"Repatriation (of Wibisono) has been implemented under intensive coordination between the governments of Indonesia and Vietnam through diplomatic channels between the two countries that have been well established," Maritime Affairs and Fishery Ministrys Secretary General Rifki Effendi Hardijanto said here on Tuesday.
Wibisono is the crew of the supervisor ship Hiu Macan 01 who participated in the arrest of five Vietnamese fishing boats in the Natuna Sea, Riau Islands, on May 21 last.
While carrying out the escort, the fishing vessel (of the Vietnamese) where Gunawan (was in to check), namely KH 97579 TS, sank in the fishing area. Gunawan was then evacuated to the nearest ship, namely the Vietnam Coast Guard ship.
"In a few days, Gunawan was on board the Vietnamese Coast Guard. Arriving at the Vietnam Coast Guard operation base in Ho Chi Min City, Gunawan was then handed over officially to the Indonesian Consulate General in Ho Chi Min City on May 27, 2017," Hardijanto explained.
In addition, the Maritime Affairs and Fishery Ministry (KKP) will also process the repatriation of some 343 crew members of Vietnam which are still housed in the offices of the Technical Implementation Unit of the Supervision of Maritime Resources and Fisheries (PSDKP) premises.
"Fishermen who will be sent home (to Vietnam) are those caught by the fishery patrol ship in various operations for committing illegal fishing in Indonesian waters," according to the PSDKP director general Eko Djalmo Asmadi.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
