Indonesia Maritime defence and security issue

[pr1v4t33r]

New ports to support govt fisheries policy
thejakartapost.com/news/2015/03/16/new-ports-support-govt-fisheries-policy.html

The government will this year develop two ports in the outer islands off northern Sulawesi, to boost the domestic fish processing industry and reduce illegal shipments to the Philippines.

The construction of the two ports will support Indonesia’s policy of banning transhipments to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry director general for captured fisheries Gellwynn Jusuf said on Sunday that his office planned this year to build two ports in Dago Island, Sangihe Islands regency and Salibabu Island, Talaud Islands regency, North Sulawesi.

“Our fishermen can dock there after catching fish and the produce can be transported to Bitung for processing,” he told The Jakarta Post.

In addition, the government was also considering relocating the maritime resources and fisheries observatory station from Bitung, North Sulawesi, to Marore Island in Sangihe Islands regency or Miangas Island in Talaud Islands,
Gellwynn added.

Both Marore Island and Miangas Island are outer islands of Indonesia that border with the Philippines.

The development of the observatory station at either of these points may help detect the entry of foreign vessels and track the movement of illegal ships.

This will eventually affect the supply of fish to General Santos, the southernmost city of the Philippines. Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said earlier that nearly all tuna supplies processed in General Santos were sourced illegally from Bitung.

With abundant raw material from Indonesia, the Philippine city can export fresh, canned tuna totaling US$2 billion worldwide, in contrast to only Rp 16 billion ($121.16 million) worth of exports from Bitung, according to local media reports. Susi again said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com that 60 percent of fish delivered to the industry in General Santos came from Indonesia and that this situation must stop. “The most important thing is that fish should not be ‘sent’ to General Santos. Fish from Sulawesi must be processed in Sulawesi,” she said.

Susi also expressed anger at the statement of General Santos Mayor Ronnel Rivera as reported by asiancorrespondent.com that Indonesian fishermen had no capacity to operate fishing vessels and relied on their Filipino counterparts.

Online media outlets reported that Indonesia’s efforts to combat illegal fishing affected not only tuna hand line fishermen, but also purse seine fishing operators and owners. Bogor Institute of Agriculture Marine resource management expert Yonvitner said the government should build much-needed infrastructure to spur the growth of the fisheries industry in Bitung. “It should also provide tax incentives to fishermen and companies. Bigger incentives can be given to those that process the produce in Bitung and do not export raw materials,” he said.

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[pr1v4t33r]

2 Malaysian illegal Fishing Boats Blown Up at Tarakan near Sabah (19/3/2015)

Police in East Kalimantan scuttled two Malaysian fishing vessels caught operating illegally in Indonesian waters on Thursday. The Malaysian-owned, but Indonesian-crewed boats were seized on Feb. 14, annd sunk at 11 a.m. local time on Thursday in waters off Tarakan city in North Kalimantan, police said.

The fishing trawlers, named the Rizki and Satria, were operating in the Celebes Sea and found with 300 kilograms of illegal catch between them. Explosives were attached to the vessels’ hulls before they were detonated by officers, Sr. Comr. Yasin, from the East Kalimantan Police, told news website Detik.com.

President Joko Widodo has vowed to crack down on illegal fishing in Indonesia’s territorial waters, which authorities say is costing the country billions of dollars and ruining the environment.

thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/police-sink-malaysian-boats-fishing-illegaly-indonesian-waters/

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[pr1v4t33r]

Another 2 illegal fishing boats captured around Natuna, Riau islands. Malaysian flag boats with vietnamese crews.

 

[pr1v4t33r]

Another 3 illegal fishing boats from Thailand captured around natuna ZEE south cina sea by KRI Sutedi Senoputra-378 (20-03-2015).
antaranews.com/berita/486378/tiga-kapal-thailand-ditangkap-kri-sutedi-senoputra-378

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[Reashot Xigwin]

Company finds itself caught in Indonesia's net

The owner of two fishing vessels destroyed for allegedly encroaching on Indonesian waters last year is fighting to clear his name and bring home six crew...

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:Company finds itself caught in Indonesia's net | Bangkok Post: news View our policies at Bangkok Post: Terms and conditions of use and Bangkok Post: Republishing policy © Post Publishing PCL. All rights reserved.

