Việt Nam protests Indonesian attack on fishermen

November 11,al ittihad kalba 2016 - 10:53

Việt Nam strongly protests the use of force by Indonesian forces against Vietnamese fishermen and their fishing vessels, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lê Hải Bình said yesterday.

Việt Nam strongly protests the use of force by Indonesian forces against Vietnamese fishermen and their fishing vessels, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lê Hải Bình said yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam strongly protests the use of force by Indonesian forces against Vietnamese fishermen and their fishing vessels, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lê Hải Bình said yesterday.

He made the statement in reply to a reporter’s query on Việt Nam’s reactions to an October 21 incident in which an Indonesian navy ship chased and shot at two Vietnamese fishing boats, injuring three of 13 fishermen on board. One later died due to serious wounds.

The fishing boats were operating in the overlapping waters in the exclusive economic zone delineated by Việt Nam and Indonesia.

The Indonesian actions are not commensurate with the strategic partnership between Việt Nam and Indonesia, as well as the principles of humanitarian treatment of fishermen, Bình said.

“Việt Nam requests competent Indonesian agencies to promptly clarify the incident, seriously punish violators, and satisfactorily compensate the Vietnamese fishermen,” the diplomat stated.

On November 1, a Foreign Ministry representative handed over a diplomatic protest note to the Indonesian Embassy’s representative in Hà Nội.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia is also working closely with Indonesian agencies to obtain more information and offer timely assistance to the injured fishermen, Bình said.

He extended deep sympathies to the family of the bereaved, assuring them that the Vietnamese Embassy is co-ordinating with competent Vietnamese and Indonesian agencies to bring the body home as soon as possible. — VNS