We were whipped, claim sailors
SEVEN Vanuatu seamen on a Taiwanese fishing vessel jumped ship in Suva claiming they were inhumanely treated on board. The men, all-crew members on the Hai Shing told The Fiji Times they were beaten with sticks and whipped with ropes by Taiwanese crew members.
They also claimed that the Hai
Shing's captain refused to release their passports and other personal belongings after they left the ship.
The Fiji Times published their grievances on its front page on Friday, October 6, 1989.
The men claimed they were not paid for the months they spent working on the vessel.
"On top of that the captain refused to release our passports or allow us to take out clothes and personal effects for the group," Jim Reikem said.
"He then told us that we would have to work our passage back to Vanuatu or pay him 20,000 vatu ($FJD 2000) if we wanted our passports."
The crew members, John Natu,28, Paul Alket, 19, Sylvester Maliu, 21, Mamo Tiome, 22, Clovis Rapulpul, 26, Henry Avok, 21 and Reikem, 19, had signed a two-year contract in Vanuatu in June that year. They were promised payment of 23,000 vatu (FJD$230) a month but had only received 22,000 Vatu from the captain for the four months. Sources close to the Hai Shing said the Vanuatu men had broken their contract and were liable to make amends.
"If they have broken their contract they should be made to pay the company. This is probably why the master of the vessel ordered them to work their passage home," the source said.
Mr Reikem said: "We came to Fiji with only the clothes on our backs and stayed at a motel in Suva until people from the Melanesian community came to our aid. Then we moved to Caubati Village to live with them."
When The Fiji Times visited Caubati, the men were preparing to fly back to Vanuatu.
A spokesperson for the Melanesian community, Tomu Nawai , said he had negotiated with the Vanuatu Commission of Labour to fly the men home.
"The commission was informed and through the Immigration Department we were able to get permission for the boys to fly back without using passports. Their tickets were paid for by the Vanuatu government."
Mr Nawai said the men were found by him at the motel living in a single room.
"There was one bed and the rest of them had to sleep on the floor. All they had for food were three loaves of bread and a tin corned beef," he said.
The fishermen had visited Vanuatu students at the University of the South Pacific to ask for help.
The students later informed members of the Melanesian community.
The fishermen told The Fiji Times through an interpreter they had faced very bad conditions on the Hai Shing.
"We were beaten or whipped if the captain thought we were not working hard enough and at times we were awoken by having buckets of water thrown over us.
“There were also times when we were threatened with knives by the Taiwanese crew," Paul Alket said.
"We were very frightened and did not want to stay on board any longer so we jumped ship," he added.
"Now we want to go home and things are being made difficult for us.
"But we are thankful for the help from the Melanesian community here and the Vanuatu immigration officials," he said.
The Hai Shing's captain could not be reached for comment.