President of Palau expresses his regrets
Source: Xinhua |
April 6, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
REPUBLIC of Palau President Johnson Toribiong has expressed his regrets and conveyed condolences to the family of a Chinese fisherman shot during a confrontation with police officers.
Toribiong said: "Let me express my condolences to the family of one of the 25 Chinese who has died from an accidental gunshot which ricocheted - according to the information I have been provided - and struck him in the thigh."
Toribiong said that despite medical treatment the fisherman died of blood loss, marking a tragic week for the Pacific island nation of just over 20,000 who also lost an American pilot and two young police officers when their plane went missing during a susequent search for the fishing boat after the confrontation.
Palau officials said that when Chinese vessels were reported to have crossed illegally into Palau's economic exclusive zone, a search and pursuit ensued during which 24 fishermen were taken into custody after they had burned their boat and its cargo and abandoning ship.
Toribiong said the Chinese fishermen were "under protective custody, safe and secure and no harassment or undue action will bear."
Jennifer Koseklin-Gibbons, chief executive of the Palau Chamber of Commerce, said that illegal fishing had become a major problem in the protected Micronesian waters.
"Illegal fishing in Palau is a huge and ongoing problem. It's a huge issue. Easily a multibillion dollar trade and it goes on all over the place to be honest. Boats launch from the Philippines, Indonesia and Taiwan mainly," she said.
A delegation from China's Micronesian embassy is due in Palau this weekend. Toribiong said he hoped diplomacy and judicial process would ensure a positive outcome.
"We like to promote good relations between Paula and the People's Republic of China, the most powerful Asian nation in our region, and we do not want to make this undermine the good relationship. We wish to ensure the judicial process takes its full course in a fair and just manner and if possible look to resolve it in a diplomatic fashion," he said.
Wen Zhencai, a Chinese diplomat who was due to arrive in Palau yesterday, said that the Chinese government will seek the facts of the incident and make sure Chinese citizens are treated properly in Palau.
Palau hasn't established foreign relations with China.
Toribiong said: "Let me express my condolences to the family of one of the 25 Chinese who has died from an accidental gunshot which ricocheted - according to the information I have been provided - and struck him in the thigh."
Toribiong said that despite medical treatment the fisherman died of blood loss, marking a tragic week for the Pacific island nation of just over 20,000 who also lost an American pilot and two young police officers when their plane went missing during a susequent search for the fishing boat after the confrontation.
Palau officials said that when Chinese vessels were reported to have crossed illegally into Palau's economic exclusive zone, a search and pursuit ensued during which 24 fishermen were taken into custody after they had burned their boat and its cargo and abandoning ship.
Toribiong said the Chinese fishermen were "under protective custody, safe and secure and no harassment or undue action will bear."
Jennifer Koseklin-Gibbons, chief executive of the Palau Chamber of Commerce, said that illegal fishing had become a major problem in the protected Micronesian waters.
"Illegal fishing in Palau is a huge and ongoing problem. It's a huge issue. Easily a multibillion dollar trade and it goes on all over the place to be honest. Boats launch from the Philippines, Indonesia and Taiwan mainly," she said.
A delegation from China's Micronesian embassy is due in Palau this weekend. Toribiong said he hoped diplomacy and judicial process would ensure a positive outcome.
"We like to promote good relations between Paula and the People's Republic of China, the most powerful Asian nation in our region, and we do not want to make this undermine the good relationship. We wish to ensure the judicial process takes its full course in a fair and just manner and if possible look to resolve it in a diplomatic fashion," he said.
Wen Zhencai, a Chinese diplomat who was due to arrive in Palau yesterday, said that the Chinese government will seek the facts of the incident and make sure Chinese citizens are treated properly in Palau.
Palau hasn't established foreign relations with China.
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