and the ministry of fisheries and marine resources had also cooperated to conduct an operation against illegal "rumpon" (fish catching device) in Sulawesi Sea in the Indonesia-Philippine EEZ border on June 12-14.
The operation was aimed at eliminating such rumpon from across the countrys waters as these harm local/traditional fishermen because they change the marine ecology, making it difficult for the big fish species to get closer or enter the four mile below area.
In the operation involving KRI Soputan-923 16 buoys, one attractor, a longtail boat and 16 units of rumpon were taken and put on board KRI Soputan, he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
