Tracking Sea Cucumber Thieves to “Jakarta Two”

Kompas/Fransiskus Pati Herin

A man grills teripang (sea cucumbers) to reduce the water content, as seen in Ngolin Island, West Maluku Tenggara regency, Maluku, on Friday (25/8). The price of teripang now ranges from Rp 245,000 (US$18.35) to Rp 1.8 million per kilogram.

After visiting three islands by motorboat, Devi Paulus Lopulalan arrived at Tatunarwatu Island, West Maluku Tenggara regency, Maluku, at dusk on Saturday (26/8). Several dark-skinned, muscled and tall men stared at the reverend, who stepped up to the crowd of people.

Devi’s presence disrupted the crowd. He did not care. He gestured to an older man to follow him. Elat, 59, walked behind Devi as the muscled men stared at them until they walked behind a wooden hut.

At the hut, Devi talked to Elat, asking about the residents’ daily lives. It was revealed that some worked with security personnel and businesspeople to poach sea cucumbers (Holothuro-idea), which were under sasi. Sasi is a customary ban on harvesting sea cucumbers for a certain period of time.

“They used air compressors to harvest sea cucumbers. They were given money by businesspeople who will distribute the sea cucumbers in (regency capital) Saumlaki. In two weeks, they’ll collect Rp 30 million,” said Elat, whispering in a mix of Malay and the local dialect.

Tatunarwatu is considered strategic because it was on the telecommunications network. The divers gathered there, from where they could monitor the community leaders who visited Seira Island, like Devi, who inspected the waters from time to time. Only brave people visit the place.

Seira controls the administration, customs and religion on other islands within a 150-kilometer radius, such as Ngolin, Wuriaru, Tamdalan Nawa and Tatunarwatu.

A former sea cucumber thief said he had accepted an offer from security personnel who provided him with an air compressor and a breathing device. He used to dive from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. to a depth of 50 meters to collect sea cucumbers.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

..

The economic pressures and the security personnel’s protection emboldened him to take the risk of being arrested by residents. For safety, he worked at night. The results were shared among the divers, the compressor owner and the boat owner. One kilogram of sea cucumber sold for Rp 245,000 to Rp 1.8 million.

The offer from security personnel and businesspeople had blinded the divers. They did not fear violating their customary laws and the words of their religious leaders. They did not care about the fate of around 7,000 residents who expected to harvest sea cucumbers in July 2018, or two years after sasi was declared.

Meanwhile, Devi was responsible for telling the residents to respect local customs. The sea cucumber thefts started in November 2016. It was estimated that more than 100 tons of sea cucumbers were taken. Sea cucumber is known as an ingredient for traditional medicines.

The meeting with the divers was held after 25 hours of tracking down the sea cucumber theft by motorboat, departing from Seira on Friday (25/8). Four islands were visited, beginning with Tamdalan Nawa and on to Wuriaru, Ngolin and finally, Tatunarwatu.

On Tamdalan Nawa Island, a 170-centimeter-tall man with a long beard stood close to the coastline. “The sea cucumbers are gone, stolen,” said Djat Warmatan, 60, greeting Devi.

Greed

On top of the drying platform for sea cucumbers were four sea cucumbers. “Now, each day we collect only 1 ounce. We used to collect 10 kilograms,” said Djat, who had harvested sea cucumbers since elementary school.

This year was the worst, not only because of the declining population of sea cucumbers, but rather because of human greed. The thieves took sea cucumbers during sasi. Djat said the thieves had moved on to Wuriaru Island, which still had a lot of sea cucumbers.

The motorboat sped to Wuriaru on the high tide. As night approached, the boat docked at Wuriaru. Local resident Lukas Binan, 38, said the sea cucumber divers had left the area after one of them was killed while diving. “He died, possibly because God and our ancestors were angry. He stole sea cucumbers during sasi,” said Lukas.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

..

The next day, the motorboat went to Ngolin. Arriving on its coast, Imer Matuty, a Ngolin community leader, was drying sea cucumbers by smoking them. He said two hours earlier, a businessman’s associate and their divers had left the area, possibly going to Tatunarwatu, which local residents called “Jakarta Two”.

“Jakarta Two” indicates the area is modern and does not care about local customs.

Responding to the alleged involvement of security personnel in the thefts, Pattimura XVI Military Command commander Maj. Gen. Doni Monardo ordered an investigation and vowed to impose sanctions on anyone involved. A Pattimura Military Command team has been in Seira since Monday (28/8).

Regarding the involvement of local businessmen, the police hoped local residents would report them. Maluku Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Richard Abner Tatuh said on Tuesday (29/8) that taking sea cucumbers during sasi was a legal violation. “That is a criminal offense, as it harms many people,” he said.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry director of marine spatial planning Suharyanto said local customs such as sasi must be respected. Zoning bylaws on coastal areas and small islands were needed to provide protection, which were being drafted by councilors in Maluku.