China Friday lodged solemn representations to Indonesia again after Indonesian navy fired on a Chinese fishing vessel and detained its crew members, demanding an early release of the detained vessel and crew members.
The incident took place at 10:50 AM. local time on Monday in the Arafura Sea off the Papua Island. The navy fired 13 shots at the Chinese boat named Fuyuan 123, killing one man and wounding two crew members. The 10 crew members including the wounded are still detained in Indonesia.
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang urgently summoned charge d'affaires of Indonesian Embassy in China and lodged solemn representations again, a press release by the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in Beijing Friday.
Shen, on behalf of the Chinese government, expressed astonishment and strong dissatisfaction over the navy's inhumane way of law enforcement, demanding the Indonesian side verify the truth as quickly as possible and keep China informed, the release said.
Shen also requested the Indonesian side try its best to provide medical aid to those wounded and release the crew member and fishing vessel as soon as possible, according to the release.
"China hopes the Indonesian government could take effective measures to discipline the navy and relevant units, to shun abuse of force in the course of law enforcement and guarantee no more incidents of this kind will occur in future," said Shen in the press release.
"China and Indonesia as friendly countries should deal with problems in fishing cooperation in a sober and restrained attitude rather than resorting to use of force at will," said Shen.
Immediately after the incident occurred, the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Chinese Embassy in Jakarta had lodged solemn representations to Indonesia.
The charge d'affaires said he will convey China's concerns to the Indonesian government. The wounded fishermen have been well medicated and the other crew members nicely treated, he said.
The Indonesian side will handle the incident in an appropriate way, the charge d'affaires said.
China will soon send a working group to Indonesia to deal with the incident, according to the press release.
(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2005)
