3 sailors onboard Iranian vessel return

Friday, October 17, 2008 at 3:10 am under India News 3 sailors onboard Iranian vessel return

Three sailors who spent seven weeks in captivity aboard a ship in Somalia returned home safely even as the fate of 18 Indians on board ‘Stolt Valor’ is uncertain with the deadline given by the pirates holding the ship ending on Thursday (October 16).

Akbar Rafiq Ahmed, Jeevan Kiran D’souza and Anthony Clyde Thimudo were on board Iranian vessel ‘Deyanat’ which was hijacked by pirates on August 21, while it was travelling from China to Netherlands carrying a cargo of industrial products. The trio arrived at the city’s international airport from where they are to travel to their respective homes.

Describing the experience during the abduction, Rafiq said, “We were not told what their demands were and we were very scared since the pirates were carrying guns.” “There was a shortage of food,” Rafiq a resident of Kerala said adding that the pirates allowed us to call our families.

The ship was released on October 10 but there was no confirmation regarding whether any ransom was paid. “There are five other ships which have been held hostage by the pirates and we hope they will be released soon,” Thimudo said. For family members it was the end of an anxious wait. “We were very scared when we learnt of the incident but had faith in the company,” Mubeena, Rafiq’s sister said.

Thimudo’s family in Goa is still awaiting his arrival home and says his release is an answer to their prayers over the last few months. “It was a worrying time since Anthony was unwell on the ship while they were held hostage and his mother here was also unwell,” Cheryl, Anthony’s sister said from Goa over phone.

Now that he has returned, his mother’s health has also improved and celebrations would be held on his homecoming, she said. “We have heard that two other families from Goa have relatives on board the ‘Stolt Valor’ ship which is being held hostage in Somalia and will pray for their release as well,” Cheryl said.

Akbar Ali Rafeeque Ahmed, abducted sailor of Iran Deynat, released after the hostage said, that it was around 6.30 AM on 21st their ships were hijacked, and had no clue where they had been taken after that.

Excerpts from the conversation:

TIMES NOW: What were their demands?
Akbar: We had no idea about their demands. The negotiations were mostly dealt at the officer’s level. We didn’t know anything. We just wanted to escape. We had no idea about the demands.

TIMES NOW: How were you treated?
Akbar: They were pirates after all. We are just glad that we are safe. We were always scared. They had guns.

TIMES NOW: When were you released?
Akbar: On 10th October.

TIMES NOW: Did you know about others?
Akbar: We didn’t know much, but there were four-five ships next to ours.

TIMES NOW: When were you sailing and where was your ship intercepted?
Akbar: We had started off from China and we were on our way to Rotterdam in Holland. We were going around the Suez Canal. This incident took place near Gulf of Attenbay.

TIMES NOW: How many crew members were with you?
Akbar: We were three Indians. With us were a few Pakistanis. It was a mixed group. There were people from Ghana, Iran, Bangladesh and Philippines.

TIMES NOW: Which ship were you on?
Akbar: Iran Deynat

TIMES NOW: How long were you working on the ship?
Akbar: I had joined on 24th of July. This incident happened just one month into my job.

TIMES NOW: Will you go back to the ship?
Akbar: Right now, I don’t want to think about it at all. I want to forget about the incident, want to refresh my mind will decide later whether I want to go back or not.

Jeevan Kiran D’souza, another rescued sailor of Iran Denyat, recounting his experience said that there was serious shortage of food and drinking water, and that they had only two slices of bread in the morning and there was no rice for lunch, and that whatever food was there, the pirates used to finish off everything.

Excerpts from the interview:

TIMES NOW: How were you treated?
Jeevan: They always had gun, we were scared of them.

TIMES NOW: Were you able to establish contact with your family members?
Jeevan: The first two days they had allowed us to make telephone calls. Then, they cut the telephone lines. We could not contact any one.

TIMES NOW: After this experience will you go back?
Jeevan: Will take some rest now.

(With inputs from agencies)

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

Written by: Sajid Manzoor

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