REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDARLAMPUNG -- Chief of Staff of Indonesian Navy, Marsetio, stated that all battleships of the Indonesian Navy were ready to sink vessels involved in illegal fishing. Government is willing to provide fuel for the battleships.

"We had a problem in budget for fuel, but it has been solved. Our battleships are ready," Marsetio said on Tuesday, December 4.

The Indonesian Navy has 147 battleships. Based on the latest meeting, the government is willing to provide full budget for fuel and operational cost from state budget 2015. Operasional budget for Navy battleships was only 27 percent.

Earlier, Commander of Indonesian Military General Moeldoko said he had instructed Navy Chief of Staff Marsetio to prepare the details of the execution. Military will beef up patrol in certain areas to support the plan. However, Moeldoko also said that the move must be carried out carefully as there might be international condemnation on that matter. "We have to take firm action against illegal fishers as well as understand international condition," he said.

Navy has also signed cooperation with the Ministry of Maritime and Fishery Affairs. The cooperation includes monitoring of marine resources, capacity building and exchanging data and information.

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