Case Of 15 Indonesian Fishermen Arrested In Australia, Indonesian Consulate Ensures To Provide Legal Assistance

Archives - Fishermen show maps of the Indonesian-Australian boundary line in public Campaigns to Prevent Illegally Cross-State Fishing/DOK BETWEEN

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Consulate in Darwin is currently handling the case of 15 fishermen from Merauke who were arrested by Australian authorities. Dozens of fishermen work on the Nurlela ship and the Putra Ikhsan Jaya ship. "RI “ Consulate Darwin has made consular access to meet fishermen," said the Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens and BHI Judha Nugraha via text message, Antara, Thursday, June 27. Judha ensured that all the fishermen were healthy and still in quarantine in Australia. The Indonesian Consulate is also preparing a Passport Travel Letter (SPLP) document for them. "“Konsulat RI will provide legal assistance and ensure the fulfillment of the rights of fishermen in accordance with Australian law," said Judha. Previously, the Head of the Merauke Rekianus Samkakai Regency Border Management Agency said the fishermen were arrested for illegal fishing (illegal fishing) in Australia. He explained that initially the Australian Authority arrested the Nurlela Fisherman's Motorboat (KMN) with eight fishermen, on Tuesday (18/6) and KMN Putra Ikhsan Jaya, who was manned by seven fishermen, were arrested on Friday (21/6). Shortly after being arrested, he said, their ship was immediately destroyed, while the fishermen were quarantined and detained in Darwin. According to him, none of the two vessels were found to be protected fish in Australia, except for 20 kilograms of fish caught by fishermen from the two ships.

"The two fishing boats are Chinese fishing vessels in the Arafura Sea," he said.