REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MEDAN – Malaysia still detains 17 Indonesian fishermen from North Sumatra over alleged border violations, according to the North Sumatra branch of the Indonesian Fishermen Association (HSNI). "Although many have been released, at least 17 are still serving the rest of their sentences in Malaysia," HSNI North Sumatra branch secretary Ihya Ulumuddin said on Friday.

The traditional fishermen hailing from Deli Serdang are serving between three and five months in jail. He said HSNI continued to help the fishermen among others by asking the Malaysian government to reduce their prison term. "They (the fishermen) were caught mostly because of the ignorance of the border as their boat is not equipped with navigation instruments," he said.

He said he hoped the provincial government would be more proactive to fight for their release. The authority, he added, could provide advocacy and aid to the fishermen`s families.

The director of violations handling of the ministry of fisheries and marine resources, Nugroho Adji, said after the release of 13 fishermen from Batubara, North Sumatra, on February 29, 2012 there were still 19 other fishermen in detention in Malaysia. He also urged the local government to be proactively helping the process of releasing the fishermen. 

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