FISHING BOATS RETURN FROM TAIPING ISLAND|護主權船隊返航 帶回太平島水和沙

The group of fishermen who set off for Taiping Island 12 days ago in an attempt to strengthen Taiwan's claim over the Island finally returned to Taiwan safe and sound Yesterday. At Pintung's Yenpu Harbor, the fishing boats were met by dozens of supporters, who applauded, cheered and even set off firecrackers to welcome the fishermen home. However, while their patriotism is commendable, the fisheries agency says that they have violated the fisheries act and other laws, and will be fined accordingly. The five fishing vessels that sailed to Taiping Island returned home safely. Fishermen brought back bottled water, coconuts and sand from Taiping Island. They accomplished their goal to prove Taiwan's sovereignty over Taiping Island. ==LI WEN-TENG, fishing boat captain== We spent twelve days and were not allowed to disembark. But the commander and residents were very friendly, the soldiers were very nice. Except that this fishing boat Haijili was not allowed to disembark, everything was good. The decision on whether or not to allow fishing boats to disembark at Taiping Island's harbor, made many fishermen sorry. ==CHENG CHUN-CHUNG, action organizer== Our sincerity was met with dissatisfaction. My boat is Taiwanese. The government said I would be penalized. Let me ask if there were goods or fishing catches aboard? I sailed on a regulated route and my fishing boat was empty, why can't I test my boat? For their homecoming, several civil organizations were at harbor to receive them. The Kuomintang Chairperson Hung Hsiu-chu was also in the crowd. However, the Fisheries Agency said while it respects the fishermen's' action, but they would still have to be penalized for the violation. ==Voice: CHEN TIEN-SHOU, Director General of Fisheries Agency== Vessels licensed to transport live catches are not permitted to undertake any other activity. The boat captain also violated regulations by transferring foreign workers to another fishing boat. The Fisheries Agency emphasizes that coast guards will investigate further, and result will be announced in two weeks' time. TRANSLATED BY：ANTHONY LIN 插滿國旗的海吉利號率先進港，上午10點，前往太平島的五艘漁船，平安回到鹽埔漁港，並且帶回島上的水、椰子和沙，完成他們要證明太平島是島，護主權、護漁權的行動。 ==船長 李文騰== 前後共花了12天 卻無法入港 不過指揮官 居民很親切 那些阿兵哥每個人都很好 除了這艘(海吉利號)最委屈 沒辦法入港 不只屬於活魚運搬船的海吉利號，當時無法靠岸登島，讓這次行動留有遺憾，對於政府12天來的態度，還被外界抹紅，漁民也感到很痛心。 ==登太平島活動發起人 鄭春忠== 這裡的漁民真心去換到什麼 換到政府的絕情 我這艘是不是台灣船 它說要罰我 我試問 我有載貨有載魚 我有固定航線 我空船 我不能去（太平島）試航嗎 漁船回港，數個民間團體也到場迎接，國民黨更是大陣仗，連主席洪秀柱都到場。不過漁業署也在稍晚表示，即便尊重漁民這次的行動，還是必須要對違規部分開罰。 ==漁業署長 陳添壽== 活魚運搬船 它就是 不能做其它的特許營業 還有一些船 就是其中有一條 用就業服務法引進的這些外勞 但是它轉移給另外一條船 漁業署強調，將交由海巡單位調查，開罰會採人船分開，開罰內容將在2週後公佈。 記者 王介村 孟昭權 高雄報導