MEA Seeks Fair Trail for Indians

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

Â
15/12/2008
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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