Indonesia returns 42 detained Vietnamese fishermen

Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Pham Vinh Quang said the arrest and detainment of the fishermen in Indonesia is a warning for them about the risks of not understanding, or lacking information on, Vietnam’s and Indonesia’s laws and regulations.

According to the diplomat, the Vietnamese Embassy worked closely with relevant Indonesian agencies to verify information on the case. Efforts had been made to reduce the detainees’ difficulties during their captivity, as well as have the Indonesian side return them.

Those arrested, working on five fishing vessels, had been kept in the Natuna islands since April this year. Most of them, born in the Vietnamese provinces of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Kien Giang, Tien Giang, and Ben Tre, were hired for fishing and seafood processing.

The majority of them said they were simply following the orders they were hired for, without any prior knowledge about Indonesian territorial waters.

Some had also stated that upon returning home, they were to stop sailing due to health issues and old age.

The detainees were set to fly home from the Soekarno Hatta International Airport in Jakarta.

Five captains and 10 witnesses of the five vessels are still detained and are awaiting trial by the Indonesian authorities.