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Source: ONE News -
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The crew of a foreign fishing vessel could be deported this week before their claims of abuse and intimidation can even be investigated.
The Indonesian fishermen have received backing for their allegations by a group of Auckland academics who say they have found evidence of widespread abuse.
The crew members are currently helping out at a Christchurch foodbank. It keeps them busy as they wait to hear if they will be deported as soon as Sunday, and before they have settled a pay dispute from five months crewing a ship out of Lyttelton.
"We like to go home but we don't want to go home with empty hands," said Slamet Raharjo one of the foreign fisherman.
They have also been helping a team of Auckland academics investigate shipboard conditions for 2000 others working in New Zealand.
One researcher, Dr Christina Stringer of Auckland University Business School, found conditions shocking.
She said she found evidence of extensive and ongoing physical and sexual abuse.
"On one vessel the whole crew was lined up and hit with shovels. It's widespread amongst the Indonesians, the Filipinos and even the Chinese crews."
Just documenting that seems to be provoking hostile reactions.
The researchers told ONE News they were having dinner at a barbecue restaurant a month ago with the crew of another vessel who had given interviews alleging abuse.
And as they went to leave, two men, who the crew recognised, followed them, taking photos at close range and noting down their vehicle licence plates. The researchers felt it was a clear attempt to try to intimidate them and tell them to "back off".
Another foreign charter operator rejects claims of widespread abuse, calling them "unsubstantiated" and "nothing more than a catalogue of allegations".
Owners of the Oyang 75 also say they have paid the seamen their full legal wage, and will co-operate with a Labour Department investigation and a forthcoming ministerial inquiry.
Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley says an inquiry has the support of Cabinet.
"Clearly ministers believe that it's well worth having a high level inquiry and that's why we are going to have one. And we're considering the terms of reference very seriously," Heatley said.
But as for the workers most affected and their bid to stay, Immigration Minister Kate Wilkinson said the Government has left the decision up to the department.
"It's an operational matter," she said.
The foreign fishing boat crew could therefore be long gone by the time any inquiry is ready to hear what they have got to say.
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