Indonesia to free 239 Vietnamese fishermen
The 239 Vietnamese freed by Indonesia are set to return home on October 6.
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The handover of the fishermen was conducted on October 4 at Batam Island, Indonesia. They were sent offshore of the island by three Indonesian vessels and then handed over to Vietnam.
A Vietnamese vessel (coded CSB 8001) completed procedures and received all the released fishermen.
The fishermen had been detained since July after being caught illegally fishing in Indonesian waters. They were detained on the Indonesian islands of Pontianak, Tarempa, Batam and Natuna.
Upon the Indonesian authorities’ request, the fishermen pledged not to repeat their offence.
This is the second handover that the two countries have conducted at sea and the ninth this year. With this release, a total of 1,230 Vietnamese fishermen have been repatriated so far this year.
