Filepic of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Jalan Tun Razak. Pix: themuslimtimes.orgKUALA LUMPUR: About 100 people today staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the Indonesian embassy in Jalan Tun Razak, here, against the arrest of two Malaysian fishermen by the republic's authority for alleged encroachment of Indonesian waters in the Straits of Melaka. 

The 100 protesters comprised family members of the detained fishermen and members of the Sekinchan Fishermen's Welfare and Fish Traders Association, Hai San Fishermen's Association Sungai Besar, Selangor, Koperasi Nelayan Hilir Perak Berhad and the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH). 

Five fishermen's representatives were then allowed by the embassy to meet its officials and a representative of the republic's enforcement authority. 

On June 15, two fishermen from Hutan Melintang, Perak were arrested when their boat was intercepted by Indonesia's maritime enforcement agency for alleged encroachment of the republic's waters. The two were then brought to court and are now detained in Bagan Siapiapi, Indonesia. 

KLSCAH chief executive officer Tang Ah Chai said during the one-hour meeting with the embassy officials, they handed over a protest memorandum asking the Indonesian authority to view seriously the issue of Malaysian fishermen being disturbed by their officers in the Straits of Melaka. 

"He have asked for the assistance of the Indonesian embassy to release the two detained Malaysian fishermen and to return their boat to them," Tang told reporters waiting outside the embassy. 

He said during the meeting, the embassy agreed to hold a meeting with the Malaysian government next Tuesday to resolve the matter. 



- Bernama