Better care of RI fishermen requested

Better care of RI fishermen requested

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for the proper treatment
of Indonesian fishermen detained by Canberra for illegally
entering Australian waters.

Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa was responding to a query
from The Jakarta Post on news of ill-treatment of Indonesian
detainees in Australia.

Northern Territory coroner Greg Cavanagh said on Friday
Australia's treatment of detained Indonesian fishermen was
totally "unacceptable" and recommended a review of the
government's methods of detention.

"It is our hope Australian authorities will look into
Cavanagh's findings and take whatever measures are necessary to
ensure all Indonesian fishermen in detention are treated well,"
Marty told The Jakarta Post.

The Associated Press reported that 21-year-old Mansur La Ibu,
an Indonesian citizen, died a year ago of unknown causes after
being held with six other fishermen for several weeks on board a
cramped wooden fishing boat in the harbor of the northern
Australian port city, Darwin.

The men were caught fishing illegally in Australian waters,
and were ordered by immigration officials to stay on board their
13.5-meter boat, Yamdena, despite not being charged.

Cavanagh said on Friday he was unable to determine the cause
of death. However, he criticized as unacceptable the cramped and
confined conditions under which the fishermen were detained.

The Yamdena had a small box-like area for protection from
tropical storms but was not even equipped with a toilet.

"The deceased was held by federal government agencies for some
weeks against his will, a virtual prisoner without charges being
preferred against him, without trial and without access to
judicial review," Cavanagh told The Associated Press.

"Furthermore ... to keep seven men on a vessel such as the
Yamdena for some weeks where their only shelter was a small
box ... was unacceptable."

Cavanagh recommended detained crew members not charged by the
government be sent home "as soon as reasonably practicable".

He also urged the immigration department to work out an
arrangement with the Indonesian Consulate over the burial of any
Indonesian fisherman who died while in detention in Australia.

Mansur's body lay in Darwin's morgue for four months until the
Indonesian Consulate and Northern Territory government agreed to
pay for a burial in Darwin, because his family could not afford
to pay for the return of his body to Indonesia.