Cambodian fishermen rescued from Indonesia hit 230

News by Xinhua

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua) – The number of trafficked Cambodian fishermen rescued from Thai fishing vessels operating from the Indonesian island of Ambon has risen to 230. They will fly to Cambodia this month, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

Cambodian Embassy officials to Indonesia visited trafficked laborers on Ambon through Wednesday and recorded that the number of trafficked laborers increased to 230 from 199 announced last week, the ministry’s statement said.

“At the request of the Embassy, the Thai company (operating the fishing vessels) has paid salaries to the 230 laborers already,” the statement said.

“To facilitate their travel, the Embassy has requested the company to hire a plane to transport those laborers directly from the Ambon island to Cambodia by June, and the company has already agreed with this request,” it added.

Trafficked fishermen are frequently forced to work long hours and physically and psychologically abused. They are often unpaid and forced to serve on voyages for months or even years.

source: http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/11989/cambodian-fishermen-rescued-from-indonesia-hit-230/