MEA seeks fair trial for Indians
BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI
Dec. 16: India has conveyed its "disappointment" to South Korea over the decision of a South Korean court to sentence two Indians to prison in connection with an accidental oil spill involving the ship Hebei Spirit off the Korean coast in 2007.
Secretary (east) in the ministry of external affairs N. Ravi on Monday took up the matter with the ambassador of the Republic of Korea. He conveyed New Delhi's distress at the harsh prison sentences to the two merchant marine officers, Captain J.S. Chawla and chief officer Chetan Syam Syam, who were involved in the ship Hebei Spirit accident, off the Korean coast, on December 7, 2007.
New Delhi "conveyed her disappointment about the decision of the court to reverse the earlier decision in which the two merchant marine officers were exonerated," the ministry of external affairs said here. The duo were handed down an 18-month imprisonment on December 10.
"Secretary (east) also conveyed our expectation that the government of the Republic of Korea would ensure humane treatment to Captain Chawla and chief officer Syam in keeping with their professional status, and that due sensitivity will be shown to cater for their personal requirements," it said.
Full text
The press release from Ministry of external affair as below:
In response to questions on the decision of the Court in the Republic of Korea to sentence two Indians
15/12/2008
In response to questions on the decision of the Court in the Republic of Korea to sentence two Indians,the Official Spokesperson said:
"Government of India is aware of the decision of the Court in the Republic of Korea to sentence two Indians – Captain J. S. Chawla and Chief Officer Chetan Syam – to prison sentences in connection with an accident involving the ship "Hebei Spirit" off the Korean coast last year.
This matter was taken up by Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs today with the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea. At this meeting Government's disappointment about the decision of the Court to reverse the earlier decision in which the two merchant marine officers were exonerated, as well as
Government's distress at the harsh prison sentences, was conveyed to the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea. Secretary (East) also conveyed our expectation that the Government of the Republic of Korea would ensure humane treatment to Captain Chawla and Chief Officer Syam in keeping with their professional status, and that due sensitivity will be shown to cater for their personal requirements. The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea has assured the Ministry of External Affairs that Government's concerns will be communicated to the Korean authorities.
Government of India has earlier taken up this matter at all levels in the Government of the Republic of Korea in the past few months. The Ministry of External Affairs raised this issue with the Korean side at the Foreign Office Consultations on 25th November 2008. The Ministry of External Affairs also raised it again with the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in New Delhi on 4th December
2008 as well as with the Korean Foreign Ministry through the Indian Ambassador in Seoul on 5th December 2008. Our High Commission in London, which is our representative at the International Maritime Organization, has also raised this matter in that forum. Moreover, our Minister of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, during his visit to the Republic of Korea in October 2008, had also drawn the attention of the Korean Minister for Maritime Affairs to this matter.
Ministry of External Affairs understands that the lawyers of the two Indian nationals intend to file an appeal against the judgement shortly. We have conveyed to the Korean Government our hope that the two officers will be given bail pending the hearing of the appeal. We also hope that a fair hearing will be held on the appeal, and that the Court will take into account the full circumstances including the cause of the accident, the payment of compensation by the IOPCF and the likely
impact that the judgement will have on the maritime community.
The Korean Government is fully aware of the high attention that this matter is receiving in India. Government of India intends to continue to pursue this matter with the Korean side, in the backdrop of the close and cordial relations that exist between the two countries."
New Delhi
December 15, 2008
