WOC and CTI is not beneficial for Local Fishermen

Organizing the World Ocean Conference (WOC) and Coral Triangel Initiative (CTI) in Manado, North Sulawesi, 11-15 May 2009 is a historic event that is expected to provide the best solution for reducing the impact of climate change, especially for traditional fishermen and the communities in coastal areas and islands small-island. Ironically, as things escape from the fundamental agenda is the main international conferences. We convey concern and protest, because this World Conference has been trying since the beginning of the silent voices of civil society and the fishermen. We question the existence of the Marine World Conference will be able to issue the impact of climate change.

Since Friday, 9 April 2009, the government and security apparatus of North Sulawesi has conducted a number of prohibition against the unilateral preparation meeting Alliance Manado. Apparatus is also the location of the owner, where the Alliance will hold a meeting Manado, and eventually also to the unilateral use of location. The Alliance is an alliance Manado fishermen organizations and civil society, local, national and international levels that aim to provide information about current issues and marine fishing, the importance of preservation of marine ecosystems and the solidarity and the rights of fishermen.

Not only that, the security apparatus to do with the intimidation to the groups of fishers with the various questions put, which is confusing and not fundamental. Security also come in the lodging Alliance Manado, and perform activities that do not make participants feel comfortable and to have entered areas of the privacy of participants. Start taking pictures of the participants, ask questions to obtain documents and compel the member list of participants and activities Alliance Manado.

Government officials and security and make pressure on the land owner where enforcement and Justice Forum Marine Fisheries progress. Even the hotel owner Kolongan Beach, which makes meetings Manado Alliance can not run as planned.

In Manado Bay fishermen also complained about the enforcement WOC-CTI that restrict their movement to sea. Since two days before delivery WOC-CTI, fishermen have been forbidden not to sea, even there are sweeping effort against fishing in the Gulf region in Manado.

We demand the government of Indonesia and the WOC-CTI providers to immediately stop the efforts to prevent, deter and intimidation Alliance members and fishermen, Manado in North Sulawesi fishermen in general. We think that efforts to be a security officer and damage the credibility of the government has WOC-International CTI Forum as a participatory and transparent. We urge the rights and freedom to assemble and holds interests in the voice of civil society groups, especially the fishermen met!