UPDATES BACKGROUND
By Ainur Rohmah
TUBAN, Indonesia (AA) – Indonesia has marked its 71st Independence Day with the sinking of 63 foreign vessels accused of fishing illegally in its waters, bringing the number of ships destroyed under the policy to nearly 240 this year.
Comm. Arif Budi Winofa, North Maluku province’s maritime police director, was quoted by kompas.com as saying Wednesday, “the ships were not blown up because it can damage the environment, and the rubble will be strewn everywhere.”
The government of President Joko Widodo has declared war on illegal fishing, implementing a policy of sinking ships guilty of the practice, which reportedly costs the country billions in losses each year.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, the maritime and fisheries minister said the vessels would be sunk in eight locations across the archipelago by punching holes in them so that the submerged wrecks could serve as artificial habitats for fish.
Despite an original plan to sink 71 vessels, Susi Pudjiastuti said action on some would have to be delayed as their legal processes were ongoing.
“There were 63 vessels [to be sunk], not 71,” she was quoted as saying without mentioning the ships’ countries of origin.
Pudjiastuti insisted that Indonesia, while avoiding “excessive” media coverage media — would continue its policy of sinking vessels found to engage in illegal practices, such as employing only foreign crew and using fake licenses, in order to protect the country’s resources.
On Wednesday, the minister attended Independence Day celebrations in the Natuna Islands, where a Chinese ship was recently seized on charges of illegal fishing in a case that drew protests from Beijing.
Meanwhile, amid holiday festivities across the archipelago, police arrested two men who allegedly tried to raise a Daesh flag on top of Mount Sumbing in Central Java province.
National police spokesman Comm. Martinus Sitompul was quoted by detik.com as saying, “there are two suspicious people. After being searched, an ISIS [Daesh] flag, toiletries and supplies were found on them.”
The country has been on alert against extremist activities over the past year, further heightening security measures after an attack in Jakarta left eight people — including four Daesh-affiliated assailants — dead in January.
Indonesia gained independence from the Netherlands on Aug. 17, 1945 and citizens marks the annual holiday with a variety of various festivals countrywide.
