DETENTION OF SINGAPORE FISHING BOATS AND CREW IN ANDAMAN ISLANDS

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

The following Question stood in the name of Mr Ho See Beng -

Mr Ho See Beng: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that three Singapore fishing boats and their crew are being detained by the Indian Government in the Andaman Islands and what steps are being taken by the Ministry concerned to secure the release of the detained crew and the boats.

Mr Speaker: Mr Ho See Beng.

There being no response -

Inche Mohd. Ariff Bin Suradi (Kampong Kembangan): Question No. 1.

Mr S. Rajaratnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, the three vessels referred to by the hon. Member are SMF 496, SMF 538 and SMF 500. Of them, the last - that is, SMF 500 - was detained once before by the Indian authorities at Port Blair in February 1965 and both the crew and the vessel were subsequently released in April 1965. Almost in all cases, the fishermen concerned had complained of bad weather and engine trouble for the difficulties. The Foreign Minister had discussions with the Primary Production Department to find out the facts of the case. We had discussions also with the Indian High Commission here on the same subject. I will now mention briefly the case of each of these three fishing boats.

SMF 538 was apprehended by the Indian naval authorities for intrusion into their territorial waters off the Nicobar Islands. We were informed of this by the Indian High Commission on 15th June, 1966. On 27th July, 1966, a request was made to the Indian High Commission to obtain the early release of the vessel and her crew. On 8th October, 1966, this Ministry was informed by the Indian High Commission that the crew of SMF 538, who had since been sentenced to two months' imprisonment, would be released on 30th October, 1966, but the vessel was confiscated by the Indian authorities. This is in accordance with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Fisheries Regulations.

On 16th September, 1966, a letter was received from the Singapore Marine Product Workers' Union that two more Singapore fishing boats, SMF 496 and SMF 500, with a total crew of 16 persons, had been detained by the Indian authorities at Andaman Islands. On 18th November, 1966, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made representations to the Indian High Commission requesting the High Commission to use its good offices to obtain the early release of the crew and the boats. A reply is awaited from the Indian authorities.