Indonesia marks Independence Day by sinking illegal ships

Indonesia marked its 71st Independence Day by sinking 60 foreign ships seized for fishing illegally in the country’s waters.
Maritime and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said Wednesday that the ships were sunk at eight separate locations across the Indonesian archipelago.
Pudjiastuti has organized the destruction of more than 200 illegal fishing boats since 2014.
The sinkings Wednesday were carried out in a low-key fashion compared with previous occasions, when boats were blown to smithereens and their destruction broadcast live.
Celebrations were also held in different fashion elsewhere in the archipelago, with President Joko Widodo leading the ceremonies in the national capital, Jakarta.
Although the United Nations recognizes Indonesia’s independence day as December 27, 1949, the archipelagic nation celebrates it on August 17, the date the Indonesian National Revolution proclaimed freedom in 1945 at the start of a diplomatic and armed resistance against the Dutch colonial government. 
Located between the Pacific and Indian oceans, Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic country, with more than 13,000 and an estimated population of over 258 million people, making it the world's 4th most populous country and the biggest Muslim majority country.

Source: Arab News