Free the Hebei Two
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NOTE: THIS CAMPAIGN IS CONCLUDED.
International solidarity needed to help secure the release of Hebei spirit officers
Breaking news: June 11, 2009
Hebei Two cleared of major charge and soon to be allowed home
The two officers have been found not guilty of destruction of the tanker Hebei Spirit by South Korea's High Court and are expected to be allowed to return to India soon. The lesser charge of not doing enough to prevent an oil leak was not overturned, despite the worldwide condemnation of it. The ITF has issued the following statement:
Commenting on the news that the Hebei Spirit officers have been found not guilty of the main charge levelled against them ITF General Secretary David Cockroft said: “We are pleased – everyone is pleased – to see these men’s innocence upheld. But, like everyone in shipping, we find it unacceptable that the lesser charge against them was never removed. We commend them for their bravery these last 18 months, congratulate V Ships for standing by them so effectively, and join everyone who has struggled to get them set free in expressing relief at their imminent return home. We cannot however excuse the unfair criminalisation that they have undergone and the contradictory nature of the dual verdicts."
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The Hebei Two are two Indian ships’ officers who have been held in South Korea following an oil spill which the country’s courts had already found them not guilty of causing.
Captain Jasprit Chawla, and Chief Officer Syam Chetan, who are currently on bail pending an appeal, were imprisoned for one and a half years and eight months respectively in jail following an oil spillage caused by an out-of-control barge hitting their anchored ship, the Hebei Spirit, in December 2007. They have been held in Korea since then despite a worldwide campaign for their release. Although cleared by a Korean court in June 2008 of responsibility for the ‘collision’ and ensuing pollution, they continued to be detained pending a hearing by the Appeal Court, which in December declared the two men guilty and sentenced them. Following an international campaign for their release they were allowed out on bail in January, and are now awaiting an appeal against the guilty verdicts.
The ITF is calling on affiliated unions to highlight the plight of two innocent officers, members of ITF Indian seafaring affiliate, who are detained in South Korea following an oil spill from their ship last year.
How you can help
We are calling on ITF unions to draw the Korean authorities’ attention to the men’s case:
It is important that let us know about your planned activities
→ Please use this form
Background information
Despite their exoneration, the Hebei Spirit's Captain Jasprit Chawla and its Chief Officer Syam Chetan continue to be detained in Korea.
At the time of the accident the Hebei Spirit was at anchor; a Samsung barge, which had torn loose from its tug, struck the tanker causing the spill.
The ITF strongly believes that the two seafarers have been unfairly caught up in efforts to address the crisis caused by the incident, which has affected thousands of people living and working in the area.
For more information on the incident
→ Hebei Spirit factsheet
Campaign materials
→ download the model letter and a list of Korean Embassies around the world.
(more coming soon).
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Free the Hebei Two
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Hebei Spirit fact sheet | Global list of Korean Embassies | Hebei Two campaign news | Contact form
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