Boat People Released in East Kalimantan

Samarinda (Antara Bali) - A total of 12 boat people, believed to be originating from Malaysia's Sampurna village were released after being detained, a village head of East Kalimantan province has said.
 
Head of Pulau Derawan village of Berau District, Bahri believed that the 12 boat people who were detained along with their boats were Malaysian nationals.

"I believed they are Malaysian nationals hailing from Sampurna village, but they have been released. Now two fishing boats from Jakarta have been staying here after being arrested in cooperation with personnel from the military and the maritime and fisheries office (DKP), when they were fishing around the waters of Sangalaki Islands and Samama Island," Bahri explained.

The two fishing boats were found carrying two sea turtles when they were arrested, he said. "Both fishing boats have been handed over to police for further investigation. A day earlier (Tuesday), we along with police and subdistrict personnel lifted fishing nets measuring tens of meters long belonging to the two ships," Bahri noted.

However, head of maritime and fisheries office (DKP) of Berau District, Fuadi denied that the 12 boat people are Malaysian citizens.

"In similar cases in the previous years the Malaysian government also did not recognize the boat people either," Fuadi said. (*/DWA)