For Mekong sailors, life quiet after deaths
By Zha Minjie |
November 26, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MORE than 50 days after an international tragedy on the Mekong River, the water surface remains quiet in a deathly silence.
Traffic along the Lantsang-Mekong route has been closed since 13 Chinese sailors were killed there on October 5.
The once busy and noisy channel now sees only would-be-sailors ashore, unwilling to leave with their empty boats docked at deserted ports.
"I'm afraid half of my fellows won't come back," sailor Li Jianyong told the Xinmin Evening News.
The 24-year-old Li was one of few sailors to stay at Guanlei Port in southwestern Yunnan Province, close to the border of China and Myanmar. There were about 20 ships and vessels harbored together.
Outside the port is the infamous "Golden Triangle," which is one of the leading opium-producing areas in the world.
Li told the Shanghai newspaper that many sailors left and began to work along the Yangtze River instead. "It's easier; beside the incomes are good," he said.
Li and Liu Hongdong, both Yunnan natives, chose to stay as they were unfamiliar with Yangtze River transport.
A busy season of transporting fruits and garlic to Thailand and Myanmar now lost, the sailors said, and they have nothing to do but drink and sleep.
"Do some cleaning onboard seems to be the only thing related to the ships," said Li, who is paid 2,000 yuan for staying and taking care of the ships.
"I really miss the days riding on the river, free and happy," said Li, who has been a sailor for more than six years.
Li just awakened after drinking with others from noon until night the day before. Sometimes the group goes to an Internet bar, the only one within kilometers.
Liu, who helped salvage the bodies of the killed Chinese sailors, soon began to smoke, which he had quit for two years.
"I could not even eat these days," said Liu, hoping to see the traffic ban lifted soon.
China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have agreed to joint security operations to pursue "criminal organizations" operating on the Mekong River after the October tragedy, in which the sailors from two ships were shot. Nine members of Thailand's army have been arrested in the case.
Earlier reports said that some large cargo ships would be renovated and armed to become escort ships and protect Chinese ships along the waters. The ships are expected to be put into use next month, sources said.
About three to four hours upstream from the Guanlei Port, two double-deck ships are undergoing renovation on a beach covered in dense trees. As-yet unnamed, the ships are said to be the escorts. Their steel boards are bullet-proof.
"Hopefully the escorts can handle the dangers and protect us," said Liu, still uncertain about the future.
Traffic along the Lantsang-Mekong route has been closed since 13 Chinese sailors were killed there on October 5.
The once busy and noisy channel now sees only would-be-sailors ashore, unwilling to leave with their empty boats docked at deserted ports.
"I'm afraid half of my fellows won't come back," sailor Li Jianyong told the Xinmin Evening News.
The 24-year-old Li was one of few sailors to stay at Guanlei Port in southwestern Yunnan Province, close to the border of China and Myanmar. There were about 20 ships and vessels harbored together.
Outside the port is the infamous "Golden Triangle," which is one of the leading opium-producing areas in the world.
Li told the Shanghai newspaper that many sailors left and began to work along the Yangtze River instead. "It's easier; beside the incomes are good," he said.
Li and Liu Hongdong, both Yunnan natives, chose to stay as they were unfamiliar with Yangtze River transport.
A busy season of transporting fruits and garlic to Thailand and Myanmar now lost, the sailors said, and they have nothing to do but drink and sleep.
"Do some cleaning onboard seems to be the only thing related to the ships," said Li, who is paid 2,000 yuan for staying and taking care of the ships.
"I really miss the days riding on the river, free and happy," said Li, who has been a sailor for more than six years.
Li just awakened after drinking with others from noon until night the day before. Sometimes the group goes to an Internet bar, the only one within kilometers.
Liu, who helped salvage the bodies of the killed Chinese sailors, soon began to smoke, which he had quit for two years.
"I could not even eat these days," said Liu, hoping to see the traffic ban lifted soon.
China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have agreed to joint security operations to pursue "criminal organizations" operating on the Mekong River after the October tragedy, in which the sailors from two ships were shot. Nine members of Thailand's army have been arrested in the case.
Earlier reports said that some large cargo ships would be renovated and armed to become escort ships and protect Chinese ships along the waters. The ships are expected to be put into use next month, sources said.
About three to four hours upstream from the Guanlei Port, two double-deck ships are undergoing renovation on a beach covered in dense trees. As-yet unnamed, the ships are said to be the escorts. Their steel boards are bullet-proof.
"Hopefully the escorts can handle the dangers and protect us," said Liu, still uncertain about the future.
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