Justice for Capt. Chawla & Shyam Chetan! Boycott Korean Products!!

While Mumbai is fighting its battle against terrorism and making itself heard and the news making sensational international headlines, there are 2 of our very own Indian seafarer brethren in South Korea fighting an unjust battle against a heavy weight Korean Company 'Samsung Heavy Industries' which have lacked to garner support from outside the shipping industry and attention from the media. Yes, dear friends, Its the case of Capt. Jasprit Singh Chawla & Shyam Chetan, the Master & Ch.off of the ill fated VLCC Heibei Spirit.For those who are not aware of the incident, in brief, the loaded vessel was at anchor, when a heavy lift crane being towed drifted towards it after the connecting cable between the barge and the tow parted, ripping apart the ship's side and consequently spilling about 10000 tonnes of crude oil in Korean waters. On 10 Dec 2008, almost after a year being in Korea for the proceedings, both were proven guilty, declared CRIMINALS & given imprisonment for 18 months & 8 months respectively along with monetary fines. They were HANDCUFFED!!! and taken away. What is also a grave matter of concern is the Criminalisation of seafarers round the world after an accident, as if the seafarer has done a deliberate heinous crime. Same was the case with Capt. Jasprit & Shyam, who have done all they could to limit the level of pollution. This can be proved as Capt. Jasprit has been awared & honoured by the Lloyd's List & Nautical Institute for his actions after the accident. The court's verdict was otherwise. The court felt they could have done more better. When the owner & the crew are proven guilty along with the barge crew, we want to know......WHAT ABOUT SAMSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES GETTING PENALISED OR SENTENCED????? The company along with the shipping associations in India are doing whatever they could. Now its for us to stand and be counted along with people from outside the industry. To show solidarity with our brethren in Korea and to prove to all that we seafarers are not a miniscule community Just because we are against a very heavily weighted Korean company will not stop us from fighting against this injustice meted out to our brethren.What, we request through this blog or forum, is firstly, BOYCOTT ALL PRODUCTS MADE IN KOREA ESPECIALLY SAMSUNG. Secondly, make as many people aware of this and each know what is happening.Any future course of action will be decided by the company along with the various associations and will be known to all through this blog. PLS SUPPORT OUR CAUSE AND SOLIDARITY WITH US BY REPLYING TO THIS BLOG