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PNG Police Request To Blacklist 3 Indonesian Tuna Fishersff

2 April 2008 Papua New Guinea

The Papua New Guinea Foreign Affairs Department is to be asked to ban three Indonesian fishermen from Papua New Guinea for good.

Police at the border town of Vanimo yesterday said they had no choice but to get help from the Foreign Affairs Department because these men were repeatedly entering illegally and fishing in PNG waters.

“We want the Foreign Affairs Department to blacklist them. They must be kept away from the country for good because this is not the first time they have engaged in this illegal activity,” provincial police commander Senior Inspector Sakawar Kaseng said.

But before the police take the matter up with Waigani, Vanimo police want to ensure the men are convicted and thrown into jail.

Insp Kaseng said the three men were caught fishing illegally between Aitape and Vanimo on Sunday.

The police caught them in their boat, in the company of two other boats whose crews managed to elude police and escaped back across the border.

Insp Kaseng said the three men were charged with illegally entering PNG and for illegal fishing.

“We caught them before, committing the same offences and dealt with them but they do not seem to learn or heed our laws,” he said.

Insp Kaseng said the three suspects were charged and would appear in court today.
The three were named as Lankaito Nuboba, 45, Sebby Ajisare and La-abu Bantar, both 35, from Bonioke village, Baubau in the North Sulawesi.

Insp Kaseng said police were alerted by the locals when they saw the three pump boats fishing in their waters.

He said his men were able to capture the trio with their boat off the coast of Ningra village.

Insp Kaseng said policemen boarded the boats and found different types of fish on board and seized nets and other fishing gear.

“They caught plenty of fish like red emperor, marlin, tuna and other species using powerful nets and other improved fishing devices,” he said.

The fish, especially the red emperor, are highly priced in Indonesia.

This is not the first time illegal fishermen from Indonesia were caught in the PNG waters in Sandaun Province.