By: Jabir Ahmed*)
A total of 55 Indonesia citizens who were working for fishing vessels finally got remission of the sentences from the Government of the Republic of Myanmar. They had been detained in Myanmar’s territorial waters in the region of Myeik, Thanintharyi, about 930 km south of Yangon since February, 2014. Myanmar Court previously sentenced them four to six years in prison on charges of illegally entering and fishing in the Myanmar maritime region.
However, after the undergoing a periode of confinement for over one year, the Government of Myanmar on May 28th, 2015, granted pardon and released all the citizens. Accroding to merdeka.com, Indonesia Ambassador to the Republic of Myanmar, Dr. Ito Sumardi, explained that the remission of the Myanmar Government was the result of various efforts made by the Government of Indonesia as a commitment in providing protection for its citizens.
Previously, the team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with various parties, including the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon made a visit to Insein Prison in Myanmar where the 55 fishermen had been locked up. The team then found strong indications that the 55 fishing boat crew members are victims of human trafficking.
In the meeting with the Foreign Minister of Myanmar held on May 21st, 2015 which focused on the issue of Rohingya refugees, Indonesian Foreign minister took an advantage to request for assistance to the Government of Myanmar to be willing to forgive and free the fishermen. However, the decision made by the Myanmar Government was also influenced by the consequences of the ratification of Palermo Protocol, which placed Myanmar and Indonesia as the states that are obliged to prevent the criminalization against human trafficking victims.
Meanwhile, the cost of repatriation of the citizens from Myanmar to Indonesia was borne entirely by PT. Fishindo Citra Samudera, the company which had employed 46 of the 55 fishermen. Whereas, the cost of nine others was borne by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs using the Malaysia Airlanes MH 849.
*) The Author Is Jakarta Regional Contributor