necessary measure for improving workers’ rights. He has also expressed
concerns about surveillance and privacy violations. Drawing from his
experiences, he noted that video recordings can only capture a limited
perspective of events and are often taken out of context. They may
ultimately harm the vessel owner and captain without corroborating
evidence. Therefore, he advocates for prioritizing improvements in other
areas rather than installing CCTV.
iv. Summary: Fishers Have A Right to Wi-Fi
In July 2023, Father Guntur, following his departure from Taiwan,
travelled to the Philippines to embark on the next chapter of his mission.
When inquired about his interactions with numerous Muslim fishers as a
Catholic priest, he enthusiastically replied: “When you are genuinely
engaged, the first thing you’ll notice is that this is a group of people who
need help. Maybe for others, they talk to the fishers because it's their job,
but for me, it's not just a job—it’s a calling.” He further urged NGOs and
human rights advocates to invest more time with fishermen, suggesting
activities such as walking to Donggang and chatting with Indonesian
fishermen to foster friendships. “You don’t need to ask them any questions.
Eventually, they will tell you everything.”
During a visit from the advocacy group “Wi-Fi Now for Fishers
Rights!” representatives from FOSPI, led by a fisher named Wahana, put
forth several recommendations:
(1) They wished for the Wi-Fi usage guidelines proposed by the
Fisheries Agency to apply to all Taiwanese distant water fishing
vessels rather than being limited to those receiving subsidies.
(2) While the guidelines stipulate a minimum of 40 MB of data per
individual per month, it has been noted that certain crew members,
such as the captain, are granted larger data allowances, which may
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