PM: International aid sought to save sailors
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 10:10 am under India News PM: International aid sought to save sailors
In the first sign of hope for the families of the missing Indian crew on board hijacked ship MT Stolt Valor, the Prime Minister Manmohan today (October 1) said that India has sought international help to tackle the hijack drama.
The Prime Minister’s assurance came as he returned to India today after a 10-day trip to the US and France. The Defence Ministry has been under pressure from the families of the 18 sailors on board the hijacked ship.
Meanwhile, Seema Goyal – wife of Prabhat Goyal, Captain of the MT Stolt Valor - is camping in Delhi, pleading with the Indian government to help rescue her husband and 17 other Indian sailors, who were abducted by Somalian pirates almost two weeks ago. Desperate familes of the 18 Indians onboard the hijacked the MT Stolt Valor, are ardently begging for the Indian government’s intervention.
“I am not happy with the efforts put in by the government. Sixteen days is a long time … the government should do more to bring the sailors back,” Seema Goyal said on arriving in New Delhi.
(Click here to listen to Seema Goyal)
The plea came as the Indian government continued to dithers over rescuing the 18 sailors from the Somalian pirates. The Panama registered ship navigated by a Indian crew, was hijacked almost four weeks ago, and conditions onboard the ship are reported to be deteriorating with food supplies now being available for just another seven days.
The Indian government’s inertia appeared to be in sharp contrast of the Russian government’s decision, to send in a warship to rescue Ukrainaian Ship ‘MV Faina’ with an all Russian crew onboard.
In search for the pivotal answers – TIMES NOW approached Defence Minister AK Antony, who earlier met with Russian Defence Minister – but refused to comment on whether India would seek Russian help to storm the pirates and save its citizens.
The Indian government continued to dither over the fate of hijacked vessel MT Stolt Valor, weeks after it was hijacked by pirates of Somalia’s coast on September 15, inviting the wrath of families of the hostages.
The Indian government is drawing criticism and anger for its inaction regarding the rescue effort for the hijacked MT Stolt Valor. No concrete attempts have so far been made to facilitate the return of the 18 Indian crew members on board the Stolt Valor, the families of hijacked crew said.
Lashing out at the Defence Minister AK Antony, the families of the hostages have demanded that India take a leaf out of Russia’s book and get proactive. Russia has launched an offensive to rescue the sailors on board MV Fiana and angry families demand that India do the same.
Seema Goyal, wife of Prabhat Goyal, Captain of the MT Stolt Valor slammed the Defence Minister for not taking any action to rescue the sailor.
“I can only request the Defence Ministry not to give such irresponsible statements which are regretted by families like me…Antony said that we don’t have an agreement with Somalia. Do you think I appreciated it?” said an anguished Goyel.
Defence Minsiter AK Antony had earlier said that India does not have an agreement with Somalia and hence cannot enter the Somalian waters.
Seema Goyal further said, “Just because my husband is a commoner of India, that’s why you had to wait for the treaty to be signed? If it were a son of a minister or a VIP’s son, would they have waited for the treaty? I don’t think so…What are the negotiators waiting for – another hijack, which is happening everyday, the inevitable that happened on one of the Ukrainian ships?”
Earlier, reports had claimed that the Indian Navy was waiting in the wings to launch an offensive, but there has been no action from the Indian government.
MT Stolt Valor – the Panama – owned merchant oil tanker with 18 Indian crew on board is presently believed to be somewhere near the coast off the Horn of Africa; and crew members are reportedly being confined to a small area of the ship.
The hijackers have demanded a ransom of 2.5 million dollars for the release of the 18 hostages on board MT Stolt Valor.
( 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.)
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