 

[katarabhumi]

Malaysian Ambassador 'Okay' with Destroying Ships
TUESDAY, 24 MARCH, 2015

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Dato' Seri Zahrain Mohammad, Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, claimed that his country has no objection towards President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's style of leadership, which adopts a firm stance on certain issues, including the destroying of foreign illegal ships involved in illegal fishing. Zahrain said that the Malaysian government will not object to such action if it is in accordance with prevailing laws in Indonesia.

"It is not difficult to cooperate with the current [Indonesian] government. As long as the legislations are clear. What difficult is if the legislations were unclear," Zahrain said during his visit to Tempo office on Monday, March 23, 2015.

As a neighboring country sharing its border with Indonesia, Malaysia said that it will not protest if any of its ships were sunk for trespassing Indonesian territorial waters. Zahrain had even introduced Irmohizam H. J. Ibrahim, the Chief of Malaysian Fishery Development Agency, to the Indonesian Maritime and Fisheries Affairs Ministry Susi Pudjiastuti. During a meeting, both officials have discussed cooperation opportunities in the fisheries and maritime sector, and have agreed to battle fish theft.

Zahrain said that the most important thing between both countries relationship is respect of each country laws and legislations. Zahrain claimed that Malaysia will also 'destroy' foreign ships caught stealing fish in its territorial waters. However, instead of blowing these ships, the Malaysia employs a different method. "We have sunk Indonesian fishermen ships, although [the method] is not extravagant. We don't blow the ships, just put a hole on it, and it sinks," Zahrain said.

Malaysian Ambassador 'Okay' with Destroying Ships   | International | Tempo.Co :: Indonesian News Portal

 

[Battle of Bach Dang River]

Indonesian Natuna's EEZ overlaps with so-called "nine dash line" chinese claim.
So why Indonesians still shut their mouth about this?

illegal chinese claim in SCS

@taka, @madokafc, @Indos, @pr1v4t33r , @NarThoD,@katarabhumi .....

 

[pr1v4t33r]

Quiet diplomacy, we need to maintain peace and keep the tension that built up fast around that region low. Being quiet doesn't mean that we didn't do anything about this situation. We just don't beating our chest and screaming around that only make the situation worse.

USA offering us to build SCS International Operations Center in Indonesia. We are still considering that option.

 

[Nike]

Indonesian Natuna's EEZ overlaps with so-called "nine dash line" chinese claim.
So why Indonesians still shut their mouth about this?

illegal chinese claim in SCS

@taka, @madokafc, @Indos, @pr1v4t33r , @NarThoD,@katarabhumi .....

Just to keeping the tension as low as possible,

it much a liar if we said Indonesia is not much affected about Chinese intention in SCS, on contrary we are warry, very warry about their real intention and their plan to forming an ADIZ area in SCS and put fighter squadrons here and there

and surely we are not sitting idle, meanwhile our Diplomats work behind the curtail and iron gates, we still beefing up much of our asset in Natuna and Kalimantan area including the formation of new three squadron fighter been finalized and the tender starting to open soon, build attack helicopter squadron, build more frigate and submarine forces near SCS area.

 

[pr1v4t33r]

Philippine fisheries director defends Indonesian crackdown on illegal fishing

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Philippine fisheries director Asis Perez finds nothing wrong with the renewed crackdown on illegal fishing by Indonesian authorities.

“In the same manner that we have been protecting our fishing grounds,” Perez said, citing an incident north of Luzon where a Taiwanese fisherman was killed by Philippine Coast Guard authorities after a sea chase inside Philippine waters.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti has threatened not to issue new licenses to foreign fishing companies as it races to protect its fishing grounds from illegal fishing. The Indonesian fisheries minister, who captured international attention for sinking foreign boats caught fishing illegally in Indonesian waters, said the freeze on issuing new licenses will run through April.

But the likelihood that it will no longer issue new licenses is increasing. “The moratorium will end on 30 April. We don’t see that we should continue (with the moratorium). We have done verifications. There are a few boats that will never ever again be allowed to fish in our waters. But for the new ones – no more,” Susi was quoted in a report by Channel NewsAsia.

Reports also said the fisheries ministry wants to impose a 100-percent Indonesian manning on foreign-owned fishing vessels with licenses to fish in their territorial waters. Transferring catches from one boat to another while out at sea will also now be illegal.

With its long coastline running parallel along the migratory path of yellow fin tuna and other tuna-like species, Indonesian waters are among the richest tuna fishing grounds in the world.

