ITF: 'Sewol trial must follow due process'

The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) has spoken out on the need for due legal process to be followed in the trial of crew members of the Sewol ferry, which is currently taking place in Korea.

ITF seafarers’ section chair Dave Heindel commented: “The Sewol sinking was a tragedy that rightly affected everyone who learnt of it. It is right that there should be a full and fair legal investigation into what went wrong.”

He continued: “The trial of those accused must follow due process and there must be proper legal representation for them. The screaming at defendants, courtroom chanting of ‘murderers’, and President Park Geun-hye’s description of the crew’s behaviour as ‘an act of murder’ are throwing the validity and impartiality of any final verdicts into doubt.”

ENDS

For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.

Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260. Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF: HEAD OFFICE ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS

Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733

Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871

Email: mail@itf.org.uk

Web: www.itfglobal.org