Malaysia May Not Interfere In Arrest Of Its Fishermen: Observer

Medan, N Sumatra ( Berita ) :  Malaysia has no rights to interfere in the arrest recently by Indonesian patrol officer of its fishermen who poached in Indonesia waters, an observer said.

“Malaysia needs to respect the law which is in force in Indonesia,” Prof Dr Suhaidi, international law observer of the North Sumatra University, said here on Tuesday referring to the recent arrest of Indonesian maritime patrol officers by Malaysian police.

The Indonesian patrol officers were arrested by the Malaysian police after they had nabbed Malaysian fishermen who stole fish in Indonesia waters.

He said that Indonesia should act firmly and may not ignore any violations committed by Malaysian fishermen in its waters, an observer said. “After all, Malaysian patrol police have shot a fire against Indonesian maritime and fisheries patrol boat,” he said.

He said that what was done by the Indonesian patrol officers in arresting Malaysian fishing vessels which were poaching in Indonesia waters was correct based on the law.

The Malaysian patrol police’s act reflected their behaviors which did not respect the Indonesian sovereignty.

“The foreign police should not have interfered in the legal process carried out by the Indonesian patrol officers who arrested the Malaysian poachers,” he said.

In the meantime, Rahadi Zakaria of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) faction in the House of Representatives (DPR) said  that Malaysia, along with other neighboring countries, does had intention to create disturbance in the border areas with Indonesia.

“They always launch a test case to see how far Indonesia is able to protect its territorial sovereignty. Moreover, the latest test case by Malaysia was accompanied by hostage taking of Indonesia’s maritime patrol officers,” he said.

The hostage taking of the Indonesian patrol officers was not a trivial matter but a serious problem which could serve as bad precedence where Malaysia in support of its international backers (its commonwealth networks with Britain and US neo-colonialism) could become more and more aggressive.

“For me, after seeing several cases, Malaysia is becoming more and more courageous. So, I think, Malaysia has the intention (to disturb) to create provocation in our waters, particularly in areas it thinks is rich in natural resources or economically potential international lanes,” Rahadi Zakaria said. (ant )