Protesters seek fishermen's release, attack council<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan<\/p>\n
A rally at the provincial legislature to demand the release of 22
\ndetained fishermen, including youths, ended in violence on
\nWednesday as the protesters vandalized two faction sign boards
\noutside the legislative council building.<\/p>\n
No arrests were made following the unruly protest, which very
\nnearly erupted into a clash with security troops.<\/p>\n
The act of violence came after no legislators turned up to
\ntalk to the demonstrators, who were grouped in the Pillar for
\nFishermen Struggle (Asura).<\/p>\n
The leader of the protesters, Budiman Dharmawan, said that the
\ngroup of fishermen rallied to urge both the legislators and the
\npolice to stop the rampant violence committed by trawler owners
\nand businessmen on poor fishermen.<\/p>\n
"The burning of the trawlers by fishermen on Apr. 25,
\nreflected the peak of our frustration and anger of the lackluster
\nefforts by the authorities to take action against trawlers," Budi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said traditional fishermen were unable to reel in very much
\nfish this season due to the trawlers, which use huge nets and
\nbring in very large catches, that ply the waters off of North
\nSumatra.<\/p>\n
"We just want these fishermen, particularly those who are
\nunderaged, to be released," Budi said.<\/p>\n
Frustrated fishermen burned three trawlers and were about to
\nset another on fire in Sei Berombang on April 25 to protest the
\nrampant operation of trawlers. Armed officers from the Air and
\nSea Police (Airud) arrived and started to shoot warning shots to
\ndisperse the protesters.<\/p>\n
A boat of a fishermen was hit by one of the warning shots in
\nthe incident and the fishermen were forced to dive for cover into
\nthe water, but the Airud officers continued shooting to disperse
\nthe angry fishermen.<\/p>\n
During that incident, an Air and Sea Police officer, First.
\nSgt. Safrijon, 37, fell into the water and drowned.<\/p>\n
The detained fishermen included children aged between 10 years
\nand 14 years old.<\/p>\n
North Sumatra council deputy speaker Hasrul Azwar regretted
\nthe violent rally on Wednesday. "This was an abuse, and so
\nunnecessary," Hasrul told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said no legislators appeared for dialogs with the
\nprotesting fishermen as members of the legislature were visiting
\nseveral regencies to observe projects which were funded by the
\nprovincial budget.<\/p>\n
"That's why we could not meet and talk with them. But we are
\nready to receive them anytime after we return from the working
\nvisits," he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/protesters-seek-fishermens-release-attack-council-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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