http://www.thejakartapost.com/detail...6182039&irec=0
Nine Indonesian fishing boats burned by Australian authorities
KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (Antara): Nine traditional fishing boats operated by Indonesian fishermen in Arafura and Timor waters were burned by the Australian Navy, Jusman, one of the arrested crew members, said on Sunday.
"The incidents took place up to the end of October," said Jusman at a transit point in Kupang.
The Australian authorities sent back 25 fishermen from Rote Island and East Nusa Tenggara on board an Alliance chartered plane on Saturday after arresting them for poaching, while another six fishermen from Merauke and Seram arrived home on Tuesday on board a scheduled Air North flight between Kupang and Darwin.
The fishermen from Merauke and Seram were to be transported home by the East Nusa Tenggara social services office on Sunday aboard the Dobonsolo vessel, while the others from Rote were to be sent home aboard a ferry on Monday.
Jusman claimed that he was captured by the Australian authorities on Oct. 27 when fishing in Timor waters.
"We were taken away on an Australian patrol vessel without being given a chance to defend ourselves," he said, adding that soon after the being taken away, his boat was burned and sunk. (**)
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