TimesAsiaNews.com | Batam – The Police Coast Guard (PCG) emphasized that five fishing boats from Batam, Riau Islands, violated the Indonesia-Singapore territorial boundary. This affirmation was in response to news and videos related to the events that occurred on December 24, 2024.
Through the Consulate General of Singapore in Batam, in a written statement, quoting Kompas, Friday (3/1/2025), said that fishermen entered the waters of the Tuas View Extension.
A statement by the Singapore Police Public Affairs Department (SPF) on the Singapore Police Force (SPF) website denied that this incident occurred in the waters of Nipah Island, Batam.
In the attached chronology, PCG observed the movement of fishermen at around 08.45 Singapore time, Tuesday (24/12/2024). Several fishing boats were seen repeatedly entering the waters of Tuas View Extension.
At around 1:20 p.m. local time, two of the five Indonesian fishing boats moved deeper toward the northwest of the Tuas View Extension.
A unit of PCG patrol boats intercepted the two ships. PCG officers communicated with the fishermen and directed them to leave the STW area, because unauthorized boats were prohibited from entering. The fishermen finally left STW at 13.40 local time. The SPF reminded foreign vessels to comply with the instructions of the Singapore authorities while on the STW.
The Consulate General of Singapore in Batam has also coordinated with various stakeholders in Indonesia regarding the incident.
Previously, it was reported that a number of fishermen in Balikpadang, Batam, were intimidated by a Singaporean patrol boat while looking for fish in the waters of Nipah Island on December 24, 2024.
Intimidation was carried out by patrol boat maneuvers that made large waves around the fishing boats. One fisherman fell into the sea but was rescued. This incident traumatized the fishermen to go to sea. Danil Mahadir (18), a fisherman from Balikpadang, who was thrown from the boat, said that at the time of the incident, he and his father were fishing using a small boat.
“The incident occurred at around 13.30 Indonesia time. We were fishing when a Singapore patrol boat came and forced us out. In fact, we feel that we are still in Indonesian waters,” he said.
Danil was lucky to be able to return to the small boat after being thrown by artificial waves with the help of other fishermen.
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Regarding this incident, the Indonesian Fishermen’s Association (HNSI) of the Riau Islands visited the Consulate General of Singapore in Batam on December 27, 2024. They expressed their condolences for acts of intimidation against fishermen. The Chairman of the Riau Islands HNSI, Distrawandi, considered that the action hurt the hearts of the Riau Islands fishermen and asked that the violating fishermen be given persuasive warnings, not intimidation.
“Their patrol boats intimidate by making waves so that fishing boats capsize. One of the fishermen even almost drowned,” concluded Distrawandi. **
(komp/tan)
