Postponement of peaceful Demonstration to 23rd December 2008

Guys,
This is to inform one and all that the peacefu demonstration which was supposed to be carried out on Friday, the 19th of December 2008 has been postponed to 23rd Dec 2008 at Azad Maidan at 4.00 pm. No further corrections will be done. This date has been finalised unlike earlier. So pls show your solidarity to our brethren in S.Korea by making your presence felt at the above mentioned date & time. Below is the official confirmation for the above rally.

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INDIAN SEAFARERS FEDERATION (ISF)>> National Union of Seafarers of India,> The Maritime> Union of India> NUSI Bhavan, 4, Goa Street,> Udyog Bhavan,> 4th Floor,> Ballard Estate,> 29> Walchand Hirachand Marg,> Mumbai- 400 001.> Ballard> Estate, Mumbai- 400001> Tel: 22618368 / 9,> Tel. No.> 22613052 / 2261507> E.mail: nusi@vsnl.com> E.mail:> oceanite@vsnl.com>> 15th December, 2008>>

Dear Sir,>
Sub: Protest against "Hebei Spirit" judgement
Appeal for boycott of Korean products especially Samsung> gains momentum>>>

In an historic meeting today the Unions and ship owners> Associations got> together in an unique display of solidarity against the> judgement of the> South Korean Court which found Capt. Jasprit Chawla and> Chief Officer Syam> Chetan guilty. Both the seafarers were on board the ship> "Hebei Spirit"> which was at safe anchorage at South Korean waters, which> was collided by a> tug-towed crane barge owned by Samsung Heavy Industries> resulting in an oil> spill. Capt. Jasprit Chawla and Chief Officer Syam Chetan> were detained> since December, 2007 in South Korea. Despite being proved> innocent on 23rd> June, 2008 by the Court. The matter went into appeal.> Justice was denied> when the judgement, which was delivered on December 10th> 2008, found Capt.> Jasprit Chawla and Chief Officer Syam Chetan guilty and> sentenced them for> 18 months and 8 months respectively.>> The National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) and the> Maritime Union of> India (MUI), both seafarers Associations, have already> approached more than> two hundred thousand seafarers and their families to> boycott Korean products> especially Samsung. Today they were joined by the> Transport & Dock Workers> Union represented by Mr. S. R. Kulkarni, All India> Railwaymen Federation> represented by Mr. Umraomal Purohit, Aviation Industries> Employees Guild> represented by Mr. George Abraham. Mr. Mahendra Sharma of> the International> Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and Shipowners> Associations i.e. FOSMA,> MASSA, INSA, CMMI, Nautical Institutes also attended the> meeting. The> following has been decided:>> Ø Indian Shipping fraternity will fight with all its might> against the> unfair judgement which was delivered against Capt. Chawla> and Chief Officer> Syam Chetan in South Korea.>> Ø Demand for effective intervention by the Government of> India through> Ministry of Shipping and Ministry of External Affairs.>> Ø Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International have> also been> approached.>> Ø Call for appeal to seafarers to boycott the Korean> products especially> Samsung has been renewed.>> Ø A massive Rally has been planned at 4.00 pm on Tuesday,> 23rd December,> 2008 at Azad Maidan, Opp. Mahanagar Palika, Mumbai. The> seafarers and their> family members and family members of Capt. Chawla and Chief> Officer Chetan> will also be present in the Rally.>> The demonstration is for justice and release of the two> seafarers of the> ship "Hebei Spirit" who are victims of> criminilisation of seafarers.> Similar demonstrations have also been planned at Chennai> and Delhi. This> issue is no longer national but has become international.> If the efforts do> not give the required results then the agitation can> further intensify which> can affect transportation of Korean goods in India.>>>
Yours faithfully,>
(Abdulgani Y. Serang)> (S. S. Khan)> General Secretary-cum-Treasurer> General Secretary> National Union of Seafarers of India> The Maritime> Union of India

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