'Hebei Two' granted bail as international pressure group forces Korean authorities to come to the table Friday 23rd of January 2009 Hardeep Singh
Demonstrations, Huge press coverage, YouTube videos, BlogSpot’s and On-line petitions are increasing the pressure.
London, UK -Concerns were raised by the Network of Sikh organisations in Dec 08 with the Ambassador of the republic of Korea to the UK. The director of the Network of Sikh Organisations, Dr. Indarjit Singh CBE was approached by members of the international shipping community further to the incarceration in South Korea of two seafarers of the ‘Hebei Spirit’, Captain Chawla and chief officer Chetan further to furious reaction by the international shipping community on the South Korean court decision to imprison the two for eighteen months and 8 months respectively, along with heavy fines. They had been previously cleared of charges against them in a lower court. There is a feeling that the two have been scapegoated and vilified by Korean authorities to pander to the public outrage about the disaster.
The ‘Hebei Spirit’ had been involved in the worst oil disaster seen off the South Korean peninsula after the Samsung 1 broke it’s tow in stormy weather conditions before colliding with the fully loaded 260,00 dwt Hebei Spirit which was at Anchor. The crane barge holed three of the vessels tank’s spilling 150,000 tonnes of oil onto Korea’s West coast, the biggest environmental disaster the country has seen in its history.
Members of various organizations including the International Transport Workers Association, National Union of Seafarers in India, the Independent Tankers owners association, Intertanko, The Singapore Shipping Association and ofcourse V Ships, Ship Management (responsible for the Hebei spirit) had expressed their disappointment in the South Korean court decision.
The Press Secretary of the Network of Sikh Organisations, Hardeep Singh has received communication both from Capt Chawla’s wife and other members of Capt Chawla’s family that bail had been granted to the Captain and chief officer on the 15th of Jan 09. In an E-mail to the NSO Capt Chawla’s family express their joy over the granted bail. ‘"BY GOD'S GRACE" & WELL WISHERS LIKE YOU AND THE ORGANISATIONS involved in the cause for justice for the two innocent officers; we have taken one step forward. I don't have much words to express it .THANK YOU. I look upon you to keep the pressure on. We want their Release.’ Since then Hardeep Singh has also spoken with Capt Chawla and the Network will continue to support the international campaign to free the Captain and chief officer along with multiple organisations around the world.
Although the granted bail is a positive step, there is clearly a very long way to go before the Hebei Two can be vindicated of the charges against them & subsequently repatriated. An appeal has now been lodged with the Supreme Court in Korea, the legal process will be both challenging and frustrating for the Hebei two & their families. It will be carefully watched by the international shipping community.
“The two Hebei Spirit officers have been released from jail on bail. This is just one phase of the process of getting these people acquitted and out of Korea” Said Bob Bishop, V Ships, Ships Management CEO.
“As our objective is the acquittal and repatriation of the HS2, if they are prepared to trade this for no protest, then fine. No doubt there will be a number of false dawns along the way and we have made it clear that we will return to protest in the future if required. However for the moment we have agreed to postpone and so have cancelled the rally on the 23rd January outside the Korean Embassy.” He added The campaign to free the ‘Hebei two’ is now an international campaign with support of multiple organizations across the global shipping community as well as support being harnessed from the Indian Government. The high profile nature of the case will be monitored with a watchful eye as it could potentially create a diplomatic rift between the Indian and South Korean governments in addition to the potential for an international boycott of Samsung.
Source: Hardeep Singh is the press secretary, the Network of Sikh Organisations
ロンドン発:この問題は12月8日、シーク教ネットワーク協会(Network of Sikh organisations)によって、駐英韓国大使に提示された。コマンダー勲所持者でもあるシーク教ネットワーク団体の指導者Dr.Indarjit Singhは、国際的な海運団体にハベイスピリット号の二人の船員の問題について働きかけていたが、Chawla船長とChetan航海士に言い渡された。