REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- An Indonesian senior security minister reaffirmed here on Wednesday that the country's navy ship had detained the Chinese fishing boat Han Tan Cou 19038 recently in accordance with international procedures.
"Our sovereignty was not a matter of bargain. Based on international laws, our position is very strong," Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan said at a meeting with former constitutional court chairman, Mahfud MD.
He expressed his conviction that the Chinese fishing boat was detained and its crew was arrested as per international procedures to show that Indonesia is a sovereign country that respects international laws.
"It was not wrong. It was done according to the international procedures. Diplomatic process in this issue is continuing as diplomacy never stops," he said.
Minister Luhut explained that according to international laws, a foreign ship need not have an operation permit to be in the exclusive economic zone but when it has economic motive, it must secure a permit. Otherwise, firm action in the form of arrest and detention of the vessel must be taken if it is found violating territorial limits.
"Seizing of a ship must also be effected according to international procedures. First of all, the ship violating norms is to be given a warning. Later, (if it still ignores the warning) it will be shot at the bow and then at the stern," he explained.
The Indonesian navy had seized the Chinese fishing boat Han Tan Cou 19038 in the Natuna waters on June 17 and arrested its seven crew members.
At a press conference, the commander of the navy's Western Fleet Command, Rear Admiral Achmad Taufiqoerrohman, had narrated that the navy had fired warning shots to the air before it was finally able to seize one of 12 fishing boats found fishing illegally in the waters. The other eleven managed to flee.
Following the seizure of its boat, China has lodged an official protest saying that the boat was fishing in its territorial waters.
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