Detained Chinese fishermen to return from Palau tomorrow

(Ecns.cn)--All 25 Chinese fishermen detained by Palau last month will return to China tomorrow, Wen Zhencai, a counselor with the Chinese Embassy in Micronesia, revealed today.

They will be taken to the airport directly from prison tomorrow, and then leave for China immediately, said Wen. "The body of Lu Yong, who was killed by Palau police on March 31, will also be on the same plane," he added.

The release follows an out-of court settlement which, ratified by Palau justice authorities on April 13, specifies that the fishermen could go back to China on April 18 after they commit the misdemeanor of unlawful entry and each pays a fine of US$1,000, reported the Xinhua News Agency.

These fishermen, captured at the end of March, have been detained without charges by the Palau government for over two weeks.

A spokesman for Lu Yong's family released a statement today, demanding "proper and reasonable" compensation for the excessive use of police force by the Palau side.