28 Acehnese Fishermen Receive Amnesty On King Of Thailand's Birthday

BANDA ACEH - A total of 28 Acehnese fishermen have been acquitted by Thailand's Phuket provincial court, after receiving a royal amnesty on the occasion of His Majesty King Rama X's birthday in 2021.

"These 28 Acehnese fishermen were released on the basis of granting a royal amnesty on the birthday of His Majesty King Rama X 2021," said Deputy Secretary-General of Panglima Laot Aceh Miftach Tjut Adek, in Banda Aceh, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, January 18.

Miftach said, from the information received, the release of the 28 Acehnese fishermen was conveyed through a letter from the Wichit Phuket Police Station Number 0023(PK)(13)/307 addressed to Indonesian Embassy in Songkhla.

Currently, said Miftach, KRI Songkhla is coordinating with related elements in the context of repatriating the 28 Indonesian fishermen, as well as scheduling travel documents (SPLP) to prepare travel tickets to the country.

Miftach conveyed that the fishermen previously sailed with KM Rizki Laot with the notation 60 GT, and were later arrested by Thai marine security forces in the waters between Yai Daan Island, Phuket Island, off the coast of Phang Nga on April 29, 2021.

Initially, said Miftach, KM Rizki Laot was manned by 34 crew members (ABK). However, when they were arrested, two of them managed to escape using a boat route until they returned to Aceh.

"They were arrested by the Thai authorities for allegedly violating the territorial waters of the local state," he said.

Furthermore, on August 4, 2021 a Thai court acquitted four underage fishermen, namely Hidayatullah (17), Muliadi (18), Muslim Maulana (18) and Jamian (17). They were then deported to Indonesia.

"However, on August 6, 2021, the 28 fishermen were found guilty of violating the law regarding illegal fishing in Thai waters, and now all of them have received royal amnestys," Miftach said.