6 Americans in Indonesian Custody Begin Hunger Strike

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Six Americans accused of illegally entering Indonesian waters on a treasure hunt--even though they say they were just scuba diving--went on a hunger strike Monday, fearful that they may face months in an Indonesian jail.

“My wedding anniversary is today,” said Danny Commerford of Orange, Calif., choking back tears. “Tell my wife I love her very much.”

“Tell Kelly--she’s 9 and she’s my daughter--that I’m proud to hear she got four A’s and two Bs on her report card,” the 39-year-old building inspector said in a telephone interview from Tanjungpinang, where he has been held with five other Californians, three Australians and a Briton since March 22.

Commerford has another daughter, Sarah, 5, who starts kindergarten soon, but her father is unlikely to be around for the big day.

‘Most Optimistic Scenario’

“Our most optimistic scenario is detention for another two months, but it could go six or seven months,” he said.

Monday’s hearing was the second for Commerford and the nine others on charges of entering Indonesian waters illegally and was adjourned until June 2.

“We have been here for 62 days, and in all that time we have been in court for just two hours,” he said, adding that the Americans planned their hunger strike in an effort to speed up the proceedings.

The 10 were arrested at gunpoint two months ago when their Indonesian-flagged vessel, Bumi Indah, was spotted by a patrol craft in Indonesian waters 55 miles from Tanjungpinang in Riau province.

“Our feeling is that we are being held until the court comes up with an exorbitant fine,” Commerford said.

The 10, who say they are diving enthusiasts on a holiday jaunt in the waters off Indonesia, face fines of $135,000 if found guilty of illegally entering the country’s 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone.

Tanjungpinang, where the 10 are held and where their trial began May 14, is 500 miles northwest of the capital of Jakarta and 60 miles south of Singapore, the city-state where the saga began.

“We are all just scuba-diving enthusiasts, and we decided to be adventurous and organize our own diving trip from Singapore rather than buying into a package for, say, Hawaii,” Commerford said.

The presence of their boat near the spot where at least half a dozen 18th-Century galleons are believed to have gone down prompted accusations from Indonesian authorities that the vacationers were actually prowling for sunken treasure. All 10 have denied the allegations, pointing out that not one of them is a professional diver.

“What is more is that most of us are now in real financial difficulties. Our businesses are falling apart,” Commerford said.

Treasure Hunter Accused

Two years ago, Indonesian authorities accused British treasure hunter Michael Hatcher of stealing booty worth more than $15 million from the Geldermalsen, which sank in 1752.

Since then, Jakarta has increased efforts to deter unlicensed treasure hunters from prospecting in Indonesian waters.

“The people of the U.S. ought to know what can happen if you are adventurous and you go on a scuba-diving trip in a foreign country,” Commerford said. “They ought to know what is happening to us. Things are just falling apart, but no one in authority seems to care.”

Besides Commerford, the Californians are identified as Bruce Lanham and his brother, Robert; Clifton Craft, Patrick Gibson and James Vorus.

The Australians are Peter Howes, Paul Martino and his son, Paul, and the Briton, Mark Tomlinson.