December 17, 2025 | 10:07 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Consulate in Songkhla, Thailand, repatriated 13 fishers from East Aceh who were detained in Phuket. They were apprehended by the Royal Thai Navy for alleged maritime boundary violations in May.
The Indonesian Consul in Songkhla, Winardi Hanafi Lucky, said the fishers were flown from Phuket to Jakarta on Tuesday and arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on the same day at 10:00 p.m. local time.
"They completed their detention in Phuket Province on December 5, 2025, after being apprehended by the Royal Thai Navy on May 19, 2025, in the waters of the Andaman Sea in Thailand," said Winardi, in a written statement confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, as quoted by Antara.
The fishers consisted of a captain of KM New Raver and a captain and 11 crew members of KM Jasa Cahaya Ikhlas.
The Indonesian Consulate in Songkhla closely accompanied the fishers until their arrival in Indonesia, ensuring that they are all in good health.
Upon arrival in Jakarta, the fishers were handed over to the Directorate of Indonesian Citizen Protection at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and the Aceh Social Affairs Agency.
They were repatriated to their hometown in East Aceh Regency through Medan on Wednesday, accompanied by the Aceh Social Affairs Agency and the Aceh Government Liaison Agency, the Indonesian Consul stated.
This repatriation of 13 fishers followed the earlier repatriation of 5 crew members of KM New Raver from East Aceh on September 3.
With a total of 18 fishers assisted in this case, this repatriation "becomes the largest conducted by the Indonesian Consulate in Songkhla this year," Winardi said.
To prevent similar incidents from recurring, the Indonesian Consulate encourages increased counseling regarding maritime boundary awareness for the fishers, which should be carried out through cooperation and coordination between the central and local governments.
"Regular counseling is expected to enhance the understanding of coastal communities that rely on the fishing sector for their livelihood," the Indonesian Consul in Songkhla stated.
Read: Indonesian Fishers Flag Possible Oil Waste Polluting Tangerang Waters
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