KOCHI, July 31: Going by the heart-rending tales narrated by a few young men who managed to escape from the inhospitable working environs of some Korean fishing vessels operating in the North Pacific Ocean, the fate of nearly 100 others stranded in these craft, leaves one worried and anxious.

``Each of us paid Rs 25,000 to the agent for a job with a monthly salary of US $ 200. But we did not get a single pie. Instead, we had to endure extreme hardships during the journey and severe torture on the ships,'' said Paul Setric of Varapuzha showing a long scar on his back to mediapersons at the Ernakulam Press Club. It was the result of a blow with an iron pipe, inflicted by a supervisor. According to the police, Paul was one of the 129 youths, recruited by a local firm Suprimo Enterprises, as agents for Seo Woo Corporation, Dong-Ku, Pusan, Korea, to work in fishing vessels as deck-hands, oilers.

Sent in different batches nearly two months ago, some of them were apprehended enroute at Thailand and others upon reaching Korean shores for not having the necessary documents. After being imprisoned for a few days, some of them were deported to Mumbai. After a fortnight, they were sent back to Korea with the necessary papers. They were also provided with documents which would help them free their jailed friends. From Pusan port in Korea, they were assigned to six factory ships (these ships can operate upto six months at a stretch on the high seas).

``Life was a nightmare on these ships. We had to work for 12 hours a day, in two shifts. The supervisors would regularly thrash us on our backs and knuckles as we failed to grasp their orders,'' recounted a pale C J Raja. A native of Thrissur, Raja said he was assaulted by his taskmasters inside the 5,000 tonne capacity freezer room of the ship, where the temperature is maintained at sub-zero levels. The reason: he was down with burning fever and couldn't work. The men allege that they were hardly given any food.

When he was unable to stand the torture any more, Vishnu Raj of Pachalam, who was also on board the vessel Joonsung-3 along with Raja and Paul, cut the vein of his right hand. ``Otherwise, they would not have permitted me to leave,'' he said. Along with Vishnu, Raja, Paul and three other youths managed to hitch a ride in a supply vessel back to Pusan port. From Mumbai, a friend of Paul helped the group reach Kerala.

Following a complaint, police arrested Suprimo Enterprises owner N Sudhish Kumar and assistant M G Panicker on Tuesday. They have been remanded to judicial custody for a fortnight.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.