Police Investigate Claims Of Mistreatment Of Tuna Fishermenff

The American Samoan police is investigating claims made by several Chinese fishermen that they allegedly have not received their pay for a long time and they were beaten and not given any food by the captain of their fishing vessel. They say this is why they decided not go when the vessel, which originates from Taiwan, left port last week.

According to reliable reports, when the boat left, the Chinese fishermen, about six or so of them, hid. Earlier this week, they all went to the police and made a complaint, claiming their misfortunate is caused by the captain of their fishing vessel, who is a Taiwanese.

Va’a Sunia, head of the police Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (CIIB), confirmed that his division is investigating such a case, but declined to comment. He said the matter is still under investigation.

Sources told that the fishermen were put in a hotel, which is being paid for by the agent of the vessel, FCF Fishery Co. According to sources, the police are working with the agent in attempting to contact the vessel as part of their investigation.

It is understood that there is a government policy that a vessel can not leave port until all the crew is accounted for by Immigration Office, which clears them to leave. It is unclear what happened here.

This case is not a first of its kind where fishermen have been complaining about mistreatment from their vessel leaders. In April, the District Court heard from a Chinese fisherman who refused to go on the fishing vessel he worked on because of its deplorable conditions. The local court made sure the man had a place to stay and that he wasn't going to receive any type of retribution from his employer because of his refusal to work.

The court also made sure that the agent of the vessel paid for his airfare back to China and the fisherman left later that month. During this case in court, District Court Judge John L. Ward II said “animals were treated better” than the way fishermen are treated in the Territory.

A few years back, there was a controversy surrounding a group of Chinese fisherman who claimed that the owner of their vessel had failed to pay them for months. In this case, government officials, including Congressman Faleomavaega Eni and the Chinese Embassy, stepped in and the Chinese group, about 30, returned home after StarKist paid for their airfares.