For the past six months, Moosakunhi Parakkatt wakes up to the roar of waves crashing against SG Pegasus, a Panama-flagged vessel floating in Indonesian waters, every single day. Around 2,200 nautical miles away, in Kerala's Kasaragod district, his nine-year-old daughter Aysha Zaha starts her day with the hope of meeting her father. Aysha last met Moosakunhi 10 months ago.
Moosakunhi is a sailor with Pegasus. He is unable to return home as Indonesian Navy detained Pegasus since February 2019 for, what it described, illegally entering its territorial waters. Pegasus is one of the three vessels – Afra Oak and Win Win being the other two – seized by the Indonesian Navy. As many as 60 Indian sailors are on board in all the three ships.
In June, Aysha posted a video on twitter, requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take measures to bring her father back, but her pleas went in vain.
Minister of state for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, told Onmanorama that the government is continuing the efforts for the repatriation of the Indian sailors.
Earlier, he had tweeted that the Indian Embassy in Jakarta is making all efforts to bring the sailors home. “The Government of India stands with the Indians and it is making all efforts for their early repatriation,” he tweeted.
The plight of the stranded sailors came to light after India made hectic parleys to secure the release of the 18 Indian sailors on board Stena Impero, the British-flagged tanker that was impounded by Iran earlier this month.
Tale of three ships
Pegasus, owned by Hong Kong based Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, was bound for Australia with 22 Indian sailors on board. On February 8, it anchored at the crowded EOPL (Easter-Outer-Port-Limit) waters, east of the Singapore Straits. A few hours later, a team from the Indonesian Navy took control of Pegasus and seven other ships, claiming that the ships had anchored in their territory illegally. They directed the captains to take the vessels to Tanjung Pinang, the nearest port in Indonesia. Cases have been registered against the captains.
A few days later, the Navy released five ships, leaving Pegasus, Afra Oak and Win Win in Tanjung Pinang.
The sailors now live a secluded life. They spend most of the time on board except for the rare trips ashore for medical examinations.
“Sixty Indian sailors from three ships are living a miserable life now in the floating prisons. All of them are mentally, physically and emotionally stressed,” Pegasus captain Lawrence A D’Souza told Onmanorama over phone from Indonesia.
Lawrence claimed that the Indonesian Navy has not provided any valid reasons for detaining the ships. “They are delaying our release,” he alleged.
Kasaragod residents Kalanthar Koppalam and C H Anuthej and Palakkad resident Vipin Raj are the other Keralites on board the Pegasus. Lakshadweep resident Hussain Muthige is also among the detainees.
Ray of hope
On May 24, India's Ambassador to Indonesia Pradeep Kumar Rawat visited the sailors and assured them quick measures to secure their release.
“So far we have submitted applications for repatriation eight times. Each time our applications were rejected without citing any reasons. The last one was submitted on July 15 and they have informed that a decision will be taken after going through them,” Moosakunhi said.
It is learned that India and Indonesia held a consular dialogue on July 2 in which the issue of repatriation of the crew was sought to be considered as a priority.
Even as the diplomatic efforts are progressing, the stranded sailors feels that the Indian government has not shown enough interest to ensure their release. “The government acted quite quickly when Stena Impero was detained by Iran,” Moosakunhi said.
“I hope the government would consider our pleas leniently,” he said.
