KIRIBATI: Questions over seafarer's death
Updated
The body of a 26-year-old Kiribati woman has been returned home, nearly a month after she reportedly committed suicide aboard the German cargo ship she was working on. The crew of the Hans Fleusburg told New Zealand authorities that Tanering Kirata hung herself on October 27th. Investigations into her death began after the ship berthed in New Zealand, but, although an autopsy has been completed, a report has yet to be released.
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Registered under the name, Akka Ngaebi, Tanering Kirata took a job onboard the Hans Fleusburg in May this year.
She was one of less than 50 Kiribati women who work as seafarers amongst 1300 Kiribati seamen.
Local media reports Tabaneao Kaireiti spoke to her daughter the day before her death and says she didn't notice any signs of a problem.
She is still waiting on information into the circumstances of her daughter's death.
The Kiribati-based agent who employed Tanering Kirata, South Pacific Marine Services, says it is still waiting for a report from authorities in New Zealand conducting the investigation.
Assistant Manager, Tearei Raubane, says there is little information available.
RAUBANE: That's all the news that came from the ship - that the seawoman was hang herself just a few days before the ship arrived in one of the New Zealand ports. At the moment we are still waiting for the result of the investigation by the New Zealand authorities. We are still in the dark at the moment.
He says prior to her death, there was apparently no cause for concern amongst her family.
RAUBANE: According to what we got from her relatives and her parents in Kiribati, they phoned her one day before the incident happened and everything was fine. Then the news came after the incident happened and they were very surprised. The ship's crew also have no clue why she did this. Maybe this was private or I don't know what is behind it at the moment.
Kiribati women have only been employed as seafarers for about one year. Tearei Raubane describes female recruitment on foreign ships as a 'project' - to see how well they adjust to what can be a tough job, living in close quarters with the same crew for long periods at a time. The head of the Catholic Church in Kiribati, Bishop Paul Mwea, says women should not be working on these ships.
MWEA: Working on the boat is not the work for women, only for the man. The women, it's not their place you see, because they don't have protection. They're only trained to work but there is no protection for them. They are not being trained to know their rights. There are works that are more suitable for women - like the passenger ships. They are more suitable, not the cargo boats I think they are a bit rough for them, you know.
He says the death of Tanering Kirata highlights a problem that is not being addressed.
MWEA: That's the first case but there may be other cases but they're not reported. It's a concern for the church but we are not the one's responsible for sending them. I think the government should be blamed for that because there was no consultation made before they sent the girls overseas.
South Pacific Marine Services Assistant Manager, Tearei Raubane, says he hopes the long-awaited report into Tanering Kirata's death will help protect Kiribati seafarers in the future.
RAUBANE: SPMS would like to know what is the cause of this incidence because from there we might learn more on the problem that our seamen and seawoman are having onboard and we might try to safeguard the future incidence of the same nature.
Presenter: Bo Hill
Speakers: Tearei Raubane, South Pacific Marine Services, Bishop Paul Mwea head of the Catholic Church in Kiribati.
