MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS' SPOKESMAN MR. LE DZUNG
ANSWERS QUESTION ON 14 MAY 2009 

Question 2: Could you provide information on  by the South African Special Task and may be charged by the South African court with kidnapping and piracy?

Answer: According to the information we received, due to harsh working conditions and being severely mistreated for a long time, some Vietnamese crew members who were working on board of the Balena vessel offshore Cape Town, South Africa reacted against the Taiwanese manager, demanding to go ashore and return to Vietnam. They are indeed the victims, thus should not be charged with kidnapping and piracy.

As soon as being informed, the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa has dispatched a mission to Cape Town to conduct consular access and work with South African relevant agencies.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam has instructed the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa to request South African relevant agencies to investigate and process the case fairly with respect to international laws and ensure the legitimate and legal interests of Vietnamese labourers.