..........
asiancorrespondent.com/131627/philippines-fisheries-director-defends-indonesian-crackdown-on-illegal-fishing/

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

 

[pr1v4t33r]

Over 300 illegal fishing slaves rescued from remote Indonesia island

BENJINA, Indonesia (AP) — At first the men filtered in by twos and threes, hearing whispers of a possible rescue.

Then, as the news rippled around the island, hundreds of weathered former and current slaves with long, greasy hair and tattoos streamed from their trawlers, down the hills, even out of the jungle, running toward what they had only dreamed of for years: Freedom.

"I will go see my parents. They haven't heard from me, and I haven't heard from them since I left," said Win Win Ko, 42, beaming, his smile showing missing teeth. The captain on his fishing boat had kicked out four teeth with his military boots, he said, because Win was not moving fish fast enough from the deck to the hold below.

The Burmese men were among hundreds of migrant workers revealed in an Associated Press investigation to have been lured or tricked into leaving their countries and forced into catching fish for consumers around the world, including the United States. In response to the AP's findings, Indonesian government officials visited the island village of Benjina on Friday and found brutal conditions, down to an "enforcer" paid to beat men up. They offered immediate evacuation.

The officials first gave the invitation for protection just to a small group of men who talked openly about their abuse. But then Asep Burhanuddin, director general of Indonesia's Marine Resources and Fisheries Surveillance, said everybody was welcome, including those hiding in the forest because they were too scared to go out.

"They can all come," he said. "We don't want to leave a single person behind."

About 320 men took up the offer. Even as a downpour started, some dashed through the rain. They sprinted back to their boats, jumped over the rails and threw themselves through windows. They stuffed their meager belongings into plastic bags, small suitcases and day packs, and rushed back to the dock, not wanting to be left behind.

A small boat going from trawler to trawler to pick up men was soon loaded down.

Throughout the day and until darkness fell, they kept coming, more and more men, hugging, laughing, spilling onto the seven trawlers that were their ride out. Even just before the trawlers pushed off Benjina on the 24-hour trip to neighboring Tual island, fishermen were still running to the shore and clambering onto the vessels. Some were so sick and emaciated, they stumbled or had to be carried up the gang plank.

While excitement and relief flooded through many of the fishermen on the dock, others looked scared and unsure of what to expect next. Many complained they had no money to start over.

"I'm really happy, but I'm confused," said Nay Hla Win, 32. "I don't know what my future is in Myanmar."

Indonesian officials said security in Benjina is limited, with only two Navy officials stationed there to protect them. The men will be housed at a government compound while immigration is sorted out. Officials from Myanmar are set to visit the islands next week and will assist with bringing the men home and locating others.

The dramatic rescue came after a round of interviews Indonesian officials held with the fishermen, where they confirmed the abuse reported in the AP story, which included video of eight men locked in a cage and a slave graveyard. The men, mostly from Myanmar, talked of how they were beaten and shocked with Taser-like devices at sea, forced to work almost nonstop without clean water or proper food, paid little or nothing and prevented from going home.

There was essentially no way out: The island is so remote, there was no phone service until a cell tower was installed last month, and it is a difficult place to reach in the best of circumstances.

The abuse went even further at the hands of the man known as "the enforcer." This man, deeply feared and hated by the workers, was hired by their boat captains to punish them for misbehavior, they said.

Saw Eail Htoo and Myo Naing were among those he tormented. After three months at sea working with only two to four hours of sleep a night, the two Burmese slaves just wanted to rest. They fell asleep on the deck.

Their Thai captain decided to make an example of them, they said. So the two were driven by motorbike to a hill above the port. They were handcuffed together and placed in front of an Indonesian flag. Then they were punched in the face and kicked until they collapsed into the dirt, they said, blood oozing from their ripped faces.

Even then, the enforcer would not stop.

"He kept kicking me," said Naing, rail-thin with a military-style haircut. "I kept thinking, if I was at home, this wouldn't be happening."

The findings documented by Indonesian officials and the AP came in stark contrast to what a Thai delegation reported from a visit to Benjina earlier this week to find trafficked Thai nationals. They denied mistreatment on the boats and said the crews were all Thai, even though the AP found many migrant workers from other countries are issued fake documents with Thai names and addresses.

"We examined the boats and the crews, and the result is most of the crews are happy and a few of them are sick and willing to go home," said Thai police Lt. Gen. Saritchai Anekwiang, who was leading the delegation. "Generally, the boat conditions are good."

