Tual, Indonesia: A group of 42 vulnerable Thai fishermen evacuated from Benjina island on Sunday by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) have called for state agencies to send them home.
Manas Ong-on, a 27-year-old fisherman evacuated from Benjina said: "I want to know my future. Who will pick me up?"
On Sunday the IOM transferred the 42 fishermen out of Benjina through a transit stop at Dobo island and on to Tual island on Wednesday where they received medical attention.
The IOM chose the most vulnerable people to evacuate, including those under the age of 18, over 60 years old or those in poor health.
Dozens of Myanmar and Cambodian fishermen were waiting at Tual port to be repatriated. Upon arrival, the Thai group was moved to an abandoned restaurant near the port. The fishermen said no one told them what was happening.
The group includes three minors under the age of 18. One 16-year-old from Nakhon Ratchasima said he joined a fishing boat because he wanted to sail after he failed entrance exams for Mattayom 4 (Grade 9).
"I joined the boat on the Mae Klong River [in Samut Songkhram]. I knew the boat would go to Indonesia, but I wanted to try," he said.
Another 16-year-old from Phetchabun said he ended up stuck in Indonesia when his boat was suspended in late October 2013. "I was looking for a job and I came to the Mae Klong River and found work on a boat," he said.
The third minor, 18, boarded a fishing boat at Mahachai port in Samut Sakhon because he wanted to earn money for his family.
When the fishermen were asked about trafficking in the industry, one man, 27, from Surin, said he was tricked by an agent into boarding a boat at Pak Nam in Samut Prakan.
"The agent took my ID and 30,000 baht," he said, adding he has been in Indonesian waters for 20 months and three days.
"My legs hurt and I have a headache. I want to go home," he said.
But most of the fishermen said they are not trafficking victims. They said they became stranded when Indonesian authorities suspended the fishing operations of 53 Thai boats.
The boats, docked in Benjina since November last year, remain at a standstill pending verification over their compliance with Indonesian fishing laws.
The captain of one Thai fishing boat, Kaewma Techa, 62, has been in Benjina for five months. "I have been waiting indefinitely," said the captain, who speaks to his wife back in Thailand every day and says he will consider retirement upon his return.
Meanwhile, Thongchai Chasawath, director-general of the Consular Affairs Department, said the Foreign Ministry is helping the 42 Thai people in Tual.
"Our job is to get them home as soon as possible. But there are rules, practices and diplomatic formalities to follow. It takes time," he said.
According to Mr Thongchai, the process of repatriating citizens is likely to take a month. A group of Thai consular officials are now on Benjina island to assist the repatriation process for the fishermen. "We would like to cooperate with the IOM to expedite the process," said Mr Thongchai.
More than 500 Thai fishermen are still stranded in Benjina island.
