The Malaysian authorities have finally released 11 Indonesian fishermen from North Sumatra after being detained for two weeks due to an allegation of border trespassing and fishing in Malaysia’s waters.
The fishermen are Helmi Suheri, Muhammad Amin, Juhaeri, Vikindra, Iwan, Darwidin, Amri, Ahmad Dani, Zakaria, Muhammad Rio, and Hasanuddin and they come from Medan, Belawan and Langkat regencies.
The Director General of Fishery Resources Supervision, Syahrin Abdurahman, said the release was the fruit of the talks between Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif C Sutarjo and the Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia on March 11, when the minister asked the ambassador to release the fishermen.
There are still 36 fishermen on the line, waiting to be sent home from Malaysian detention, Syahrin said on Saturday.
PT. Bina Media Tenggara © 2012