As human rights are being violated in fishing boats in Pyapon Townships, Ayeyawady Region, control measures are necessary, Myanmar National Human Rights Commission has suggested. 

An inspection team from MNHRC conducted a field trip to the fishing sites in the sea off Pyapon Township from 2 to 6 December. 

According to the findings, the number of illegal fishing businesses is six times that of those running legally while the number of illegal fishing workers is many times higher than that of the list of 400 registered workers. 

The statement issued by the commission points out the fishing entrepreneurs' weaknesses in following the rules and regulations, relevant departments' weaknesses in law enforcement, worker shortages and unsystematic hiring of migrant workers through brokers. 

It also points out the workers' poverty and lack of education and their little knowledge in signing employment contracts. Moreover, it is found that workers feel fatigued and unhealthy as they have to work 35 nautical miles from the shore. 

There seemed to be cases of torturing, forced labour. In some cases, marine workers were found missing or dead. 

The commission therefore suggests about prompt control measures and enactment of necessary laws and rules. It calls for adoption of control mechanism.  

A lawsuit was filed against 19 people in earlier this month for their involvement in trafficking a Dagon University student. The human traffickers sold the final year student majoring in history  to fish wholesalers in Pyapon Township, for Ks 700,000 in early October. 

After about 45 days, he was released as his parents paid the money back. He was injured as he was tortured by the supervisor of a fishing raft.