Yvonne MacHugh
Help Free CHENNAI 6, British veterans sentanced to 5 Years in Indian Jail
Fundraising for The Mission To Seafarers
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Dear Friends
We are fundraising to provide vital support for the 6 British Veterans who have been imprisoned in India, and deserve their Freedom.
The men were working on board the Seaman Guard Ohio, a ship used to protect merchant vessels from pirate attacks, when they were were wrongly arrested and imprisoned by Indian authorities while working to protect ships from pirate attacks.
It breaks my heart to say that two years on they are still in India,
Since this started our boys have been held in an Indian jail, released on bail, had the charges against them quashed and had the case against them opened again.
They've now been found guilty and are facing 5 years in prison for a crime they did not and could not commit. All the evidence proving there innocence was submitted but has been dismissed by the Indian court.
We're now over 800 days since this began, for all of us it feels like a nightmare that just won’t end.
These Men are ex-soldiers who have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. They devoted their lives to their country and now they need our countries help.
These men are our brothers, sons and partners.
They are all ex-servicemen and have spent their lives keeping people safe.
They have risked their lives protecting other seafarers from the dangers at sea and now need our help.They have had their freedom taken away from them. We need vital funding to help support them, so they can return to their families, where they belong.
All the families involved are extremely distressed, and we have had little contact with the men since they were imprisoned.
The work of these 6 men affects everyone around the world, as the ships the lads are protecting bring fuel for your car, life-saving medical supplies, the clothes on your back and even laptop or mobile phone you're using to read this. They're helping protect the goods we take for granted every day.
I am working with The Mission to Seafarers who will ensure that funds raised will be properly accounted for and do the most good for our boys. A local representative from The Mission to Seafarers, a global maritime welfare charity, visited the men in prison and sent in some provisions, but we desperately need more help.
Any funds raised over and above what we really need will go to The Mission to Seafarers, to provide essential supplies, communications, prison-visiting and post-trauma counselling services to seafarers in distress in 71 countries worldwide.
We appeal again to the good judgement of the Indian government to ensure our case is dealt with as a matter of utmost urgency.