Indonesia's navy said Wednesday it sank a Thai fishing trawler and heavily damaged another Thai fishing boat in an air and sea battle against illegal fishermen in Indonesian waters.
Troops and Indonesian war vessels are currently still searching the waters off the west coast of Indonesia's Aceh province for several other Thai fishing boats who escaped the military operation, Lieutenant Colonel Beta Insan from the Aceh military headquarters said this morning.
The sea-battle clash began after local fishermen reported that 17 Thai fishing trawlers had been spotted fishing just off Lhok Bubon in Samatiga district.
The Indonesian military deployed two heavy armed helicopters and two navy boats to the area and soldiers boarded different local fishing boats to assist in the military operation.
"After the Thai fishing boats had been captured and while the caught fleet was being taken escorted towards the nearest port, Indonesian soldiers said a shot was fired from one of the Thai fishing boats. The Indonesian navy and supporting air force immediately began to fire back and helicopters fired rocket missiles into the captured Thai fishing fleet. One of the Thai boats sunk and others were badly damaged," Lieutenant Colonel Insan said.
In the agitation of the ongoing sea-battle, several Thai trawlers were seen escaping the battle area, one ship even towing another badly damaged Thai fishing trawler.
One of the captured Thai trawlers was towed to the port of Meulaboh late yesterday evening but no one was found on board, Lieutenant Colonel Insan said. "We are now searching the waters off the coast as well as the coastline for any sign of surviving Thai fishermen and the boats that escaped," the Indonesian Colonel further added.
The Aceh province in Indonesia is currently under martial law while Indonesian troops battle separatist rebels. All foreign shipping near the province is completely banned.
Indonesia has mounted operations against illegal foreign fishermen before in several parts of the archipelago, always with as result, the sinking of numerous Thai fishing boats.
