SOS Campaign calls on India to support its seafarers
On the eve of India’s National Maritime Day, the international anti-piracy campaign, SOS SaveOurSeafarers, is calling on the Indian nation to continue to support their seafarers and their families in the long, hard fight against Somali piracy.
The campaign is using the country’s celebration of its seafarers to remind Indians of the continuing threat faced by its 120,000 seafarers and their families.
Alastair Evitt, chairman of SOS SaveOurSeafarers, says:
“Despite the international community’s strenuous efforts to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden, the world’s seafarers continue to face the fear and anguish of attack in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, while going about their job of keeping world trade moving through this area.
“India has the second largest seafaring population and the second largest nationality held by Somali pirates. Out of 256 seafarers currently hijacked, kidnapped and held on their vessels by Somali pirates, 65 are Indian. Moreover out of the 40 additional seafarers being held ashore, with no ship to be ransomed, at least 7 are Indian. Hostages suffer both physically and psychologically while being held prisoners for ransom, and their families also suffer huge anguish for their loved ones.”
Since the launch of the SOS campaign last March, we have played a significant role in increasing awareness and interest worldwide of the realities of Somali piracy. We have helped to persuade governments to show more determined political will in their actions over pirates held in custody and in their actions over disrupting pirate mother ships. Notwithstanding the robust actions of the Indian Navy in counter piracy operations there is still a long way to go to stop more Indian seafarers being captured and held hostage.
Of the 31,750 SOS letters sent from the SOS website to governments worldwide, 11,000 letters have been sent to India’s government. We encourage every person in India to support their seafarers and their families on National Maritime Day and also those worldwide who want to show support for the seafaring community. Add your voice to our growing campaign via our website, participate in the discussions on the SOS Twitter and Facebook pages, to encourage further action to combat piracy and protect the lives of innocent seafarers.
ENDS
About SaveOurSeafarers
SOS SaveOurSeafarers is the biggest ever grouping of the international maritime industry with 30 organisations joined together to raise awareness of the human and economic cost of piracy using approaches to politicians and industrial leaders at the highest level.
It started operation in March 2011. Over 108,000 visits to its website from 192 countries and over 31,750 letters sent to governments worldwide.
Its main aims are to resolve the piracy problem off Somalia; to see piracy deterred, defeated and eradicated; to stop seafarers being tortured and murdered.
http://www.saveourseafarers.com
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