Union calls for safety of VN boats

July 12, 2016 - 18:00

The Việt Nam Fisheries Trade Union (VFTU) objected to Chinese vessels attacking Vietnamese fishing boats in a statement on Monday.

HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam Fisheries Trade Union (VFTU) objected to Chinese vessels attacking Vietnamese fishing boats in a statement on Monday. 

The statement was issued following an incident in which fishing boat QNg 90479-TS from central Quảng Ngãi province with six sailors on board was attacked and sunk by Chinese vessels at around 11:00 am on July 9 while fishing near the Hoàng Sa (Paracel) Islands. 

The Vietnamese boat was approached by two Chinese ships, numbered 46101 and 35103, which then released two speedboats to hound and ram into it. At the same time, a group of Chinese men jumped into the boat and ruthlessly beat Captain Võ Văn Lưu with truncheons, the statement said. 

The attack caused damage to the boat’s sides and eventually caused it to sink, it noted. 
The VFTU added that the Chinese vessels also prevented other Vietnamese boats nearby from approaching and rescuing the fishermen on board.

The fishermen were finally saved by another fishing boat from Quảng Ngãi run by Captain Huỳnh Văn Khanh at 19:00 the same day. 

The trade union stated it strongly opposed China’s use of violence against the Vietnamese fishermen that have threatened their lives and caused them heavy economic losses. 

It requested Việt Nam’s authorities to take prompt action to protect the fishermen and their property at sea as well as prevent similar incidents from happening. — VNS

 

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