TAIPEI: Two Taiwanese fishing vessels that have been detained by Myanmar naval authorities since last week should have arrived at the port of Yangon yesterday, according to a Council of Agriculture (COA) official.

"The two vessels from southern Taiwan's Pingtung County were seized by the Myanmar navy last week, probably for intruding into that country's Exclusive Economic Zone without proper certification," said the official from the COA's Fisheries Agency.

According to the latest information obtained by the Fisheries Agency, the boats should have arrived at the port near Myanmar's largest city of Yangon, the official said, adding that Taiwan's external affairs authorities are in talks with the Myanmar government over the issue.

A local newspaper reported that four Taiwanese fishing boats have been detained by Myanmar authorities, but the external affairs authorities' deputy spokesman James Chang said it was confirmed that only two - both from southern Taiwan's Pingtung County - were seized.

Chang said that immediately after the authorities received the information about Myanmar's seizure of the Taiwanese fishing boats last week, the external affairs authorities directed Taiwan's representative office in Bangkok to activate an emergency response mechanism.

Initial information from Myanmar authorities indicates that the two detained Taiwanese fishing boats are the Ho Yi Fa from Linbian township with 12 people aboard - a Taiwanese skipper and 11 Philippine sailors and fishery workers - and the Ming Cheng Yi from Donggang township, with 10 crew members on board - a Taiwanese captain and nine Indonesian workers, Chang said.

He said the external affairs authorities will join forces with the Fisheries Agency to check whether any other Taiwanese fishing vessels are being held by Myanmar.

"We think that the two Taiwanese fishing boats were detained probably because they entered Myanmar's Exclusive Economic Zone without the required permits," Chang said, adding that further investigation is required to determine the facts.

Meanwhile, he added, the external affairs office is in contact with the families of the two detained Taiwanese skippers.

"Our representative office in Bangkok is also working to the best of its ability through various channels to assist the detained crew members," Chang said.

Up to 17 fishing boats from different countries and regions, including the mainland and South Korea, are also being detained by the Myanmar authorities for intruding into the country's economic zone, according to Chang.

According to reports from Bangkok, a staff member at Taiwan's representative office in Thailand has filed a visa application with the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok in preparation for traveling to Yangon to assist in handling the matter.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 11/24/2009 page2)