KKP Returns Four Fishermen From East Aceh From Thailand

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Aceh Provincial Social Service managed to return four Indonesian fishermen to the country after being detained by the Thai Maritime Apparatus.

"As our mandate, apart from protecting Indonesian seas, the state is required to be present among Indonesian fishermen, especially when they are experiencing problems like today," said Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision, Rear Admiral TNI Adin Nurawaluddin, quoted from Antara, Sunday, August 7.

He stated that the return of the four fishermen from East Aceh was welcomed by the PSDKP Base Commander, Lampulo at Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport in Blang Bintang, Aceh Besar, Aceh.

The fishermen, said Adin, were arrested by the Thai Water Authority on Friday, January 28, and returned from Songkla Thailand to Jakarta on July 29, 2022.

Then, he continued, quarantine was carried out before being dispatched to the area of origin, namely Aceh Besar.

"We sent the fishermen home with a series of procedures related to the COVID-19 health protocol. Those who were repatriated came from Motorboats (KM) Sinar Makmur 05 and KM Happy 05 from East Aceh," said Adin.

It is known, that after welcoming the arrival of the four fishermen, the Commander of the Lampulo PSDKP Base, handed them over to the Head of the Aceh Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service, Aliman to be immediately escorted to their respective homes.

"All the efforts we make by collaborating between agencies such as the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service are certainly in line with the direction of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries who always asks the PSDKP staff to continue to build synergies both internally and external environment to provide protection to Indonesian fishermen and to become a stronghold for the KKP in protecting marine and fishery resources," he said.

For information, the fishermen who were repatriated to Indonesia are residents of Seuneubok Baroh, Darul Aman, and Tanjung Mulia sub-districts, Nurussalam District, Aceh.