Fishing boat owner demands compensation from Indonesia
2016/03/24 13:43:45
The two fishing boats arrive in Singapore.
Taipei, March 24 (CNA) The owner of a Taiwanese fishing boat that was fired at by Indonesian patrol boats as it was sailing through the Strait of Malacca March 21 has demanded that Indonesia apologize and pay compensation for the damage, as well as punish whoever fired the shots.
Liouchiu Fishermen's Association Chief Executive Tsai Pao-hsing (蔡寶興) issued the request in Liouchiu Township, Pingtung County, Thursday on behalf of Lee Chang-hsi (李長禧), owner of the "Sheng Te Tsai."
Tsai said at least 12 bullet holes were found on the "Sheng Te Tsai," which arrived in Singapore Thursday morning. Bullets were also recovered from the ship, he added.
At Lee's request, he asked the government to take the shooting seriously, Tsai said.
The "Sheng Te Tsai" and the "Lien I Hsing No. 116" -- both registered in Pingtung's Liouchiu Township -- reported Monday that they were chased and fired upon by two Indonesian patrol boats at 5:48 a.m. that day.
The incident is said to have occurred at the northern entrance of the Strait of Malacca, just over 100 kilometers from the northeastern coast of Sumatra, when the two Taiwanese boats were on their way to Singapore. No one was injured, according to the Taiwanese ships involved.
Tasi said that the "Sheng Te Tsai" will continue its operations after being loaded with fresh supplies in Singapore, but the "Lien I Hsing No. 116" will return to Taiwan ahead of schedule because the family members of its skipper, Chen Fu-yi (陳福益), are worried about his safety.
Taiwan has rejected Indonesia's explanation that the two Taiwanese fishing boats were shot at because they were poaching and attempting to ram an Indonesian patrol vessel.
[Photo courtesy of Tsai Pao-hsing]
Judging from the speeds of the two fishing boats, as shown from satellite positioning data obtained by Taiwan, it is unlikely that they were engaging in any fishing activities at the time, Fisheries Agency Director-General Tsay Tzu-yaw (蔡日耀) said Tuesday.
If in fact the two fishing boats were not involved in illegal fishing, the Indonesian patrol vessels violated international regulations by shooting at them, Tsay said.
(By Kuo Chu-chen and Elizabeth Hsu)
