Secured By Thailand's Bakamla, KNTI Asks The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs And KKP To Move To Help Aceh Fisherman Repatriation

Illustration (Photo: Antara)

ACEH - The Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Association (KNTI) will consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) in an effort to accelerate the return of fishermen from Sabang City, Aceh.

The fisherman named Ade Elfikar (40) was previously adrift in the waters of South Racha, Phuket Island and was rescued by the Marine Security Agency (Bakamla) ship in the Thailand area.

"KNTI Aceh has reported this incident to the Central KNTI in Jakarta, and the center immediately consulted with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the KKP regarding the quick handling of the return of this traditional fisherman from Sabang," said KNTI Aceh Chair Azwar Anas in Banda Aceh, Antara, Friday, June 18.

According to him, the Sabang traditional fisherman was stranded in Thailand because his boat engine was damaged due to being hit by waves while at sea. He was reported missing after departing from the shoreline to the middle of the sea on June 6, 2021.

"After days of being tossed around in the sea, it was finally found on Sunday 13 June 2021 by the Thai Bakamla," he said.

In addition to bad weather, the cause of the incident is generally triggered by boat infrastructure and old Aceh traditional fishing machines. The potential for damage in the middle of the sea is huge, especially with bad weather.

Therefore, he asked the Aceh government to pay more attention to traditional fishermen so that the same incident does not happen again in the future.

"Our hope is for the Aceh government to really care about Aceh's traditional fishermen, in the form of coaching or in the form of boat assistance and fishing gear," he said.