China Friday lodged solemn representations to Indonesia again
after Indonesian navy fired on a Chinese fishing vessel and
detained its crew members, demanding an early release of the
detained vessel and crew members.
The incident took place at 10:50 AM. local time on Monday in the
Arafura Sea off the Papua Island. The navy fired 13 shots at the
Chinese boat named Fuyuan 123, killing one man and wounding two
crew members. The 10 crew members including the wounded are still
detained in Indonesia.
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang urgently
summoned charge d'affaires of Indonesian Embassy in China and
lodged solemn representations again, a press release by the Chinese Foreign
Ministry said in Beijing Friday.
Shen, on behalf of the Chinese government, expressed
astonishment and strong dissatisfaction over the navy's inhumane
way of law enforcement, demanding the Indonesian side verify the
truth as quickly as possible and keep China informed, the release
said.
Shen also requested the Indonesian side try its best to provide
medical aid to those wounded and release the crew member and
fishing vessel as soon as possible, according to the release.
"China hopes the Indonesian government could take effective
measures to discipline the navy and relevant units, to shun abuse
of force in the course of law enforcement and guarantee no more
incidents of this kind will occur in future," said Shen in the
press release.
"China and Indonesia as friendly countries should deal with
problems in fishing cooperation in a sober and restrained attitude
rather than resorting to use of force at will," said Shen.
Immediately after the incident occurred, the Chinese Foreign
Ministry and Chinese Embassy in Jakarta had lodged solemn
representations to Indonesia.
The charge d'affaires said he will convey China's concerns to
the Indonesian government. The wounded fishermen have been well
medicated and the other crew members nicely treated, he said.
The Indonesian side will handle the incident in an appropriate
way, the charge d'affaires said.
China will soon send a working group to Indonesia to deal with
the incident, according to the press release.
(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2005)