Ari Purboyo: From Struggle to Strength---A Fisher's Fight for Justice
In a small village in Lampung, Indonesia, a young boy named Ari Purboyo spent his days under the scorching sun, fixing motorbike tires by the roadside. He was not just a mechanic's apprentice; he was also a student, struggling to complete his bachelor's degree in Elementary Teacher Education. He supposed to be an Elementary School Teacher. However, each day was a battle between survival and education, between the immediate need for money and his long-term dreams.
But life was unkind. His earnings barely covered his daily needs, let alone tuition fees. The frustration of endless suffering gnawed at him until one day, he made a bold decision---he would leave everything behind in search of a better future. He signed up to work as a migrant fisher on a Korean vessel, hoping the sea would offer him the opportunities that the land had denied him.
A Harsh Reality at Sea
What awaited Ari in the open waters was far from the better life he had imagined. The reality of working aboard a foreign fishing vessel was brutal. Skippers wielded absolute power, and deckhands were treated more like disposable tools than human beings. Sleep deprivation, withheld wages, physical abuse---Ari witnessed it all, and for five years, he endured. But unlike many who remained silent out of fear, Ari chose to fight.
Backed by pro bono lawyers, he took the battle to the Korean courts. It was an uphill struggle, but he refused to be silenced. His testimony, along with evidence gathered from other fishers, helped push for stronger legal protections for migrant workers in Korea's fishing industry. Policies changed. Enforcement improved. His voice had made a difference.
Returning Home, Facing New Challenges
Triumphant but weary, Ari returned to Indonesia, hoping to rebuild his life. Yet, the struggle was not over. He found himself at a crossroads, uncertain of what lay ahead. The victories he had won in Korea had not translated into personal success. Once again, frustration threatened to consume him.
