M. Aziz Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Aru islands | Wed, 12/02/2009 3:45 PM
Eleven fishermen from Thailand are feared dead after their fishing boat KM Antasena 820 went down while sailing in Arafura waters amid bad weather last month.
A search and rescue team has now called off their search for the fishermen after three weeks with no result.
The fishermen are part of a crew of 24 Thai nationals working for a local fishing company, PT Pusaka Benjina Resources (PBR). The ship sank on Nov. 2 and claimed seven lives while another six crew members were rescued.
AKBP Solihin, head of the Aru Islands Police, said Wednesday that residents living in villages across the islands had already buried the remains of the seven fishermen.
He said he suspected bad weather was the major cause of the accident.
“Based on testimony from the ship's mate, Somkit Korannesuk, strong winds and high waves made it difficult for him to control the ship when the crews were trying to net the fish they had caught. The ship then overturned and sank,” he said.
Hermanwir Martino, a representative from the firm, confirmed that all of the crew was from Thailand. He added that the ship was not overloaded when it set off.
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