Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Take Steps For Release Of Seven Indian Sailors Taken Hostage By Somalian ... on 2 May, 2012
p> Title: Need to take steps for release of seven Indian sailors taken hostage by Somalian Pirates.
SHRI MANISH TEWARI (LUDHIANA): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I rise to draw your attention to the continuing plight of seven Indian crew members of the MT Asphalt Venture who are being held hostage in Somalia for over 28 months now. Information which is available with the family members suggests that there is a particular clan which is holding these seven crew members hostage in a place called Harfooda near Harardheere in Somalia.
Apparently, a large number of the clansmen of the clan which is holding these seven Indians hostage, were arrested by the Indian Navy during the anti-piracy operations in March, 2011. Now, the problem is that whatever little communication the family members had with these seven hostages suggests that they are in a critical condition. Some of them are extremely ill and others are possibly also becoming rapidly untraceable. The family members of these seven hostages, who come from different parts of the country, including from your home State, Kerala, have been running from pillar to post to try and get the Government of India to intervene.
I know that Somalia is a State which has ungovernable spaces. But that does not mean that we abdicate our responsibility; that the Government of India abandon seven Indians to their fate in Somalia.
I would like to request the Government, through you, that they should immediately energise all the back channels that they have in order to establish communication with this clan which is holding these seven Indians hostage so that they can be brought back. It is because as time is elapsing their condition is getting critical. Maybe a time may come very soon where the intervention may just be a little too late. Thank you.
MR. CHAIRMAN: *m02 Shri P.L. Punia and *m03 Shri Neeraj Shekhar are allowed to associate with the matter raised by Shri Manish Tewari.
The House stands adjourned to meet again tomorrow, the 3rd May, 2012 at 11 a.m. 20.28 hrs. The Lok Sabha then adjourned till Eleven of the Clock on Thursday, May 3, 2012/Vaisakha 13, 1934 (Saka).
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* English translation of the speech originally delivered in Bengali.