'Ocean commanders' face a sea of challenges in Aceh

'Ocean commanders' face a sea of challenges in Aceh

Annastashya Emmanuelle, Contributor, Banda Aceh, Aceh

Solving seafaring-related problems has long been the role of the
Panglima Laot, or the Aceh Sea Commanders, but the impact of the
tsunami has taken the province's traditional arbiters into new
territory.

The Dec. 26 disaster killed a disproportionate number of women
in the province, who were unable to fight their way above the
waves, leaving many men, themselves often recently widowed,
competing for a small number of potential partners.

The Sea Commanders estimate 55,000 fishermen survived out of
70,000 in the province, while most of their immediate families on
shore were lost.

The need for love, affection and companionship makes life a
little more bearable, especially for the many now living in
refugee camps who have little source of income. But it also leads
to romantic disputes flaring up quickly in places where
conditions are still difficult and emotions are brittle.

Panglima Laot secretary-general Adli Abdullah said the
commanders often had to deal with situations where up to three
men found they were courting the same woman, which necessitated
some careful negotiations.

"We talk to each man separately and then with the woman in
question and ask her to say honestly which of the three she has
her heart on," Adli said.

Matters of the heart are precarious, and Adli admitted that
most of the commanders did not have the expertise in settling
such disputes, despite the fact that all were married men.

"This is new to us. Before the tsunami we never had to deal
with these kind of problems. It feels a bit uncomfortable having
to be involved in such private matters."

Created in the empire of Sultan Iskandar Muda in 1607, the
commanders' first role was as tax collectors. Over the years,
their business has changed and their jurisdiction now comprises
425,000 people, mainly fishermen, fish farmers, boat builders and
marine tradesmen.

Panglima Laot now has 132 commanders from the sub-district,
regional and the provincial level, with each accustomed to
handling maritime issues that range from territorial disputes
among locals, to fisherman detained overseas for trespassing
national boundaries.

Decisions taken by the organization are usually adhered to by
the disputing parties and most problems are solved within the
organization. But dealing with the social problems of their
members is stretching commanders, who already have a mammoth task
in front of them -- helping to rebuild the shattered fisheries
sector.

Engaged in Aceh's reconstruction, the commanders had found a
new role advising and lobbying donors to help restore Aceh's
fishing communities, Adli said.

With 9,500 boats destroyed and dozens of fishing ports wiped
out or damaged, most of the surviving fishermen were out of work.
To solve the immediate day-to-day living problems for their
people, the commanders were working with the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP), which had enrolled the surviving
fishermen into its clean-up program, with each paid Rp 30,000
(about US$3) a day for their work.

Constant meetings with NGOs, Adli says, has meant the work to
restore fishing in Aceh was slowly under way, but not all
fishermen are satisfied with the progress.

"We still haven't received new boats and fishing nets," said
Mahdi, who along with other fishermen has set up makeshift houses
next to the Krungcut Bridge in Banda Aceh after he lost
everything when his village, Alue Naga, was destroyed.

"They are aware of our needs, but there's no progress," he
said of the commanders. Many NGOs had also came to Krungcut
Bridge with promises of assistance but none had been forthcoming,
he said.

Adli admitted the fishermen were weary, saying that at present
the organization could only hold on to the promises made by NGOs
and other potential donors.

He noted that the assistance for the fishing communities was
not only coming through the commanders, as some donors
coordinated directly with the provincial government.

The disaster also had prompted "the mushrooming of 'instant
NGOs'" he said, whose members spread hope to the exhausted
disaster victims but did not necessarily deliver on their
pledges.

"We warned the community not to be easily swayed by people
carrying business cards bearing NGO logos. At the same time, we
advise established NGOs and UN organizations to be cautious when
they select local partners."

However, if aid did not reach the fishermen soon, it would not
only be the good name of the NGOs, but also of the Sea Commanders
that would be threatened, Adli said.