The Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia in Songkhla, Thailand, has facilitated the repatriation of 13 crew members from the vessel KM Aneuk Manja 02. The fishermen, all from East Aceh, were released following an amnesty granted by the King of Thailand after being detained for maritime border violations earlier this year.
According to Indonesian Consul in Songkhla, Winardy H. Lucky, the crew members were held by Thai authorities in Phuket starting March 11, 2026. Following the royal pardon, they were officially released on August 21, 2026. The repatriation process was completed on September 18, 2026, via a flight route from Phuket to Kuala Lumpur and then to Jakarta.
Upon their arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, the crew members were transferred from the Indonesian Consulate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Directorate for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens. They were subsequently handed over to the Aceh Government Liaison Agency for transport to their home region. The fishermen arrived in East Aceh on the evening of September 19, 2026, following a flight to Kualanamu Airport in Medan, North Sumatra.
Consul Lucky noted that this operation represents the largest repatriation facilitated by the Indonesian Consulate in Songkhla during 2026. Previously, one minor crew member from the same vessel was released on April 30, 2026.
The Consulate continues to provide legal assistance to five crew members from the vessel KM Langka Bahagia Satu, who remain in Thailand pending legal proceedings for alleged maritime border violations.
Article source: koran-jakarta.com | Image credit: koran-jakarta.com