After Receiving Pardon From The Thai King, Now 28 Fishermen From Aceh Are Gradually Returning Home

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - The 28 fishermen from East Aceh who received the Thai royal pardon on the occasion of the birthday of His Majesty King Rama X were gradually returned to Tanah Rencong after undergoing COVID-19 quarantine in Jakarta.

"The 28 fishermen will be immediately repatriated to Aceh in three stages, all of them have also undergone quarantine," said Deputy Secretary General of Panglima Laot Aceh, Miftach Tjut Adek, in Banda Aceh, Thursday, February 3.

Miftach said that the plane tickets for the repatriation of the 28 fishermen to Aceh had been received, and currently they were just waiting for the departure schedule.

Miftach said, according to the availability of tickets, as many as 14 people would be repatriated on Friday (4/2) using Batik Air aircraft with a departure schedule at 08.00 WIB, estimated to arrive in Banda Aceh at around 10:45 WIB.

Then, as many as 12 fishermen were also sent home on the same day, only with different airline schedules and departure schedules. They flew on a Garuda Indonesia plane at 12.10 WIB and arrived in Banda Aceh at around 15.00 WIB.

"Meanwhile, two people will be sent home on Saturday (5/2) on a Garuda plane at 12:10 WIB and arrive in Banda Aceh at 15:00 WIB," said Miftach.

Arriving in Aceh, said Miftach, the fishermen will later be picked up by the Aceh Panglima Laot team, the Aceh Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service (DKP), the Aceh Social Service (Dinsos), and the PSDKP of Lampulo base in Banda Aceh.

As is known, 28 Acehnese fishermen were released by the Thai Phuket Province court after receiving a royal pardon on the occasion of His Majesty King Rama X's birthday in 2021.

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 KRI Songkhla.

After being released, the fishermen arrived in Indonesia on Thursday (27/1), and underwent a COVID-19 quarantine at the Pasar Rusun Flats, South Jakarta for seven days.