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Down to Earth No. 57, May 2003
Controversy over fatal shootings in Komodo National Park
What lessons will be learned from the shooting dead of two local fishermen at the Komodo National Park, managed by US-based conservation organisation, The Nature Conservancy?
On the night of November 9th 2002, security personnel at the Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara province, approached a small group of boats suspected of illegal fishing activities. What exactly happened next is disputed but, by the early hours of November 10th, two fishermen had been shot dead.
According to the Komodo National Park Bureau's version of events, the men were suspected of hunting illegally on Komodo island. The Park's 3-person inventory team reported how they saw suspicious activity on land and heard boats coming to shore in the darkness. On November 8th, the team fired warning shots at a boat which had landed at Loh Wia, on the western part of Komodo Island.
After co-ordinating with the park authorities, members of the local police station and the local military, a team was sent to watch suspect areas. At around 9 pm on November 9th, a boat was heard coming into Loh Wia waters, followed by about four more half an hour later. One of the boats came to the shore and landed. There was movement back and forth from boat to shore. The boat then moved off and the team requested assistance from the park's floating ranger stations. A speedboat was sent and caught up with the nearest boat and fired six warning shots. These were ignored, according to the report.
In the pursuit and apprehending of the nearest two boats, two men were shot dead. Fourteen other men then surrendered, while the three other boats escaped into the darkness. Two compressors (used for diving) were found on the boats along with 2 high pressure hoses and several lobsters.PIAR / Kontras investigation
However, an investigation conducted by the Indonesian NGO PIAR, and the human rights organisation, Kontras, presents a different version of events.
The fishermen involved said they had not resisted the officials, nor carried any explosives on their boats (these are used in illegal fishing).
According to a witness, two boats, the Halifah I and II, were going to Kelapa Islands to catch lobster, fish and squid. They had come from Sape, Bima, to the west of Komodo Island.
At around 1am on November 10th, a series of shots was fired towards the Halifah I. There were no warning shots, according to the NGO report.
Two fishermen, Jaenul Arifin (25) and Mohamad Yamin (18) were shot dead on the spot. The report names one soldier and one navy personnel as those who fired the shots.
After this, the Halifah II, which was not far from the first boat, was also apprehended. Nine fishermen were ordered into the speedboat and brought to one of the floating ranger stations.
All the crew of Halifah I and II were ordered to strip naked. They were beaten, threatened and terrorised. At around 2 o'clock in the morning they were taken to Sooid, on the western side of Komodo island where they were again beaten and kicked until dawn. The bodies of the two fishermen were left lying on the boat.
The fishermen were held for 3 days, then released because there was no proof that they were carrying explosives.
The PIAR/Kontras report ends by saying that terror, intimidation and even shootings have become part of the fishermen's lives and that this has got worse since the central government invited TNC to co-manage the park.
According to fisherfolk, their boats are ransacked by the park's patrols almost everytime they go out to sea. Guards board the boats without permission and harangue and shout at the crew. Some of the crew have had weapons pointed at their face and ordered to go back. According to the fishermen, they don't carry the explosives the security guards are looking for. As they use fish traps and dive for lobsters, the only equipment they have on board is a compressor, flashlight and high pressure hose.
Since the November shooting incident, intimidation against fishermen has increased. Even traders wanting to enter Labuan Bajo harbour to sell salt are ordered to go home, without any clear explanation. With insufficient supplies of salt, the fishermen of Labuan Bajo and nearby coastal villages, can't salt their fish (salt is used as a preservative). Sape fishermen are banned from entering Komodo waters.
Such shootings have been carried out for decades. The NGO report lists nine shooting incidents since 1980. They include a total of eight deaths and 3 disappearances (in 1998). The families of the dead have not until now brought any legal action because they say they do not have the money.
Demands
Both versions of events were published by PIAR at a press conference in Kupang, West Timor in January 2003. PIAR urged the local government to resolve the various problems that have arisen due to the existence of the Komodo National Park, the emergence of conflict between communities and repeated violence towards local people.
PIAR also:
urged the Bima police to arrest those responsible for the shooting and violence which resulted in the two fishermen's deaths in November 2002 and thoroughly investigate the incident which falls within its jurisdiction;
urged TNC, as the manager of the Komodo National Park, to stop all forms of violence and intimidation against people whose livelihoods depend on the area;
urged the forestry minister immediately to review its policies regarding the Komodo National Park because it is causing hardship to local people and traditional fisherfolk whose livelihoods and futures depend on this area;
appealed to all people in East and West Nusa Tenggara provinces who live in and depend on the area around the national park for their livelihoods not to be provoked by people who want to pitch communities against each other.
"ok...
enough. Buts theres more. This kind of thing gets me in trouble all the time....but seriously, such a news story should not exist....
