3 Vietnamese workers were held by pirates for 4 years, including a person from Nghe An

Following a fishing boat in the waters of Taiwan in 2011, one day, the families of three crew members in Ha Tinh suddenly received news that their sons had been captured by Somali pirates. Four years have passed, and the fate of the crew members remains unanswered.

In a small, dilapidated house in Quang Ich village (Ky Khang commune), Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thuy (57 years old) tearfully talked about her son Nguyen Van Ha (35 years old) who has been missing for many years.

Mr. Ha (number 1), Phuong (number 2), Xuan (number 6) and foreign workers in a photo sent by pirates to the labor supply unit to demand ransom. Photo: Family provided

According to Ms. Thuy, Mr. Ha went to Taiwan to work in March 2011 at a cost of 12.5 million VND. In Taiwan, he went on a fishing boat with a salary of 300 USD/month. In April 2012, Ms. Thuy received a short phone call from her son informing her that the boat was hijacked by pirates. Among the 26 members, there were 3 Vietnamese. They demanded a ransom of 60,000 USD for each person.

"After receiving my son's call, I informed the labor supply company Vinamotor in Hanoi and asked them to contact the authorities to rescue my son. Since being arrested, Ha has called home a few times, asking everyone to send money for ransom. However, for the past 3 years, he has not called back," said Ms. Thuy.

Having finished speaking, the mother looked up at the portrait of her daughter named Xuan (Ha's sister) and sobbed. Recently, her family has continuously received news of grief and loss. Five years ago, her husband passed away so Xuan went to Angola to work. Then, she was robbed and murdered, leaving behind two young children. Now it was Ha's turn, not knowing whether he was alive or dead. With red eyes, Mrs. Thuy sighed and looked into the distance, praying.

Ms. Thuy and her son confided that they had sent many petitions for help to the authorities but all in vain. Photo: Duc Hung

"Over the past four years, we have repeatedly tried to inform the media for support, but the labor supply company said they were afraid that any noise would affect the lives of the crew members. In February 2015, they said the arrested people were still alive. But after waiting for a long time without any action, I have run out of patience," said Ms. Thuy, adding that every year the company still sends the family 5 million VND in Tet gifts.

More than 10 km from Mrs. Thuy's house is the house of sailor Nguyen Van Xuan (residing in Hoa Loc hamlet, Ky Trinh ward, Ky Anh town).With tears in her eyes, Nguyen Thi Quynh (33 years old, Xuan's wife) sat hugging her two daughters tightly, telling them that four years ago, the family borrowed 12 million for Xuan to go to Taiwan to work as an export laborer. Business was stable for a while, then one night in May 2012, her husband called to inform her that he was being held by pirates and demanded ransom. Since 2013, she has not known whether he is alive or dead.

The 33-year-old woman confided that every night she had nightmares, and many nights she dreamed that he came to her front porch and then left again. Ms. Quynh was alone, struggling to pay off the loan interest, raise her 3 children and her elderly parents. When she went to Hanoi to send a petition to the authorities, there were days when she had to sleep in the company hallway because she had no money to rent a room.

Ms. Tran Thi Linh (neighbor) said that in the past few years, seeing Ms. Quynh having difficulties, everyone in the neighborhood often helped, supporting her with rice and food. "Every day when Quynh confided in us, she cried. Every day, the children kept asking their father why he had been away for so long and hadn't come home. We tried to encourage him, but seeing their innocent, bewildered eyes, my heart ached," Ms. Linh said.

Ms. Quynh could only hug her children and cry when asked for information about her husband. Photo: Duc Hung

Mr. Phan Xuan Linh (71 years old, father of sailor Phuong, residing in Nghia Yen commune, Nghia Dan, Nghe An) said that when Phuong went to work abroad, he had to pay 14 million VND. Since being captured by pirates, his son called home 3 times, then there was no contact.

"When my wife heard the news, she collapsed and had a stroke, and has been bedridden for several years now. The family has gone to Hanoi many times to send petitions to ministries and agencies, asking them to negotiate with pirates to save the child, but have received no response," said Mr. Linh.

Confirming the information that 3 Vietnamese crew members were captured by pirates, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, in charge of the crew and labor department of Vinamotor Company (a labor export supplier), said that 4 years ago, the employer reported the incident to the company. The unit asked the Department of Overseas Labor Management and the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene and resolve the matter.

"We do not know the current situation of the crew members. We are hiring a law firm in Hong Kong to negotiate with the pirates to rescue the crew members. This matter is at the state level," Ms. Huong informed.

According to a representative of the Vietnam Automobile Industry Corporation (Vinamotor), the company has sent a dispatch to the Department of Overseas Labor Management and the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the three crew members Nguyen Van Ha (35 years old, residing in Ky Khang commune, Ky Anh district), Nguyen Van Xuan (27 years old, residing in Ky Trinh ward, Ky Anh town, Ha Tinh), Phan Xuan Phuong (35 years old, residing in Nghia Yen commune, Nghia Dan, Nghe An) working on the Naham ship that was captured by Somali pirates in early 2012.

"The ship owner put the rescue of people first and initially paid a large ransom to the pirates. Currently, they are still trying to negotiate with the pirates to rescue the crew. When there is any new information, we will immediately notify the crew's family," the announcement said.

It has been 4 years since the dispatch was sent, but all information about the rescue of the crew members is still hopeless. Every night, their families worry about the fate of their children, husbands, and brothers.

Family members of the sailors are waiting anxiously.

According to Vnexpress

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