Myanmar Returns 5 Indonesia Fisherman

Five traditional Aceh fishermen detained in Myanmar sentenced after two years in prison, a pardon from the Government of Myanmar.

The news was delivered by a permanent member of the Agency for International Support for Fisheries Workers (International Collective Support of Fishwoker-ICSF) from Aceh, M Adli Abdullah. "We have reports from members of the ICSF in Myanmar and also the Embassy of Indonesia," he said in Banda Aceh on Wednesday (07/07/2010).

The five fishermen were dumped into the waters of the South Myeik, Myanmar while sailing looking for sharks. The court there decided they were guilty, because it entered the area without permission and sentenced each to two years imprisonment.

To this day, said Adli, five fishermen were still in the region and the South Myeik Indonesian Embassy in Myanmar are trying to move them into Kadubes RI headquarters in Rangoon, while awaiting repatriation process.

"After the deportation permission to fall, they will be repatriated to Aceh," said Adli.

As reported previously okezone, five fishermen were initially declared missing after departing from the fish pier Lampulo, Banda Aceh, June 3, 2010. They set sail with a boat engine, looking for sharks off the coast.

Finally, they have been dumped into the unknown waters of Myanmar. Happenings stranded there originated from the boat engine failure at sea and they are resigned to the wind.

The five fishermen were Irwanto (38), Mahlil (28), Faisal (25), Banta Lidan (45), residents of Banda Aceh and Shamsuddin (45), residents of Southwest Aceh district.

Since they are listed as missing until the note stuck to the Land of the Military Junta, their families in Aceh agitated and restless.

Adli said, very often visited and telephoned the family fisherman to ask their fate.

Since they do not return, the wife of the fishermen were forced to provide for his family by working singly. "I work selling cookies in the stalls," said a fisherman's wife Nurmayani, Banta Lidan who claimed to work to support her son who just turned eight years old. They hope the leaders of their families were repatriated immediately.