Indonesian Citizens Become Illegal Foreign Fishing Boat Servants: 1 Lot Of Food Divided For 31 People, Drinking Air AC Tests

Acting Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) KKP Pung Nugroho Saksono (most left). BETWEEN/ (HO-KKP)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) condemned the slavery case that occurred on an illegal foreign fishing boat (KIA) that carried out fishing activities in the State Fisheries Management Area of the Republic of Indonesia (WPPNRI) 718 Arafura sea waters.

"There should no longer be Indonesian waters, illegal KIA, it is clear that the ship does not have a permit and is not registered at the KKP. We strongly condemn this case," said Acting Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) of the KKP Pung Nugroho Saksono as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, April 17.

Ipunk said that his party had secured a fishing boat from Indonesia that had transferred cargo with two foreign fishing vessels (KIA).

"It turned out that the crew who were employed on the foreign ship got bad treatment. Finally, as many as six crew members out of a total of 55 people employed to the two KIA fled," he said.

A crew member who fled the ship threw himself into the sea, when the ship pulled over in the waters of Penambulai Island and would move the caught fish to an Indonesian fishing carrier. One person died and his body was found and five people survived.

They ran away from the ship, then jumped into the sea and swam 12 miles or for 3 hours. There was one person who couldn't swim and eventually died," he said.

Fooled by sweet promises

One of the KIA crew members, Muhammad Sanusi Iskandar, said that he did not get what was promised by the agent, namely a salary of Rp. 2 million and a holiday allowance (THR) of Rp. 2 million after arriving on the ship.

"But after arriving on the ship, there was none. In fact, the ship dropped everything promised, he said there would be THR of Rp. 250 thousand and Rp. 300 thousand for dismantling money," he said.

The crew then refused and decided not to continue work. One of the foreign ships also promised to return the crew members, but there was no clarity, so they were finally forced to keep working to get something to eat.

"Mirisnya makanan yang diberikan hanya 1 loyang yang dibagi untuk 31 orang ABK. Lebih sadisnya ada teman kami yang mengalami kecelakaan kerja namun hanya diberi alcohol kemudian luka ditampi kopi," katanya.

Another crew member Robby Saktiawan's confession said they were given water-dropping conditioner (AC) and rainwater when they went on strike.

"The one who gave the foreign ship people, if we go on strike, we don't eat and drink. Our food is given food from the former foreign ship group," he said.

For this incident, the KKP will hold KIA's treatment of Indonesian citizens accountable.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Fisheries Shipawarement Working Team, Directorate General of Capture Fisheries (DJPT) of the KKP Muhammad Iqbal said his party was willing to facilitate 25 crew members and had the option not to return to Java.

"With clear statutory requirements, there are two Indonesian fishing vessels that are ready to accommodate crew members where the ship's current position is in Dobo. The ship is official, legal, and provided with a work agreement letter, to social security," he said.