The fishermen, who sailed for fishing from Idi Port in East Aceh aboard three vessels, were arrested on Sunday evening, Miftach Tjut Adek, chief of the Aceh Province's traditional fishing community, stated here on Monday.
On August 26, the Thai authorities had also detained 29 fishermen over poaching in the country's waters. They had got sanctioned after being tried at the Thai court, he remarked.
According to Adek, 16 of the 40 fishermen, whose vessels were stopped by the Thai authorities at about 75.8 nautical miles from Phuket Island on Sunday evening, belong to the 24 GT fishing boat MV Iklas Baru.
Meanwhile, 24 others belong to MV Rahmad Jaya (29 GT) and MV Kambia Star (25 GT), he revealed, adding that those fishermen had been carried to the Prom Lam Thep Chelong Police precinct.
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Regarding the arrests of these 40 fishermen, he had reported the case to the Aceh administration, and their identities would immediately be announced, Adek remarked.
Panglima Laot has additionally coordinated with the Aceh Maritime and Fisheries Office and Oceanic and Fisheries Resources Surveillance Station (PSDKP).
ANTARA noted that the Thai authorities have repeatedly arrested Indonesia's traditional fishermen over the past few years.
On April 9, 2021, for instance, Thai authorities detained 34 Acehnese fishermen over poaching in the country's waters.
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.
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In early 2020, Thai authorities also 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.
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Translator: R Fajri, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