Thailand, the world's third-largest seafood exporter, has been under further pressure to clean up its industry since the AP tracked slave-caught seafood out of Benjina by satellite and linked it to the supply chains of some of America's largest supermarkets and retailers. The U.S. State Department said Friday that it is pressing Myanmar to quickly repatriate the men. U.S. retailers also called for action and commended Indonesian officials.

"We don't condone human trafficking in the supply chain, and we applaud the government's work to end this abuse. Our hearts go out to these men, and we wish them well on their journeys home," said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Marilee McInnis.

Last week, the International Organization for Migration said there could be as many as 4,000 foreign men, many trafficked or enslaved, who are stranded on islands surrounding Benjina following a fishing moratorium called by the Indonesian Fisheries Ministry to crack down on poaching. Indonesia has some of the world's richest fishing grounds, and the government estimates billions of dollars in seafood are stolen from its waters by foreign crews every year.

Three-quarters of the more than 320 migrant workers who left the island on Friday were Burmese, but about 50 from the country refused to go, saying they had not received their salaries and did not want leave without money.

Some were also from Cambodia and Laos. A few Thais were allowed to board the boats, but the Indonesians said Thai nationals could stay on Benjina more safely, since Thai captains were less likely to abuse them.

"I expected to evacuate all of them, but I did not expect it this soon," said Ida Kusuma, one of the leaders of the Fisheries Ministry delegation. "But I think it's good."

Police are investigating in Benjina and will decide whether to prosecute those involved in abuse, said Kedo Arya, head of Maluku province prosecutor's office. The Indonesian officials were told "the enforcer" was being detained.

For those like Naing, who recalled being tortured, beaten and locked in a room for a month and 17 days for simply falling asleep, the thought of finally leaving the island was impossible to believe.

"Is it real that we are going home?" he asked.

A firework soon shot off from one of the boats, signaling it was indeed time to go. The same trawlers where the fishermen had suffered years of abuse were heading back to sea. This time crowded with free men full of hope.

____

Mason reported from Jakarta, Indonesia. AP writer Ali Kotarumalos contributed to this report from Jakarta. AP writers Bradley Klapper in Washington D.C. and Martha Mendoza in San Jose, California, contributed to this story.

huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/04/ap-indonesia-slaves-investigation_n_7003334.html?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067
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[Amember]

Did Indonesia sink the captured Chinese ships?

 

[pr1v4t33r]

Did Indonesia sink the captured Chinese ships?

It's now become a heated legal battle between ministry of fishery and the boat owner. They even try to sue her (the minister). The ship itself maybe worth tens of millions dollar, so no wonder the owner fight really hard for the ship not to blown up. Battle is still going on.
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Another 2 illegal Thailand fishing boats (PSS 1812, 172GT & KM Cahaya Laut, 132GT) captured around Natuna water with 80 crews (12/4/15) - maybe slaves since slavery in thailand fishing industry is no longer a secret.

Indonesian Navy Captures Two Thailand Ships

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Navy has caught two fishing vessels originating from Thailand in the waters of Natuna. Both vessels are suspected of conducting illegal fishing activities in Indonesian waters.

"The vessels are MV Cahaya Laut 1, and MV PSF 1812," Suradi Agung Slamet, Head of the Public Information Sub-directorate of the Indonesian Navy, told Tempo on Sunday, April 12, 2015.

Both vessels were successfully secured by KRI Patimura, which was patrolling the waters around Natuna and Anambas islands on the early hours of Sunday, April 12, 2015. KRI Pattimura also arrested 44 crews of both ships, all of which using Thai passports.

It is suspected that the vessels do not possess legal fishing documents. Fishing permit for MV Cahaya Laut 1 has expired since March 31 2014.

en.tempo.co/read/news/2015/04/13/055657460/Indonesian-Navy-Captures-Two-Thailand-Ships

 

[katarabhumi]

Did Indonesia sink the captured Chinese ships?

It's now become a heated legal battle between ministry of fishery and the boat owner. They even try to sue her (the minister). The ship itself maybe worth tens of millions dollar, so no wonder the owner fight really hard for the ship not to blown up. Battle is still going on.

Even if our ministry win the legal battle with the owner I don't think they will sink that Chinese ship. It's a big ship and expensive too unlike most wooden boats they captured recently.. The ministry may likely handed it over to local fishermen or put it to another use.