TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi have met with Chinese Ambassador for the Republic of Indonesia Xiao Qian on Thursday, May 7, 2020. The meeting was done to discuss the fate of Indonesian ship crews who are suspected of being subjected to inhumane treatment on board a Chinese fishing ship.

In the meeting, Retno said that the Chinese Ambassador said that the Chinese authority will take responsibility to comply with prevailing laws and agreed contracts.

"Meanwhile, communication through the diplomatic channel, either in Jakarta or in Beijing will continue to be carried out intensively," Retno said on Thursday, May 7, 2020.

Retno said that during the meeting she has conveyed her suspicion of possible maltreatment on board the Chinese ship, which has resulted in the death of four ship crews from Indonesia.

Retno demanded the Chinese authority to conduct further investigation on four ships involved in the incident, including related to working conditions and treatment aboard the ship. The four ships are the Long Xin 605, Tian Yu 8, Longxin 629, and Longxin 606. There are a total of 46 Indonesian ship crews working on board the ships.

"We requested the Chinese authority to conduct an investigation. If the investigation result proves that there are violations, we demand the Chinese authority to enforce the law fairly," Retno said.

DEWI NURITA