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Kalim Rock Wall Claims First Victim Early Wednesday morning, a large huge crowd along the new Kalim rock wall. They were watching a few of his locals trying to save (salvage) a rapidly disintegrating Indonesian boat that had washed up on the rocks at dawn. By that afternoon there was little left of the hull as it was pounded by waves against the rocks. The small flag found amongst the flotsam was proof of the boat's origins. Below are Phuket Gazette's story and some pictures taken at the time. Phuket Gazette Article 21 August 2003 Fishermen survive 5 days adrift KALIM: Three Indonesian fishermen who spent at least five days adrift without food after their boat was caught in not one but two storms, washed ashore at Kalim Beach this morning and are now recovering at Patong Hospital. Pol Maj Narong Laoprathumviroj, an Inpector at Kathu Police Station, told the Gazette today, ?Three men and their fishing boat washed as hore at Kalim Beach at about 6:30 this morning. Local villagers who discovered them took the men straight to Patong Hospital.? Maj Narong named the three fishermen as Abdul Ali, 55, Shavil Faux, 22, and Bantik, 28. He explained that the fishermen left their home port in Aceh province, in Indonesia, about a week ago and arrived at Koh Racha to fish. ?Late last week the crew were caught in a storm that proved too much for their boat?s engine. Too much water had seeped into the engine room, damaging the engine so that the crew could not restart it,? Maj Narong said. ?They drifted and had no food for five days. Last night a Thai fishing boat offered to tow the stricken vessel to shore, but this time both boats were caught in another storm, during which the towline broke.? The Indonesian vessel capsized on its side, and the three men clambered on top of the hull. Finally, they and the boat washed up on Kalim beach, where local residents found them. Pol Col Chalit Thintanee, who arrived at the scene later, said that he had contacted Phuket Immigration officers to prosecute the survivors for illegally entering Thailand. ?Officers will question the men to investigate any links to [terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah], because security for the [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation] meetings has to be strong,? Col Chalit added. Brought to you by: The Phuket Gazette 18:17 local tim e (GMT +7) See the next day's story below these photos - the fishermen were not terrorists and the rumours about the "bomb boat" that spread amongst some patong locals were unfounded (and probably more tongue in cheek). |
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Indonesians cleared of terrorist links PATONG: The three Indonesian fisherman who washed ashore at Kalim Beach yesterday morning have been cleared of connections with the terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), Pol Maj Narong Laoprathumviroj, an Inspector at Kathu Police Station, has told the Gazette. ?They were all investigated and we have verified that they did not come to stage acts of terrorism in Thailand during the [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation] meetings. Reports that we found a card identifying them as JI members are absolutely wrong,? Maj Narong added. He explained that the three men had ordinary Indonesian civilian I D cards, which identified them as a citizens of Aceh, In donesia. The men identified themselves to the Gazette as Abdullah Ali, 56, Bactir Hasbi, 28, and Zahkin Fikri Abdulah, 22. The three washed ashore at 6 am yesterday with their fishing boat after it capsized in a storm. They had been adrift for five days without food (see also http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=2957). They are now being held at Kathu Police Station, where they will remain until Immigration can organize their deportation to Indonesia. To see picture/s related to this story, please go to http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=2960&display=1 Brought to you by: The Phuket Gazette 18:32 local time (GMT +7) |
