Antara News·Indonesia·Monday, September 21, 2026 at 12:10 PM

Indonesia repatriates 13 Aceh fishermen pardoned by Thai king

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Nabil I, Rahmad Nasution

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Consulate in Songkhla, Thailand, facilitated the repatriation of 13 Indonesian crew members from the fishing vessel KM Aneuk Manja 02 after they received a royal pardon following their arrest for violating Thai maritime boundaries.

Indonesian Consul in Songkhla Winardy H. Lucky said the crew returned home via Phuket-Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta on Friday (Sept. 18), after being detained by Thai authorities in Phuket since March 11, 2026.

"Through diplomatic efforts by the Indonesian Consulate in Songkhla, the fishermen were officially released on Aug. 21, 2026, after receiving a royal pardon," Lucky said in a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Sunday.

He said the consulate maintained close coordination with immigration authorities, airlines, and other stakeholders to secure the crew's release, particularly after local authorities changed repatriation regulations and procedures.

The consulate also worked to develop an optimal repatriation plan to avoid transit difficulties, issues involving Travel Documents in Lieu of Passports (SPLP), and flight quota restrictions.

After arriving at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, the 13 Indonesian crew members were handed over to the Foreign Ministry's Directorate for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens.

The directorate then handed them over to the Aceh provincial government liaison office for onward repatriation, Lucky said.

The crew traveled from Soekarno-Hatta Airport to Kualanamu Airport in Medan, North Sumatra, before continuing their journey to East Aceh, he added.

Through cross-agency coordination, all 13 fishermen reached their hometowns in East Aceh on Saturday (Sept. 19) evening, Lucky said.

"The successful repatriation underscores the importance of cooperation among central and regional governments and Indonesian representatives overseas in safeguarding the safety and rights of Indonesian citizens," he said.

The repatriation of the 13 crew members from KM Aneuk Manja 02 was the largest repatriation facilitated by the Indonesian Consulate in Songkhla so far in 2026, Lucky said.

The consulate previously facilitated the repatriation of one crew member from KM Aneuk Manja 02, who was released on April 30, 2026, after authorities found he was underage.

Lucky also said the consulate was continuing to assist five crew members from KM Langka Bahagia Satu, who remain in legal proceedings over alleged violations of maritime boundaries.

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