Dear Editor,
1. I, Captain Raj Kumar Goel and a colleague 3rd Officer Yoga Narsimha Dodla have been in custody in Taiwan for the last 3 years.
2. We were kept in prison till 26th July,1996 and thereafter released on bail but not allowed to leave Taiwan.
3. In latest development, on High Court's insistance, Indian Government will submit an affidavit to High Court, reaffirming its commitment to honour Article 97 of the United Nations Convention on the International Law of the Sea, 1982 in case Taiwanese seamen get involved in any incident of navigation, in International waters around India, involving penal responsibility.
4. Taiwan Government has successfully obtained release of its citizens (M.V. Maersk Dubai crew) from Canada on the basis on International Law.
5. The newspaper cutting of the above incident from today's edition of China Post (Taiwan newpaper) is in my Home page. Taiwan has claimed jurisdiction over the case and asked Mauritius to deport fishing boat captain to Taiwan.
6. We are facing harrassment from Taiwan Prosecutors and Courts for more than 3 years whereas Taiwan makes lot of noise about International Law when Taiwanese seamen get detained abroad.
Thanks and best regards
Capt. Raj Kumar Goel,