Taipei, June 7 (CNA) A Taiwanese fishermen's group protested outside the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Tuesday, accusing the United States of killing a Taiwanese skipper and then deliberately destroying the evidence by holding a hastily arranged sea burial.
The Taiwan Fishermen's Rights Association said it wanted an apology from AIT -- the U.S.' representative office in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties -- within a week or it would stage another protest.
"We understand your concerns, but we don't have any updated information right now, " said AIT spokeswoman Sheila Paskman, after receiving a letter of complaint from the fishermen's group.
She promised to inform Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) as soon as the AIT obtained new information regarding Wu's death.
Association member Tang Shu said the death of Wu Lai-yu, the captain of a fishing boat hijacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean, revealed the fact that Taiwanese fishermen are not adequately protected at sea.
Wu was reportedly killed on May 10 in an exchange of gunfire between the USS Stephen W. Groves and Somali pirates, who had taken over the ship under Wu's command, the Jih Chun Tsai No. 68.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was notified of the incident on May 21.
"A sincere apology is the first thing we want, " Tang said. He noted that other issues, such as compensation and the establishment of a joint investigation team composed of officials from the U.S. and Taiwan and Wu's relatives, were negotiable.
"It is clear that Wu's family members, who have not been vocal in the local media, are under great pressure, " Tang said. "We are not only standing up for Wu but also all the Taiwanese fishermen on the high seas who might encounter similar problems."
According to the MOFA, NATO and the U.S. are in the process of completing a report on the investigation into the incident.
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