2 Tortured Indonesian Ship Crews by Chinese Vessel Returned Home

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Two Indonesian ship crews who had allegedly fallen victim to torture onboard Chinese fishing vessel ‘LU QIAN YUA YU 901’ who are now secured by the Agency for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BP2MI).

The BP2MI chief Benny Rhamdani said the two Indonesian ship crews were also seen undergoing COVID-19 tests such as rapid tests, which turned out negative. They both are currently on their way to their hometown in Batam, Riau Islands. 

According to Benny, distributor company, Duta Putra Group are required to return the two Indonesian ship crew back to their hometown. “The BP2MI will guard their return home, either by plane or anything else, who will be picked up in NTB,” he said.

Prior to this, a case of torture against Indonesian ship crews happened again after the Destructive Fishing Watch (DFW) Indonesia and Fisher Center Bitung found that Reynalfi and Andri Juniansyah had sailed the seas since January 24, 2020, but has yet received pay for five months and were faced with physical abuse and intimidation aboard a Chinese vessel. 

This incident peaked on June 5 after Andri and Reynalfi both jumped to the ocean to cross the Malaka Strait as an escape attempt. After 7-hours floating at sea, they were eventually discovered by fishermen from Tanjung Balai Karimun in the Riau Islands. 

FAJAR PEBRIANTO