I can't agree with you in this specific instance Hank. Whether or not the concept of national sovereignty is correct, the fact is that at the moment all nations are deemed to be sovereign in that they should not be invaded by other nation states (which is why the war in Iraq is so wrong). Nations with surrounding waters have, by International agreement, a swathe of that water as part of their nation, largely for self protection. Otherwise, at what point can one stop Indonesion incursion? If Indonesions actually landed on Australian soil and started making off with farm produce - cattle for example of which there are thousands in these areas - would you agree that the Australian forces had a right to engage them and stop them? The Indonesians are doing exactly that, as the water for - I think from memory 12 miles - around Australian shores are actually considered a part of Australia.
So these people can fish out their own waters then come and fish out everyone elses? And then land and start stealing cattle?
Australia has tried every reasonable tactic, from repeated representations to the Indonesion Government, to "shooing" these people off, to boarding their boats to tell them they are violating another country, and have met with no success.
Also, a thing not mentioned in mainstream media is the degree of piracy in these waters. These "fishermen" have attacked unarmed civilian boats, both private and commercial, in Australian waters.
If a government can have a moral right, it is to protect those who pay taxes to be protected. In this instance, I'm afraid I agree with actions of the Australian government as long as they restrict it to the Australian International sovereign waters area.
Hi Weatherwax,
I am familiar with the actual piracy that is rampant in all of what is called Southeast Asia, Australasia and the Southwest Pacific, (and it is increasing and the MSM is ignoring it). This is one of the problems with all such matters--the mixture of principles. True piracy (using force against innocents) and calling "fishing" piracy is a confusion of principles.
Anyone is allowed to sail in Australian waters, for peaceful purposes, wherever they are from. Fish do not have a particular geography, by the way, and no one owns anything until they have earned it.
By the way, no one needs to agree with me, and I appreciate the comments.
Hank
A clarification is needed here. Eliot Richardson's conference on the sea changed the boundary from 3 miles(cannon shot range)to 200 miles, effectively doubling the US area of sovereignty. That's in open waters, adjoining countries split it 1/2 way, correct? This was what my classmate told me, he was a lawyer for Richardson during the conference. Also there is an EEZ (Economic Exclusion Zone) that can be claimed by a country, magnesium nodules on the sea floor, etc......But over-fishing is the real problem here and there are possible solutions...