INDONESIAN MINISTER CALLS FOR COOPERATION AT MARITIME BORDER

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya

JAKARTA, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- Economic cooperation at the Malaysia-Indonesia
maritime border is needed to enable fishermen of both countries to operate in
the area without any problem, Indonesian Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister
Fadel Muhammad said.

This would resolve problems of encroachment by fishermen from both sides, he
told Indonesian private television station, TV-One.

He was commenting on the release of three officers from the ministry who were
picked up the Malaysian police in Johor Baharu, the capital of Malaysian Johor
state.

The three officers were in the process of detaining seven Malaysian
fishermen accused of fishing in Indonesian waters on Friday.

Indonesia also freed the seven Malaysian fishermen today.

Meanwhile, Indonesian consul-general in Johor Baharu Jonas L. Tobing, told the
same station that the three Indonesian officers were treated well by the
Malaysian police.

One of the officers, Asriyadi, said the Malaysian police treated them well and
that the personnel who took their statements did so in a polite manner.
-- BERNAMA