Tual crackdown highlights battle of the underworld

The Indonesian-flagged Pongtif Reefer tramper is no ordinary fishing vessel. Equipped with 3,400 cubic meters of cold storage, the US$15 million vessel can carry enough fish to cover half a soccer pitch.

Rendi Akhmad Witular , The Jakarta Post | Thu, 03/06/2008 1:22 AM

The tramper was among 14 fishing vessels detained by the National Police on Nov. 26 and Dec. 7 for alleged poaching just off Tual and Benjina islands in Maluku.

The detained vessels included two Thai and two Panamanian trampers and 10 Indonesian-flagged vessels of Thai origin.

The police detained 306 crew members from Thailand, two from Myanmar and 18 from Indonesia. Around 3,500 tons of fish was confiscated as well.

However, police have thus far been unable to arrest the businessmen behind the activities.

While the money men behind the poaching syndicate remain at large, speculation remains that the crackdown was deliberately orchestrated by a business group to sideline its opponents.

An official at the ministry of fishery and maritime affairs, who asked for anonymity over fears for his safety in disclosing the information, said the crackdown was part of a series of battles between business groups in China (Taiwan) and Thailand.

He said the Chinese businesses were allegedly helped here by a local mogul with close links to some police officers, while the Thai groups had support from some Indonesian Military officers and bureaucrats.

"The raid was primarily driven by business conflicts between international fishing firms who use brokers in Indonesia."

"The local businessman who represented the Chinese asked his friends at the National Police to give his rivals a lesson," said the official.

Col. (ret.) Firman, an executive of PT Mina Jaya Bahari, seven of whose vessels were detained in the operation, believed the raid was part of a business conflict involving his company.

"We feel (the raid) is part of unhealthy business competition. But I won't tell who's behind this. The police have no reason at all for detaining our vessels as we've complied with all regulations," said Firman, also an executive at the Navy's cooperative agency Induk Koperasi Angkatan Laut, or Inkopal.

Firman denied his firm had any links with Inkopal or received any support from the Navy.

A spokesman for the Indonesian Military (TNI), Rear Marshal Sagom Tamboen, denied TNI personnel were involved in providing backing for poachers.

"There is no hard evidence showing any military personnel are cooperating with poachers," he said.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Sisno Adiwinoto also denied accusations the raid was orchestrated, insisting the crackdown was a police initiative.

"The police are strongly independent. There is (nothing to allegations) the case was a request from a certain businessman .... We operate based on sufficient evidence," he said.

According to a former Indonesian sailor who said he was once involved in poaching in the Arafura Sea, Indonesian-flagged fishing vessels were mostly operated by Thai cooperatives grouped under a powerful Thai overseas fishing association.

Sutep Sangsuk-Iem, one of the Thai crew members arrested by the police, said his agent in Thailand had links with the association. However, he refused to elaborate.

Thai Ambassador to Indonesia Akrasid Amatayakul denied any involvement of Thai security personnel in backing the association for alleged poaching in Indonesian waters.

"There is no evidence over the involvement of the monarchy's security personnel in poaching cases here," he said.

National Police deputy director for special crimes, Sr. Comr. Sadar Sebayang, said the Thai association used Indonesian brokers to take advantage of fishing regulations providing legal leeway for them to operate here as Indonesian-registered fishing vessels.

"There is preliminary evidence that poaching by the Thai crews here is linked with the association," he said, without elaboration.

The former sailor said the value of a fishing catch was so tempting it led many groups to ignore the law and business ethics, including the use of willing authorities to strike down their rivals.

Maluku Tenggara Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ony Budyo Suswanto, who was involved in the raids, said a tramper supported by three catching vessels could take in Rp 240 billion (US$25.5 million) from eight trips per year.

Maluku Tenggara prosecutor Reynaldi said his office had completed on Dec. 27 the auction of the fish confiscated during the raids, with local fishing company PT Maritim Timur Jaya winning the bidding with an offer of Rp 5.9 billion.

Reynaldi said the company paid around Rp 4,000 per kilogram, regardless of the type of the fish.

"The auction was held according to regulations. We needed to sell the fish quickly because we were afraid they would spoil," he said. -- JP/Rendi Akhmad Witular