Aceh Province's traditional fishing community Panglima Laot has coordinated with the Indonesian consulate in Songkla over the detention of these fishermen.
Early this week, the consulate officials had traveled to the place where the Acehnese fishermen were detained, Panglima Laot Deputy Secretary General Miftach Cut Adek remarked.
Panglima Laot has additionally coordinated with the Aceh Maritime and Fisheries Office and Oceanic and Fisheries Resources Surveillance Station (PSDKP), Adek noted.
The Acehnese fishermen's fishing vessel was intercepted by the Royal Thai naval vessel on its way back to East Aceh District through Thailand's sea route after catching fish.
The fishing boat's skipper is identified as Abdul Halim, Adek noted in a press statement that ANTARA quoted in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh Province, on Wednesday.
His 33 crew members comprise Ridwan Daud, Dian, Murdani, Nasruddin, Safrizal, Irwandi, Junaidi, Husaini, Ismail, Aris, Nurdin, Faisal, Abdul Rahman, Muliadi, Sayuti, Abdul Anzit, Zainal Abidin, Junaidi, Abdul Halim, Munir, Hidayatullah, Zulkifli, Darkasyi, Maulana, Joni Iskandar, Boihaki, Muhammad, Jamian, Rusli, Raju Umar, Budi Setiawan, Maulidin, and Ramadhani, Adek stated.
ANTARA noted that prior to this case, the Thai authorities had also arrested 51 Acehnese fishermen last year.
In early 2020, Thai authorities detained 30 Acehnese fishermen and three children after they were caught poaching in Thailand's waters.
Thereafter, in February, 2020, at least 21 fishermen and three children were caught poaching in the country's waters.
The six children were repatriated to Indonesia on July 16, 2020.
Early in October, 2020, the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Association (KNTI) confirmed that 51 Acehnese fishermen had returned to Indonesia after being granted a royal pardon from Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn on his birthday on July 28, 2020.
The fishermen had received the pardon owing to efforts by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry through the Indonesian Consulate General in Songkla.
Related news: 5 repatriated Aceh fishermen allowed to go home: Panglima Laot
Related news: Aceh provides essentials to 28 fishermen quarantined in Jakarta
Related news: 28 Acehnese fishermen self isolate after being repatriated from India
Translator: R.Fajri, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
