China will send its first working group to Indonesia to deal with the incident last week in which the Indonesian navy fired upon Chinese fishing vessels, Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday.

The working group includes representatives from the ministries of agriculture and foreign affairs, the municipal government of Dalian and the town government where the vessel company is registered.

The vessel company said that they would ask for compensation from Indonesia. They have sent 10,000 yuan (US$1,233) to the family of fisherman Nie Weiqiang, who died in the incident.

China on Friday lodged solemn representations to Indonesia after the incident, demanding an early release of the detained vessel and crew members.

The incident took place at 10:50 AM local time last Monday in the Arafura Sea off Papua Island. The navy fired 13 shots at the Chinese boat named Fuyuan 123, killing one man and wounding two crew members. The 10 crew, including the wounded, are still being detained in Indonesia.

Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang urgently summoned chargé d'affaires of the Indonesian Embassy in China and lodged solemn representations again, said the Xinhua report yesterday, quoting a press release by the Chinese Foreign Ministry last Friday.

Shen, on behalf of the Chinese government, expressed astonishment and strong dissatisfaction over the navy's inhumane method of law enforcement, demanding the Indonesian side verify the truth as quickly as possible and keep China informed.

Shen also requested the Indonesian side try its best to provide medical aid to the wounded and release the crew and vessel as soon as possible, according to the release.

The chargé d'affaires said he will convey China's concerns to the Indonesian government. The wounded fishermen have been properly looked after and the other crew members well treated, he said.

(China Daily September 26, 2005)