China Continues Investigation Into Sea Burials of Indonesian Fishermen: Foreign Affairs Ministry

Jakarta. The Foreign Affairs Ministry said Chinese authorities are continuing investigation into the sea burials of Indonesian crew workers on Chinese fishing vessels last month.
"Our embassy in Beijing sent a diplomatic note to the Chinese Foreign Ministry on May 19. They informed us the investigation was still ongoing," the ministry's citizen protection director Judha Nugraha said on Wednesday.
A video posted on Facebook by Suwarno Cano Swe on May 15 showed the dead body of another Indonesian fisherman, identified by his initial H., being dumped into the sea from a different Chinese fishing boat.
H. died after allegedly being physically abused on the boat, where the working condition was described as slave-like.
Suwarno said H. was repeatedly hit with wood planks, steel rods, glass bottles and electrocuted.
"He died on Jan. 16 and was dumped overboard in Somali territorial waters," Judha said.
At least three other Indonesian crew workers had died on Chinese fishing vessels after receiving inhuman treatment and had their bodies thrown into the sea.
Around 50 other Indonesian crew workers have been forced to work in slave-like conditions on other Chinese fishing vessels.
Judha said the ministry is having trouble tracking Indonesian crew workers on foreign fishing boats since many of them are undocumented.
"Many of these migrant workers are not documented in our database. They don't know how to register in the system when they work abroad," he said.
Migrant Care Executive Director Wahyu Susilo said many agencies send these crew workers to work on boats all over the world without going through the official red tapes.
The procedure to earn a permit to work abroad from the Indonesian government is complicated. Applicants must submit multiple documents to the Workforce Ministry, the Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP2MI) and the Transportation Ministry.
"The bureaucracy is complicated and many workers don't have the required documents. They look for a shortcut and often fall prey to human trafficking," Wahyu said.
Wahyu said Indonesia should issue a government regulation to protect migrant workers in the maritime sector.
Currently, a total of 2.9 million Indonesians work abroad, of which 9,404 are documented ship crew workers.
Tags: Keywords:Related Articles
Iran Urges UN Members, Indonesia Take ‘Collective Action’ After Israeli Strike
Hours after the bombing,UN member Indonesia strongly condemns Israel's attack on Iran.Indonesia Frowns On US Detaining Its Citizen Without Due Process as Five Get Deported
Trump's nationwide immigration crackdown has caught 20 Indonesians so far, five of whom have been deported.Gov’t Denies Reports of Relocating Gazans to Indonesia
According to a Hebrew media report, about 100 Gazans will head to Indonesia as construction workers.Six Indonesian Umrah Pilgrims Die in Saudi Bus Crash
Six Indonesian Umrah pilgrims died in a bus crash in Saudi Arabia on Thursday afternoon local time, according to the Foreign Ministry.400 Indonesians Rescued from Human Trafficking in Myanmar
Indonesia has evacuated 400 trafficking victims from Myanmar’s conflict zone. They are now en route home after a rescue effort via Thailand.After 10-Year Ban, Indonesia to Send Migrant Workers to Saudi Arabia Again
Indonesia will lift its 2015 ban on migrant workers to Saudi Arabia, aiming to meet labor demand while strengthening worker protections.Tate Brothers, Who Face Trafficking Charges, Sit Cageside for UFC
The Tates, who are dual US-British citizens, were arrested in late 2022 and formally indicted last year.Indonesia Repatriates 84 Citizens Trapped in Myanmar Online Scam
The Indonesian government has repatriated 84 of its citizens who were victims of an alleged online scam operation in MyanmarMalaysia Deports 133 Undocumented Indonesian Migrant Workers via Tanjungpinang
The Malaysian government has repatriated hundreds of Indonesian migrant workers through the Sri Bintan Pura International PortIndonesian Migrants Reclaim $13 Million in Unpaid Wages, Insurance
The Foreign Ministry has helped Indonesians abroad to recover $13 million in financial rights (i.e. unpaid wages and insurance.)The Latest
Bomb Threat Diverts Saudia Hajj Flight to Medan, No Explosives Found
A Saudia Airlines flight carrying 442 hajj pilgrims was diverted to Medan after a bomb threat; no explosives were found on board.Aceh Reclaims Disputed Islands Near Offshore Oil Blocks After Prabowo’s Decision
Jakarta rules in favor of Aceh in a century-old island dispute with North Sumatra near key oil and gas blocks, ending years of tension.Indonesian Police Arrest Two Suspects in the Shooting of Australian National in Bali
The Indonesian National Police have arrested two foreign nationals suspected of being involved in the shooting of an Australian citizen.Iran Wants Indonesia to Boycott Israeli Goods as War Rages On
Iran says Muslim nations like Indonesia must not stop at declarations, but also to exert economic pressure on Israel.Badai Emas Pegadaian 2025: Digital Transactions Can Win You 1 Kg of Gold and a Hajj Package
PT Pegadaian has once again launched its annual loyalty program titled Badai Emas Pegadaian 2025.Most Popular
