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.