Preliminary investigation indicates Taiwan fishing boat Guang Da Xing No. 28 was within fishing grounds protected by the ROC government when fired upon by an official Philippine vessel, the Pingtung District Prosecutors Office said May 13.
“Initial interpretation of information from the boat’s voyage data recorder shows it was moving north, and within the limits of legal waters for fishing,” Head Prosecutor Tsai Rong-long said.
“However, to prevent any possible discrepancy with an investigation by the Philippines, the VDR records are being double-checked by our office, the Fisheries Agency and Coast Guard Administration, with assistance from National Cheng Kung University.”
The VDR records the vessel’s speed and coordinates every three minutes, Tsai noted.
Fisherman Hung Shih Cheng, 65, was killed in the assault May 9 in waters southeast of Taiwan, while the boat was severely damaged.
The prosecutor’s office has filed an application for mutual legal assistance with the Ministry of Justice, requesting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs approach the Philippine government for a joint investigation, Tsai said. The Pingtung office is prepared to send a prosecutor to the Philippines to conduct inquiries.
Examination of the boat revealed it was hit 45 times, with bullet holes concentrated in the wheelhouse, engine room and gas tank, places where crew members tend to go for cover when a boat is under attack by pirates or other hostile forces, Tsai said. This seems to show that the order to fire was given by the commander of the Philippine vessel, without regard for the safety of the Taiwan fishermen, he added.
According to Hung Yu-chih, captain of the fishing boat, the Philippine personnel fired without warning, Tsai said. “Taken altogether, the preliminary evidence indicates that the Philippine commander and personnel who fired weapons could be indicted for murder.”
Separately, the municipalities of Kaohsiung, Keelung, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Taipei suspended exchanges May 13 with Filipino sister cities pending an official Philippine apology for the incident, compensation and legal action against the perpetrators. (THN)
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