Taipei, Dec. 28 (CNA) Four Taiwanese fishermen detained by Myanmar's military for more than a month were released with the assistance of Taiwanese businessmen after paying a fine and returned to Taiwan on a China Airlines flight Monday evening, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
Hsu Kuo-yi and Huang Shih-cheng, skippers of the Donggang-based fishing boats Ho Yi Fa and Ming Cheng Yi respectively, and Chen Wan-yi and Pan Chih-nan, crew members the Taiwanese fishing boats Hung Fa 128 and Ching Ming Tsai 130, were detained by Myanmar authorities for entering the country's waters without permission.
The four were sentenced by a Myanmar court to an unspecified jail term and fined on Dec. 12. They were released after paying the fine, set at US$200 for each skipper and US$20 per crew member, but the fishing boats were confiscated by Myanmar.
The families said they were thrilled by the news of the four men's release, but Hsu's wife could not help lamenting over losing the Ho Yi Fa, which cost them over NT$10 million to build 10 years ago and an additional NT$3 million that was invested in the vessel before its most recent fishing mission.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was notified in late November that four Taiwanese fishing trawlers were captured by the Myanmar military. After confirming that there were four Taiwanese among the crew members, the ministry went through various channels to communicate with the Myanmar authorities and ensure the fishermen's safety.