Sad, When The Chair Of The KPK Pays Attention To Fishermen, In Fact DKP Reveals 17,274 Fishermen's Households In Central Sulawesi Are Living In Poverty

PALU - The Department of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DKP) of Central Sulawesi Province (Sulteng) recorded that 17,274 fishing households spread across a number of areas in Central Sulawesi were living in poverty.

"Many fishermen are still living in poverty and in poverty, not only in Central Sulawesi but similar conditions also occur in all regions in Indonesia. We must think about this together to find a way out," said Head of Central Sulawesi DKP Moh. Arief Latjuba in Palu City, reported by Antara, Wednesday, April 6.

There are several reasons why fishermen in Central Sulawesi still live in poverty, both because of classic problems and current problems, including low human resources.

Then, operational costs for going to sea continue to soar, bad weather hinders fishermen from going to sea, technological advances in the marine sector, especially for catching fish that fishermen cannot follow.

"Including fuel, both fuel oil (BBM) and gas fuel (BBG), which are currently difficult to obtain. In fact, fuel and BBG are fuels to power boats or fishing boats so they can sail," he said.

Arief said that so that the living standards of poor fishermen in Central Sulawesi can increase to a prosperous level, there are several efforts made including training fishermen to be technology literate so that they can adapt to technological advances in the marine sector, especially in the field of fishing.

Specifically to overcome the difficulty of obtaining fuel and BBG, he asked Pertamina to be able to immediately address the problem before it was too late, considering that many fishermen in Central Sulawesi live in poverty.

"During a meeting in Jakarta some time ago, the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) requested that the fuel carrier vessels be given space to be able to dock at the fishing port in Central Sulawesi. We allow it, but the condition is to help the community, especially fishermen, to get fuel. easily and no longer waiting in line,” he explained.

The head of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Firli Bahuri reminded state officials not to deviate from the fishermen's welfare program.

"I remind government officials, including related officials, not to play with the livelihoods of fishermen, especially the rules and welfare programs for our brothers and sisters," said Firli in a written statement, Wednesday, April 6.

Firli the government has made many welfare policies and programs for fishermen. However, not a few of these welfare programs are used as opportunities by state administrators to reap profits by illegal means, namely corruption.

"For example, corruption in the export of lobster seeds, procurement of fishing boats, swapping land for ponds, and so on," said Firli.

He ensured that the KPK and other law enforcement institutions would dismantle all corrupt practices that afflict Indonesian fishermen without exception.

"I assure you that we will pursue, arrest and snare anyone who dares to harass, let alone eat up the state budget for the welfare of Indonesian fishermen, with the article on corruption crimes that carries the most severe punishment. If we have enough strong evidence, we will choose the option of impoverishing the corruptors with the article on money laundering offences." (money laundering)," he said.

Firli considers Indonesian fishermen, especially traditional fishermen who often go to sea in the high seas up to national borders, deserve to be called heroes of the ocean foreign exchange economy, even though there has been no official sign of service as a form of appreciation for them.

"Not only that, fishermen often stop by and stay overnight on the outer islands while sailing for fish, becoming agents of defense for upholding the country's sovereignty and state wealth from marine products because they are informants of foreign ship activities that violate sovereignty, especially illegal fishing activities. ' in the waters of the Republic of Indonesia," he said.

Therefore, Firli considers the Indonesian fishermen as heroes of the defense and sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia.