11 navy personnel vanish in Japan

[Adux]

http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/16/top4.htm

11 navy personnel vanish in Japan

TOKYO, June 15: Eleven Pakistani sailors went missing in Tokyo as they took part in a rare naval goodwill visit to Japan, officials said on Friday.

“Eleven personnel from our Pakistan Navy have disappeared. It is a very regrettable incident,” Pakistani embassy spokesman Muhammad Abdul Wahid Khan said.

The men were among nearly 700 Pakistani naval personnel aboard the two ships on this week’s visit. They vanished during a tour of Tokyo whose highlight was a stop in the frenetic Akihabara district, a haven for electronics goods and Japan’s comic-book subculture.

“We have asked the Japanese authorities to apprehend the people so that we can immediately deport them and so they can face legal action,” Wahid said.

The navy realised late on Thursday that the men were missing. The two ships, the PNS Moawin and PNS Babur, left on Friday without the sailors at the end of the four-day visit.

A Tokyo police spokesman confirmed that the sailors were missing but put the number at 10.

It was only the second time that Pakistani naval ships have gone to Japan.

Japan has been building ties with Pakistan, particularly since the September 11, 2001 attacks which put the South Asian country on the frontline of the US-led “war on terror.” Japan, the only nation to have suffered atomic attack, had friction in the past both with Pakistan and its rival India over their nuclear weapons.

Separately, Kyodo News said the Japan Coast Guard complained that one of the Pakistani ships accidentally discharged water contaminated with oil and sewage, causing a 2km spill that was cleaned up.—AFP

[Keysersoze]

ok just spent a bit of time clearing this up. now all replies from this point had better be on topic or I will close this thread permanently.

[Neo]

I'm pretty sure there's no ranking staff missing, the're known for their patriotism and devotion.
Wait till Japanese authorities complete their investigation.

[Neo]

Keys, if found they'll be courtmarshalled but what's the usual punishment for this kind of actions?
Is this treason?

[Keysersoze]

Well I would assume the would be AWOL unless they are purposefully running away in which case it is desertion.
However as it has only been 2/3 it is probably high jinks during shore leave.

Since it is not war time they will not get as a severe a punishment. If it is the lesser offence then probably time in the brig plus loss of rank and privileges.

If they are guilty of desertion then it will probably be major jail time.

[Officer of Engineers]

What's in Japan that would lure 11 Pak sailors off their boats? I don't think the exchange rates are that good that they can get cheap booze and women.

[Keysersoze]

Originally Posted by Officer of Engineers

What's in Japan that would lure 11 Pak sailors off their boats? I don't think the exchange rates are that good that they can get cheap booze and women.

Couple of months wages after a long cruise will probably add up even for a Pak sailor. Probably the lure of a exotic location. No doubt they will show up looking sheepish after a few days.

[Neo]

Pakistan mum after sailors disappear in Japan

Saturday June 16, 2007
Islamabad, June 16 (IANS) There was no word from the government here about 11 personnel of the Pakistan Navy who have gone missing while their ships were on a goodwill visit to Japan.

Although the Pakistan embassy in Tokyo said they had 'disappeared' and expressed regrets and the Japanese government confirmed it, officials here, red-faced over the incident, have refused to comment.

'Eleven personnel from the Pakistan Navy have disappeared. It is a very regrettable incident,' Pakistani embassy spokesman Muhammad Abdul Wahid Khan was quoted as saying in media reports Saturday.

'We have asked Japanese authorities to apprehend the people so that we can immediately deport them and so they can face legal action,' Khan added.

The men were among nearly 700 Pakistani naval personnel aboard the two ships on the Japan visit this week.

Reports from Tokyo said they vanished during a tour of Tokyo city when they stopped in Akihabara district, known for electronics goods and Japan's comic-book subculture.

The navy realised late on Thursday that the men were missing. The two ships, the PNS Moawin and PNS Babur, left Friday without the sailors at the end of the four-day visit.

A Tokyo police spokesman confirmed that the sailors were missing but put their number at 10.

This was only the second time that Pakistani naval ships have gone to Japan, Dawn newspaper said Saturday.

The Pakistani media carried international wire service reports prominently, but without a follow-up or offering any comment.

Separately, Kyodo News Agency said the Japanese Coast Guard complained that one of the Pakistani ships accidentally discharged water contaminated with oil and sewage, causing a two-kilometre spill that was cleaned up.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/070616/43/6h2cj.html

[Always Neutral]

Originally Posted by Keysersoze

Couple of months wages after a long cruise will probably add up even for a Pak sailor. Probably the lure of a exotic location. No doubt they will show up looking sheepish after a few days.

