Local Recruiters Suspended After Russian Trawler Sinking

The Ministry of Transport indefinitely suspended five local seafarer recruitment agencies in April that it alleged had sent Myanmar nationals to work on the Russian fishing trawler Dalny Vostok, which sank off Russia’s fareastern coast on April 2.

Though the Department of Water Transport permits seafarer recruitment agencies, it does not allow them to send Myanmar nationals to foreign fishing trawlers.

“The ship to which they sent the sailors was not the one they said in their application,” said U Toe Myint, director of the department’s Seafarers Division. “They failed to report this to us. Even if they sent them to another ship, they would have had to report this to us and seek our approval, as well as submit relevant documents to prove that the ship is recognized by us. They failed to do all these things and that’s why we suspended them.”

A total of 161 seafarer recruitment agencies are registered with the ministry. The suspension of the five agencies is the first of its kind.

Of the 42 Myanmar nationals aboard the Dalny Vostok when it sank, 22 were rescued. Sixteen have been confirmed dead while four others are missing. Of the suspended agencies, Sea Rider provided the vessel with 27 sailors, while the rest were recruited by Top Chance, Asia Wave, Light Oasis and Star Global. —Thuzar

Hello and Goodbye

A handcuffed student kisses his mother while he is brought to Letpadan court for trial. A total of 127 people were arrested after a March 10 crackdown against student protesters. Other arrests were made later, and around half the total were released in late March. Family members are allowed very brief weekly visits to their detained relatives.