The Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, has facilitated the repatriation process of 28 Indonesian Fishermen KMN Sanjaya 108 Ship to Indonesia through the direct flight between Port Moresby and Denpasar (20/8).
The ship with 150 Gross Tonnage (GT) capacity with 49 tonnes of fish was caught in Papua New Guinea waters on June 6th, 2023 with suspicion of violating territorial boundaries and illegal fishing activities (IUU fishing). From the vessel size and the amount of cargo, this case was one of the biggest cases of IUU fishing in Papua New Guinea. For this violation, the entire crew of the Sanjaya 108 ship had to undergo the legal process in Papua New Guinea and were sentenced to pay a fine, and a subsidiary prison term.
“Given the strict application of the law related to the crime of IUU Fishing and the lack of proper detention facilities and Correctional Institutions in Papua New Guinea, I urge Indonesian fishermen not to carry out fishing activities without a permit in Papua New Guinean waters,” said Ambassador Andriana Supandi, who released the fishermen at the Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby.
The Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby has handled the case intensively since receiving information on the arrest. The efforts began with gain consular access to meet Indonesian fishermen upon arrival at Port Moresby, assisting and facilitating interpreter services during examinations and legal proceedings, providing logistical assistance in the form of food and medicine, and visiting the Correctional Institution.
Prioritising the responsibilities of protecting Indonesians overseas, the Indonesian Embassy has encouraged the ship company to provide legal service and be responsible for legal consequences set by the courts in Papua New Guinea. The ship company was willing to pay a fine and finance the entire repatriation process so that the 28 Indonesian Fishermen could be returned to Indonesia. Upon arrival in Denpasar, Bali, the company will arrange for repatriation to their respective origin areas.
To prevent the same problem in the future, the Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby and related ministries or institutions are committed to increasing Indonesian understanding and awareness as well as improving the regulation and supervision of Indonesian fishermen’s activities in the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border areas.