M A I N   N E W S

Time up for Indians on hijacked ship
Doing our bit, assures Krishna; not enough, ensure sailors’ safety, says Oppn
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

“This is an SOS. We want to know how the government will ensure the safety of hostages when the deadline given by pirates has lapsed. Why is it that while the US goes all out to protect its citizens abroad not even bothering about diplomatic repercussions (she was referring to the recent strain in US-Pak ties), India is seen to be weak. Sri Lankan Navy is killing our fishermen, pirates are holding our sailors,” Swaraj said, forcing Krishna to return to the Lok Sabha to take the questions (he wasn’t there when she raised the issue).

Later, Sushma led a walkout of the BJP, Shiv Sena and Akali Dal members, who were dissatisfied with the government’s reaction to the crisis. “Your dependence on ship owners displays your helplessness. This won’t blunt the threat from the ultimatum. Why can’t you pay ransom?” Sushma asked, staging a walkout.

Krishna, for his part, said there was a transitional government in Somalia and India was in touch with it to seek help in the release of sailors aboard MV Suez. The Egyptian cargo ship had been hijacked by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden on August 2 last year. It also has on board four Pakistanis, four Sri Lankans and 11 Egyptians.

Statistics with the Directorate General of Shipping further show that 215 Indian crew have been aboard the hijacked ships. Of these, 136 have been released but seven ships, with 79 Indians, are still in the captivity of Somali pirates.

“The Indian Embassies and Consulate Generals have been in touch with the local governments and ship owners. We are doing all that we can. I am in touch with the Indian Ambassador in Egypt and our Consul General in Dubai. I have also met the Egyptian Ambassador to India and sought his government’s assistance to release the Indians sailors on Suez,” Krishna said.

Earlier, he admitted that the issue of piracy was hugely complicated, with worldwide hundreds of ships and thousands of crew hijacked by pirates.

The UN had in 2008 passed several resolutions to combat pirates but results have been far from heartening. Meanwhile, the families of Indian sailors on MV Suez met Swaraj. They will be meeting the Prime Minister tomorrow.