Hundreds of enslaved fishermen were rescued on Good Friday after spending years on fishing boats in Indonesia.
An Associated Press investigation uncovered the plight of the men, who were held in dire conditions on boats and on the island of Benjina.
Officials freed over 300 men after investigating abuses in the fishing industry. The AP reported that fishermen were kept in cages, beaten, kicked, whipped, given electric shocks, and suffered other atrocities.
Many of the men described being lured by the prospect of a job in Thailand, but were instead stranded on Benjina and made to catch seafood on fishing boats. The International Organisation for Migration said there may be as many as 4,000 enslaved workers in the surrounding area.
"I will go see my parents," said Win Win Ko of Myanmar. "They haven't heard from me, and I haven't heard from them since I left." The 42-year-old left four years ago to secure a job, but was deceived into the fishing industry. He said four of his teeth were kicked out when his captain accused him of working too slowly.
Initially, only about 20 men were going to be released from the island, but once word spread of the rescue, hundreds grabbed what little belongings they had and waited for their chance to leave. Others asked if men hiding in the forest could be released as well.
"They can all come," responded Asep Burhanuddin, director general of Indonesia's Marine Resources and Fisheries Surveillance. "We don't want to leave a single person behind."
The men were evacuated over 24 hours to a Fisheries Ministry compound in Tual, where they remain until their identities are verified and the countries of origin are contacted.
Thai officials denied that the fishermen were treated poorly.
"We examined the boats and the crews, and the result is most of the crews are happy and a few of them are sick and willing to go home," Thai police Lt. Gen. Saritchai Anekwiang reported.
"Generally, the boat conditions are good."
