China will send a team to Indonesia to investigate the incident
when the Indonesian navy fired upon a Chinese fishing vessel on
September 19, killing one Chinese fisherman and injuring
two.?
The team includes representatives from the ministries of
Agriculture and Foreign Affairs, the municipal government of Dalian
and local government where the vessel is registered.
The vessel's owners said they would ask for compensation from
Indonesia. They have sent 10,000 yuan (US$1,233) to the family of
the dead fisherman, Nie Weiqiang.
China on Friday lodged solemn representations with Indonesia,
demanding an early release of the detained vessel and its crew.
The incident took place at about 10:50 AM local time on
September 19 in the Arafura Sea off Papua Island. The navy fired 13
shots at the Chinese fishing boat, the Fuyuan 123, killing one man
and wounding two others. The surviving 10 crew members are in
detention in Indonesia.
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Shen
Guofang lodged representations with the charge d'affaires of
the Indonesian Embassy in China, according to a Xinhua report
yesterday, quoting a press release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued
last Friday.
Shen, on behalf of the Chinese government, expressed
astonishment and strong dissatisfaction with the Indonesian navy's
method of law enforcement, requesting that Indonesia verify the
truth as quickly as possible and keep China informed.
Shen also requested that Indonesia try its best to provide
medical aid to the wounded and release the crew and vessel as soon
as possible, according to the release.
The charge d'affaires said he will convey China's concerns to
the Indonesian government. The wounded fishermen have been properly
looked after and the other crew members well treated, he added.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily September 26,
2005)