10 Indonesian fishermen nabbed

AO MAKHAM: Ten Indonesian fishermen are being held at Phuket Provincial Prison after being arrested on Saturday night for fishing illegally in Thai waters. The two fishing boats the men were crewing were seized after being intercepted by two patrol craft from the Third Fleet, Royal Thai Navy, about 30 kilometers from Koh Racha Yai. Thai fishermen alerted authorities to the presence of the foreign boats in Thai waters. Rear Admiral Amornchot Sujirat, Chief of Staff of the Third Naval Area Command, said that the 10 crew were arrested about 10 pm on Saturday. One of the men, who could speak Thai, told naval officers that a storm had forced the vessels closer to shore and the crew did not realize they were in Thai waters. R/Adm Amornchot said that the Navy often patrolled off the coast but foreign vessels seemed to be aware of where and when and usually avoided interception. This time, Thai fishermen reported the precise location of the Indonesian fishing boats. The fishermen were named as Zakaria, 29, Masurhasbi, 29, Muhamaddaud, 25, Sulaiman, 35, Amri, 24, Sulaiman, 25, Rusli, 30, Smail, 46, Miyakub, 25, and Mrazuki, 30. All 10 have been charged with entering Thai territory without permission and fishing in Thai waters without permission.