Steve
Controversy over fatal shootings in Komodo National Park
What lessons will be learned from the shooting dead of two local fishermen at the Komodo National Park, managed by US-based conservation organisation, The Nature Conservancy?
On the night of November 9th 2002, security personnel at the Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara province, approached a small group of boats suspected of illegal fishing activities. What exactly happened next is disputed but, by the early hours of November 10th, two fishermen had been shot dead.
According to the Komodo National Park Bureau's version of events, the men were suspected of hunting illegally on Komodo island. The Park's 3-person inventory team reported how they saw suspicious activity on land and heard boats coming to shore in the darkness. On November 8th, the team fired warning shots at a boat which had landed at Loh Wia, on the western part of Komodo Island.
After co-ordinating with the park authorities, members of the local police station and the local military, a team was sent to watch suspect areas. At around 9 pm on November 9th, a boat was heard coming into Loh Wia waters, followed by about four more half an hour later. One of the boats came to the shore and landed. There was movement back and forth from boat to shore. The boat then moved off and the team requested assistance from the park's floating ranger stations. A speedboat was sent and caught up with the nearest boat and fired six warning shots. These were ignored, according to the report.
In the pursuit and apprehending of the nearest two boats, two men were shot dead. Fourteen other men then surrendered, while the three other boats escaped into the darkness. Two compressors (used for diving) were found on the boats along with 2 high pressure hoses and several lobsters.PIAR / Kontras investigation
However, an investigation conducted by the Indonesian NGO PIAR, and the human rights organisation, Kontras, presents a different version of events.
The fishermen involved said they had not resisted the officials, nor carried any explosives on their boats (these are used in illegal fishing).
According to a witness, two boats, the Halifah I and II, were going to Kelapa Islands to catch lobster, fish and squid. They had come from Sape, Bima, to the west of Komodo Island.
At around 1am on November 10th, a series of shots was fired towards the Halifah I. There were no warning shots, according to the NGO report.
Two fishermen, Jaenul Arifin (25) and Mohamad Yamin (18) were shot dead on the spot. The report names one soldier and one navy personnel as those who fired the shots.
After this, the Halifah II, which was not far from the first boat, was also apprehended. Nine fishermen were ordered into the speedboat and brought to one of the floating ranger stations.
All the crew of Halifah I and II were ordered to strip naked. They were beaten, threatened and terrorised. At around 2 o'clock in the morning they were taken to Sooid, on the western side of Komodo island where they were again beaten and kicked until dawn. The bodies of the two fishermen were left lying on the boat.
The fishermen were held for 3 days, then released because there was no proof that they were carrying explosives.
The PIAR/Kontras report ends by saying that terror, intimidation and even shootings have become part of the fishermen's lives and that this has got worse since the central government invited TNC to co-manage the park.
According to fisherfolk, their boats are ransacked by the park's patrols almost everytime they go out to sea. Guards board the boats without permission and harangue and shout at the crew. Some of the crew have had weapons pointed at their face and ordered to go back. According to the fishermen, they don't carry the explosives the security guards are looking for. As they use fish traps and dive for lobsters, the only equipment they have on board is a compressor, flashlight and high pressure hose.
Since the November shooting incident, intimidation against fishermen has increased. Even traders wanting to enter Labuan Bajo harbour to sell salt are ordered to go home, without any clear explanation. With insufficient supplies of salt, the fishermen of Labuan Bajo and nearby coastal villages, can't salt their fish (salt is used as a preservative). Sape fishermen are banned from entering Komodo waters.
Such shootings have been carried out for decades. The NGO report lists nine shooting incidents since 1980. They include a total of eight deaths and 3 disappearances (in 1998). The families of the dead have not until now brought any legal action because they say they do not have the money.
Demands
Both versions of events were published by PIAR at a press conference in Kupang, West Timor in January 2003. PIAR urged the local government to resolve the various problems that have arisen due to the existence of the Komodo National Park, the emergence of conflict between communities and repeated violence towards local people.
PIAR also:
urged the Bima police to arrest those responsible for the shooting and violence which resulted in the two fishermen's deaths in November 2002 and thoroughly investigate the incident which falls within its jurisdiction;
urged TNC, as the manager of the Komodo National Park, to stop all forms of violence and intimidation against people whose livelihoods depend on the area;
urged the forestry minister immediately to review its policies regarding the Komodo National Park because it is causing hardship to local people and traditional fisherfolk whose livelihoods and futures depend on this area;
appealed to all people in East and West Nusa Tenggara provinces who live in and depend on the area around the national park for their livelihoods not to be provoked by people who want to pitch communities against each other.
"ok...
enough. Buts theres more. This kind of thing gets me in trouble all the time....but seriously, such a news story should not exist....
Steve
