In Pictures

Slave fishermen rescued in Indonesia

After a grim report unveiling the cruelty of the fishing operation, Indonesian authorities free trapped fishermen.

Slave fishermen 1 — Burmese fishermen have been living on fishing boats. [Syarina Hasibuan/Al Jazeera]

Benjina, Indonesia – More than 300 fishermen were rescued by the Indonesian government from forced labour on the remote island of Benjina. The group of fishermen, mainly from Myanmar, were freed after an investigation into claims of human trafficking by the Associated Press news agency revealed their plight.

Pusaka Benjina Resources, one of the largest fishing firms in eastern Indonesia, stands accused of using forced labour and treating the men like slaves on more than 90 fishing boats. Fishermen described being beaten and forced to work without pay for 20 to 22-hour shifts. They were locked up in cells, lived in unsanitary conditions, provided with unclean drinking water and little food. They claimed many died at sea.

The Indonesian government transported the fishermen to another island for their protection and said they were investigating.

Houdreds of enslaved fishemen rescued in Indonesia

Slave fishermen 2 — Fifty-three ships with hundreds of Burmese fishermen were docked around Benjina, while the rest of the ships are believed to have fled to sea. [Syarina Hasibuan/Al Jazeera]

Slave fishermen 4 — An Indonesian military boat and a fishery ministry boat check the situation at Pusaka Bejina resources factory. [Syarina Hasibuan/Al Jazeera]

Slave fishermen 5 — Sea and fishery ministry officials discuss the situation in Benjina. [Syarina Hasibuan/Al Jazeera]

Slave fishermen 6 — Indonesian authorities board a suspected boat. [Syarina Hasibuan/Al Jazeera]

Slave fishermen 12 — The sleeping cabins have been used to accommodate at least seven to ten crew members. With very low ceilings, fishermen are forced to almost crawl to enter it. [Syarina Hasibuan/Al Jazeera]

Slave fishermen 8 — Indonesian authorities check the nationality of the fishermen. [Syarina Hasibuan/Al Jazeera]

Slave fishermen 9 — The fishing boat captains, aka Tekong, are generally known for their cruelty towards their crew. [Syarina Hasibuan/Al Jazeera]

Slave fishermen 11 — Rescued Burmese fishermen with their few belongings wait to leave the island. [Syarina Hasibuan/Al Jazeera]

Slave fishermen 17 — Burmese fishermen arrive in Tual, a neighbouring island. [Syarina Hasibuan/Al Jazeera]

Slave fishermen 19 — Burmese fishermen queue to be registered by the Indonesian government. [Syarina Hasibuan/Al Jazeera]

Slave fishermen 14 — Ex-fisherman who ran away from the company and now live on a neighbouring island. Some fishermen managed to escape before the rescue operation conducted by the government. [Syarina Hasibuan/Al Jazeera]

Slave fishermen 15 — Naing has been living in Indonesia for 15 years. He had wanted to return home from the first week of his arrival, but the company hadn't allowed him to do so. He managed to run away and now works as a logger in the forest. [Syarina Hasibuan/Al Jazeera]