Dear Keysersoze,

I doubt its a drunken binge in an exotic location. Japan is a very expensive place since I served on Tanker there. We preferred going drinking and comming back to the ship to have our meal. I don't think the Pakistani sailor gets paid better than a merchant navy equivalent. More likely that they have relatives down there and they have deserted for good to explore what they think is better oppurtunity than their present jobs. Time will tell the truth.

Regards

Ps : why were so many posts deleted ?

[Keysersoze]

Originally Posted by Always Neutral

Dear Keysersoze,



Ps : why were so many posts deleted ?

It turned into a bit of a off topic flame war.So I deleted said posts.

[BATMAN]

I doubt its a drunken binge in an exotic location. Japan is a very expensive place since I served on Tanker there. We preferred going drinking and comming back to the ship to have our meal. I don't think the Pakistani sailor gets paid better than a merchant navy equivalent.

Once my new colleague compared his earnings with mine and I hated that. Surely, he did not carved a positive image of his personality.

Based on my experience, I don't believe all people have same trend of spending or if there exists a unit in parity with earnings.

[A.Rahman]

I doubt that they will earn more in Japan, first its expensive place to live, second they are illegal; they wouldnt get a good job; they will be lucky if its even close to the Navy's pay.

[Officer of Engineers]

Originally Posted by Keysersoze

Couple of months wages after a long cruise will probably add up even for a Pak sailor.

Poor lads, they'll soon learn that no woman is worth 2 months pay. Then who am I to say. I got married.

[Interceptor]

Pakistan mum after sailors disappear in Japan
Malaysia Sun
Saturday 16th June, 2007
(IANS)

There was no word from the government here about 11 personnel of the Pakistan Navy who have gone missing while their ships were on a goodwill visit to Japan.

Although the Pakistan embassy in Tokyo said they had 'disappeared' and expressed regrets and the Japanese government confirmed it, officials here, red-faced over the incident, have refused to comment.

'Eleven personnel from the Pakistan Navy have disappeared. It is a very regrettable incident,' Pakistani embassy spokesman Muhammad Abdul Wahid Khan was quoted as saying in media reports Saturday.

'We have asked Japanese authorities to apprehend the people so that we can immediately deport them and so they can face legal action,' Khan added.

The men were among nearly 700 Pakistani naval personnel aboard the two ships on the Japan visit this week.

Reports from Tokyo said they vanished during a tour of Tokyo city when they stopped in Akihabara district, known for electronics goods and Japan's comic-book subculture.

The navy realised late on Thursday that the men were missing. The two ships, the PNS Moawin and PNS Babur, left Friday without the sailors at the end of the four-day visit.

A Tokyo police spokesman confirmed that the sailors were missing but put their number at 10.

This was only the second time that Pakistani naval ships have gone to Japan, Dawn newspaper said Saturday.

The Pakistani media carried international wire service reports prominently, but without a follow-up or offering any comment.

Separately, Kyodo News Agency said the Japanese Coast Guard complained that one of the Pakistani ships accidentally discharged water contaminated with oil and sewage, causing a two-kilometre spill that was cleaned up.

http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.p...d/257306/cs/1/

[Always Neutral]

Originally Posted by BATMAN

Once my new colleague compared his earnings with mine and I hated that. Surely, he did not carved a positive image of his personality.

Based on my experience, I don't believe all people have same trend of spending or if there exists a unit in parity with earnings.

Dear Batman,

We are actually not talking of comparisons of salary. Its and excepted fact that Merchant Navy personnel get better salaries then their counterparts in the Navy. What I was trying to convey was that even for Merchant Navy Personnel Japan is one place we found superlatively expensive and preferred to come back to ship and eat our meals instead of a fancy Hotel. So most probably the same would apply to the Pakistani Sailors and hence I don't think the missing 10 were on a drunken binge and forgot about comming back to the ship. All sailors and officers must be onboard the ship latest by 12 PM everyday if the go out of the ship. So if the sailors are missing for more than 2 days either they have had an accident (maybe all the 10 went sightseeing and got lost) or delibrately jumped ship.

They have definately planned it and have some relative locally there to help them. As regards salaries in Japan are very high compared to the rest of the world and it is very easy to disappear in the local job market there once you get into Japan. Getting a normal visa is quite hard for an average person and such a visa requirement is not there for visiting naval ships.

Regards