Hanoi (VNA) – The Consular Department under the Ministryof Foreign Affairs has contacted the Malaysian Embassy in Hanoi and expresseddeep concern over Malaysian law enforcement forces’ chasing of Vietnamesefishing that led to the death of a Vietnamese fisherman, according to theministry’s spokeswoman.
Answering reporters’ questions on August 17 regarding thecase, Le Thi Thu Hang further said Vietnam demanded the Malaysian side toinvestigate the serious case, in which two Vietnam’s fishing ships and theremaining fishermen are detained by the Malaysian with the accusation ofillegally fishing in Malaysia’s sea, seriously deal with the guilty and offerhumane treatment to the Vietnamese fishing boats and fishermen.
Hang said that according to initial information from theMalaysian side, a clash happened on August 16 between Malaysian marine lawenforcement forces and two Vietnamese fishing ships in the waters off Malaysia’s Kelantan state,killing a Vietnamese fisherman.
The Foreign Ministry has directed the Vietnamese Embassy inMalaysia to continue working with Malaysian authorities and ask them for moredetails of the case, while organising consular meetings with the fishermen and takingprotection measures for the dead.
At the same time, the ministry has coordinated with relevantagencies at home to identify the victim, gathering more information to dealwith violations, implementing citizen protection measures and ensuring thelegitimate rights and interest of Vietnamese fishermen, stated Hang./.