Maritime charities Human Rights at Sea (HRAS) and The Mission to Seafarers (MtS) have issued a global plea for urgent action for the crew of the detained vessel the MV Seaman Guard Ohio.
The six men, all former soldiers from the UK – John Armstrong, Nick Dunn, Billy Irving, Nick Simpson, Ray Tindall and Paul Towers – all remain in India 509 days after their initial arrest, even though they were found innocent by Justice Prakash in the Madras High Court on 10 July 2014, more than 8 months ago, according to the joint statement.
“The crew have been held for over 500 days, firstly in prison in very harsh conditions, then on bail, and now just waiting for their passports to be returned to get home. They have long since had the charges against them completely quashed and they need to get back to their anxious families,” Director of Justice and Public Affairs at the MtS, The Revd Canon Ken Peters, said.
Revd peters also pointed out that the MtS has worked with families in the UK, as well as representatives of the families of the other crewmembers 14 from Estonia and 12 Indians on this case.
Human rights barrister and founder of HRAS David Hammond said: “Human Rights at Sea remains very concerned at some of the constabulary and judicial actions in the handling of the case, and of the continued detaining of the crew following charges being quashed by the Madras High Court on 10 July 2014. Human Rights at Sea urges the Indian authorities to bring this case to a swift conclusion in line with Indian law and applicable intentional Human Rights conventions and for the crew to be repatriated to respective home States without delay.”
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