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TAIWAN leaders have been accused of tacit involvement in alleged acts of brutality by naval personnel against fishermen from Fujian.

The incidents reportedly took place in waters near Taipei-controlled islands. Taipei also reportedly refused medical treatment for those injured.

The quasi-official Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) in Beijing said Taiwan authorities should not use excuses of tension between the two sides and the ban on intruders in territorial waters to justify the Navy's shooting and killing of mainland fishermen.

In a letter sent to its counterpart in Taiwan, the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) yesterday, ARATS reiterated China's strong protest against Taiwan's ban on mainland fishing in waters near Quemoy and Matsu in the Taiwan Strait.

ARATS said it was clear to Taiwan the mainland fishermen posed no threat to Taiwan's regional security.

Yet Taiwan continued to shoot Chinese fishermen intentionally, refused to punish the attackers or pay compensation to the Chinese affected, the unofficial body claimed.

Taiwan was warned to accept responsibility for any serious consequences caused by incidents such as these.

Tensions between the two sides have been high and talks between the two quasi-official bodies were suspended following Beijing's anger over Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui's visit to the United States in June, and other actions by Taipei to seek international recognition.

The alleged killing of Chinese fishermen has further strained relations.

ARATS said Taiwan troops had killed 31 mainland fishermen and injured 68 since 1992.

Early this month, Taiwan detained 16 Chinese fishermen who allegedly trespassed in waters off Matsu Island.

 The mainland organisation urged Taiwan authorities to compensate those affected.

But Taiwan has indicated that it will keep on exercising its right to regulate its territorial waters.

The island would continue to fire warning shots at Chinese fishing vessels that ignored instructions to leave Taiwan waters.

Shih Chi-ping, an SEF deputy secretary-general, yesterday said the ARATS letter had been referred to the cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council. He refused to comment further.

China's military exercises off the East Sea recently caused a decline in Taiwan's fishing industry.



Taiwan brutality claims