Thai FM seeks reopening of Indonesian waters

BANGKOK, March 26 (TNA) - Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul is asking Indonesia to reopen its waters to Thai fishing boats. As Indonesia has banned Thai trawlers from entering its waters since March 9, 2014, following reports that a Thai fishing boat's crew killed two Indonesian naval officers, Surapong told journalists on Wednesday that the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent its letter to apologize Indonesian authorities on the incident and planned to phone the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs to also explain the issue and to seek the reopening of the Indonesia waters. Surapong said he believed that the alleged incident would not affect bilateral relations between Bangkok and Jakarta. According to the caretaker deputy prime minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has written to Thai marine police, the Royal Thai Navy and the Ministry of Transport's Marine Department to ask them to elaborate on the matter. The caretaker deputy prime minister also urged Thai operators who do businesses in the waters of other countries to respect the laws of the countries to protect national image. (TNA)