Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response
Press Release
Monday, July 15, 2013
Indian, Bangladesh and
Sri Lanka families sent out a joint message to the Somalia
people living worldwide who can have influence on their
clans back home that are holding their loved ones from the
mv Albeo which sank last Saturday evening.
The information
released by the Secretariat for Regional Maritime Security,
Somali Contact Group on Counter Piracy and Maritime Security
(Kampala Process) today is that at the moment 11 crew are
on board the NAHAM 3 ( a boat that was beside the ALBEDO
when it sunk), and 4 crew members are missing. Most reports
point that the 4 missing crew members are from Sri Lanka.
Reports on the missing crew have been many, from the
composition of the group, to their location. First reports
were that they were missing and presumed drowned. Later on
we got info that the 4 might be inland, having been in a
life raft that drifted up the coast, alive and maybe under
the control of a different group of Pirates. The crew of
Albedo are from Indian, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Iran and
families are appealing to the Somalia’s living in their
countries and worldwide to help them as fathers, mothers,
brothers, sisters and wives together.
The fishing vessel
Naham 3 also has 29 crew on board from China, Indonesia,
Cambodia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Philippines. There are also 4
Thai Fishermen and 7 Indian seafarers still being held from
other vessels.
Letter from the families.
Dear Somali
Brothers & sisters,
We, the unfortunate families of
M.V.Albedo, have been separated from our loved ones since
the time, Albedo ship was taken over by some Somali men on
29 November 2010. The families have to undergo huge amount
of emotional stress, trauma since last 31 months. The Owner
did not arranged money as demanded by yourself and we were
asked by yourself to go to press, media and even to our
national Governments. We appealed to everyone in this world
to pay money towards the release of our people. But no one
listened to us. We have tried our best but we are very poor
people. We even do not have any money to pay for medicines,
school fees or to buy food for our children.
Now,
that the vessel has sunk and the Owner has no interest to
pay money and rescue the crew. Our 4 crew members are
missing from the ship and nobody knows about them. You have
again put the remaining 11 crew on Naham 3 fishing boat,
which can sink at any time.
We therefore, request you to
please leave the vessel and free the innocent life on Naham
3. You can go ashore safely and nobody will interfere at any
moment. Once you reach shore, then our people will rescue
the crew members from Naham 3.
Now , at least release them
on humanitarian grounds else they will die in your hands.
What will you tell to Allah ? You will be punished by Him
for taking the life of innocent poor people.
With all our
hands folded, we appeal to you to please release our
men.
Families of the Albedo
Crew