Macaronis Resort issues statement about gunshot on charter boat

Four days ago, Stab reported that a gun had been fired on charter boat The Huey while moored at Macaronis Surf Resort in the Mentawais. Stab spoke with the captain of The Huey, Steve Sewell, in an attempt to acquire some details. Now, Macaronis Surf Resort have issued a statement to communicate their side of the story.

While at no point did Stab itself suggest Macaronis Resort had been directly involved in the incident (though other surf media houses may have done), this impression seems to be the catalyst for the resort’s statement, which disassociates them from the incident. That, and the unfortunate fact that the Resort has been receiving threats since the incident.

“Macaronis Resort was not involved in the shot fired by police that took place at Macaronis wave last week,” the Resort said. “Just like you, we only heard stories about the incident after it occurred.

“The surf media has been publishing this story, which was brought to them directly from the charter boat, Huey, in an effort to defame Macaronis Resort.

“Most of the articles have been based on extremely biased quotes by those who wish ill will on the resort or by people who are making assumptions based on rumours and misinformation.

“The incident that took place was caused by Huey violating a local law, and a local police officer who was enforcing that day.”

The statement goes on to detail the Mentawai Government’s 2009 law around the moorings, which limits the amount of boats allowed to moor at Macaronis to two per day, by reservation. According to witnesses, the Huey entered the bay as a third boat without reservation and refused to leave, having arrived a day early for its two-day booking. The statement continues:

“When police approached Huey, and asked them to leave, Huey ignored them and after a long waiting period a police officer fired a shot into the air to get their attention.

“Direct witnesses told Resort management that there was a single shot fired into the air by a police officer while parked next to the Charter boat Huey. The police officer did not board the boat Huey at all, and the shot was fired directly into the air after the police officer was repetitively ignored when asking to speak with the captain of the boat, and due to conflict beginning to arise between the crew of Huey and village staff involved in regulating the moorings.

“The shot was not fired at any boats or surfers; it was fired directly into the sky.

“Macaronis Resort was as shocked as anyone to hear that this shot was fired. Macaronis Resort does not condone the use of firearms and would never encourage the local law to take such actions, nor do we have any control over local law enforcement.

“We were told by the police that the police officer in charge was following law enforcement procedure. The resort is no way responsible for the way in which Indonesian police act to enforce their laws, or toward offenders of the law.

“Macaronis Resort has requested the police provide a written statement to clarify their actions in relation to the incident (currently in process), and also to clarify the legal situation relating to the twin mooring system.

“This is a conflict which has arisen between a police officer and the boat Huey, and Macaronis Resort does not accept any responsibility over this matter.

“Macaronis Resort does not condone breaking of local laws, or the use of firearms in any situation.”

You can read the statement in full, here.

It’s sad to see so much conflict around such a beautiful wave. Don’t let this story stop you from going to one of the world’s most giving left-handers.