Gulf firing: Fisherman refutes Navy version
Source: Agencies |
July 18, 2012, Wednesday
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AN Indian fisherman aboard a boat shot at by the United States Navy off Dubai's coast has told officials the crew received no warning before being fired upon, India's ambassador to the United Arab Emirates said yesterday.
One Indian was killed in the incident, and three of his countrymen were seriously wounded.
The account differs from that provided by the US Navy, which said it resorted to lethal force only after issuing a series of warnings. The shooting happened on Monday afternoon when a small boat rapidly approached the refueling ship USNS Rappahannock about 15 kilometers off Dubai's Jebel Ali port.
The US Navy said the boat's crew disregarded warnings from the US vessel, and only then did gunners fire on it with a .50-caliber machine gun.
The white-hulled boat appeared to be a civilian vessel about 9 meters long and powered by three outboard motors. It had no obvious military markings. Similar boats are used for fishing in the region, though Iran's Revolutionary Guard also employs relatively small, fast-moving craft in the Gulf.
Indian consular officials have met with the wounded fishermen. Indian Ambassador MK Lokesh said yesterday that one of the survivors reported that the men were returning from fishing when they encountered the American ship.
"He says there was no warning" before the shooting occurred, Lokesh said, though he noted that authorities are still working to determine what happened.
"We are waiting for the investigation to be complete," he added.
Dubai's police chief, Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, said an initial investigation suggests "the boat was in its right course and did not pose any danger," according to comments published by Abu Dhabi-based daily The National. He told the newspaper that the shooting appeared to be a mistake.
Lokesh said the casualties are all from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Four other men-two Indians and two Emiratis-were unhurt because they were in the boat's cabin, he said.
The Indian ambassador also said the three injured were recovering in a Dubai hospital. "They're out of danger."
The US ambassador to India, Nancy Powell, has expressed regret for the loss of life and assured Indian officials that the US will conduct a full investigation.
India has separately asked the UAE to investigate the incident, Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said.
Lieutenant Greg Raelson, a spokesman for the Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, declined to say what types of warnings the Rappahannock's crew issued before opening fire, though he said that they acted in line with standard procedures.
The incident comes during a period of heightened tensions in the Gulf between the US and Iran, which lies just across the Gulf from the UAE.
Tensions are high after Iran last week renewed threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz-the route for one-fifth of the world's oil-in retaliation for tighter sanctions over its nuclear program.
One Indian was killed in the incident, and three of his countrymen were seriously wounded.
The account differs from that provided by the US Navy, which said it resorted to lethal force only after issuing a series of warnings. The shooting happened on Monday afternoon when a small boat rapidly approached the refueling ship USNS Rappahannock about 15 kilometers off Dubai's Jebel Ali port.
The US Navy said the boat's crew disregarded warnings from the US vessel, and only then did gunners fire on it with a .50-caliber machine gun.
The white-hulled boat appeared to be a civilian vessel about 9 meters long and powered by three outboard motors. It had no obvious military markings. Similar boats are used for fishing in the region, though Iran's Revolutionary Guard also employs relatively small, fast-moving craft in the Gulf.
Indian consular officials have met with the wounded fishermen. Indian Ambassador MK Lokesh said yesterday that one of the survivors reported that the men were returning from fishing when they encountered the American ship.
"He says there was no warning" before the shooting occurred, Lokesh said, though he noted that authorities are still working to determine what happened.
"We are waiting for the investigation to be complete," he added.
Dubai's police chief, Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, said an initial investigation suggests "the boat was in its right course and did not pose any danger," according to comments published by Abu Dhabi-based daily The National. He told the newspaper that the shooting appeared to be a mistake.
Lokesh said the casualties are all from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Four other men-two Indians and two Emiratis-were unhurt because they were in the boat's cabin, he said.
The Indian ambassador also said the three injured were recovering in a Dubai hospital. "They're out of danger."
The US ambassador to India, Nancy Powell, has expressed regret for the loss of life and assured Indian officials that the US will conduct a full investigation.
India has separately asked the UAE to investigate the incident, Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said.
Lieutenant Greg Raelson, a spokesman for the Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, declined to say what types of warnings the Rappahannock's crew issued before opening fire, though he said that they acted in line with standard procedures.
The incident comes during a period of heightened tensions in the Gulf between the US and Iran, which lies just across the Gulf from the UAE.
Tensions are high after Iran last week renewed threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz-the route for one-fifth of the world's oil-in retaliation for tighter sanctions over its nuclear program.
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