Coast guard officials from Kaohsiung yesterday raided the Taiwanese fishing vessel Ming Man (明滿), arresting 32 Chinese fishermen who had allegedly launched a mutiny in which they took three Taiwanese crew members hostage -- who were freed in the raid.
The mutiny took place on Sept. 2 when Chinese laborers employed by the Ming Man's owners beat the ship's Taiwanese first and second mates and a third Filipino sailor after suffering what they described as "inhumane treatment."
The three jumped into the sea to escape further attack and were later rescued by another Taiwanese fishing vessel, according to the coast guard.
The Chinese laborers then took the ship's captain and another two Taiwanese sailors hostage, demanding the company to which the Ming Man is registered pay each of them US$50,000 in exchange for the crew's release, the coast guard said.
The Chinese laborers also demanded that the vessel sail to Japan in order to allow the Chinese Embassy there to intervene in the matter.
The captain contacted the company and told his captors that his employers would pay US$30,000 to each of the laborers for the crew's release if they agreed to return to Kaohsiung. The hostage-takers accepted the offer, according to coast guard officials.
When the ship returned to waters off Kaohsiung yesterday morning, it was met by coast guard officials pretending to be employees of the fishing company.
The situation was brought under control following a surprise raid, the coast guard said.
The Chinese laborers later told reporters that the incident resulted from abuse suffered at the hands of the Taiwanese crew.
"They cursed and beat us every day," several Chinese laborers said. One said the attacks were often done with iron rods and that the first mate and second mates were particularly responsible.
But the freed captain of the Ming Man denied the accusations.
The three rescued from the sea by the other Taiwanese fishing vessel have not yet returned.
Laborers from China, predominantly from Fujian Province, have filled many places in Taiwan's fishing industry in recent years.
Not allowed to reside in the country, Chinese fishermen live on offshore residences from which they are contracted to work on Taiwanese fishing vessels.
Poor working conditions have caused several conflicts between Chinese laborers and their Taiwanese employers.
RSS