Who is more corrupt, "us" or "them"? (Supply/demand side practicalities of corruption)

The easiest thing too do is to go into a self-flagellation mode on corruption. Oh, hai hai, we are a very corrupt people, race, country. But have you though - is it possible to be corrupt without the tools for corruption?

I am particularly proud of this article, along with the others on processed food, and dedicate it to my seafarer brethren. Please read, pass it on, comment. . . thanks.

http://www.moneylife.in/article/corruption-bad-tax-evasion-good-cooking-the-books-bestmdasha-basic-primer-from-transparency-international/20239.html

""Here is a simple number—The World Bank has endorsed estimates that in 2009, illicit financial flows out of developing countries were to the tune of $850 billion to $1 trillion. These were as provided by Global Financial Integrity (GFI), which made a strong case to interpolate TI's figures on supply-side corruption. It was done to understand, where the corruption money went, where did it go in, and more importantly, who or what motivated it. Likewise, it is estimated that the narcotics economy from mainly developing countries reached anything between $650 billion to about $1.1 trillion per annum in 2010—figures collated from various sources-so, where did it enter the global financial network?""

""let us simplify matters. In a typical scenario, who is more corrupt, who is guiltier—a sex worker selling her body in Falkland Road, Mumbai, for whatever reason, or the customer who pays for it, for whatever reason too? Or is it the landlord, the pimp, the cops, or the system that makes it possible for this transaction to take place? Who is more corrupt? In a typical scenario, we have all been programmed to blame the bottom end of the food chain, and believe that the person selling her body, is corrupt, but we know that is not really correct. It is like calling a bottle of liquor evil. ""

""evolved something called the "Financial Secrecy Index", which listed out on scientific empirical evidence a graded list of countries, where it was easiest to park stolen assets—to put it simply. And not just did these countries simply provide the facility for parking stolen assets—they actively and aggressively went about seeking these stolen assets, in most cases actively conniving with corrupt "supply side" countries and regimes worldwide. And then, to ensure that these stolen assets could not be tracked back, they made laws of their own which simply prevented any... transparency.""

If you've got so far, you may also want to read this . . . http://treasureislands.org/ . . . especially in the context of . . . who or what does own all those FOC ships, then?

Corruption in India and its relationship to shipping & banking

Much is being made about how Indian politicians and others are terribly correct. Spot on, here are some simple numbers and links:-

What we are really up against is here, this is the one-page synopsis, a longer link can be found through it:-

http://www.gfip.org/storage/gfip/documents/reports/india/india_tip_sheet.pdf

In absolutely brief bearimg + distance, in India, it took, after 1947 Independence:-

#  60 years to steal 210 billion dollars from 1948-2008.
# 3 years to steal another 260 billion dollars from 2008-2011.

Do you and I think this is only corrupt Indians doing this by themselves, that there is no connection between this and the vast number of international banks as well as, pertaining to us Indians, the huge number of ships involved in shipping activities in and around India - even coastal shipping - which are working through tax havens? Here's how the banks do it:-

http://www.undue-diligence.org/Pdf/GW_DueDilligence_FULL_lowres.pdf

How, however, do they do it in shipping? For that, over the last few days, my head is hurting reading the vast volumes of information on how rules and regulations at our very own Directorate General of Shipping aka DGS were nicely tweaked to favour shipowners operating from tax havens AGAINST shipowners operating Indian flag and even shipowners operating known flags of repute.

Fascinating. But if the Red Government can come to an end after 34 years in Kolkata, then how long does this survive in Mumbai??

Latest status on motor tug JUPITER-6 at Supreme Court of India/Delhi

Kind courtesy Manoj Joy of Sailor's Helpline. . .

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Dear ______

Latest development in the missing Jupiter-6 Case.

On April 29, 2011 the case of Jupiter-6 came up before Supreme Court of India. The legal team from Sailors Helpline was present in the court to assist the family members.  

As soon as the case was taken for hearing Honorable Justice Raveendran, made an observation regarding the plight of Indian seafarers in Somalia.

Justice Raveendran said, " This morning I read in the newspaper that more than 57 Indian seafarers are still under captive in Somalia. What is the government doing about the welfare of Indian seafarers".   

The government replied that they are in touch with various other countries to solve the crisis and they would file their reply before the next hearing.

From our side we have submitted detailed documents to the court with regard to various issues faced by the Indian seafarers. We have prayed for criminal action against the fly by night operating and shady recruiting firms.

During the hearing the court also directed the company to pay interim compensation to the Ukrainian nationals who were on board Jupiter-6, without any pre-condtions (i.e full and final settlement). In 2009 the court directed the Jupiter-6 owners to pay an interim compensation of USD 40,000 for officers and USD 25,000 for non-officers. The total compensation payable to the families will be determined by the court later.

The above amount was not paid to the families by the owners under some or the other pretext. Finally the court directed the owners to deposit the compensation amount in the Supreme Court. The family members will receive the amount from the court in a few days time.  The Jupiter-6, chief engineer,  son's both the kidney has got damaged and to transplant the kidney they are in urgent need to money.  We brought this matter to the notice of the court and the Honorable Judges have passed orders to pay them the compensation expeditiously.

During the previous hearing on March 28, 2011 the court directed the government to file  the status report with reference to the condition prevailing as on  date, particularly, to verify whether the amendments to SOLAS, RPS Rules and MLC Convention 2006 etc. have come into force and the effect thereof.

In this regard we too have compiled all the relevant materials pertaining to amendments to SOLAS, RPS Rules and MLC Convention 2006. We requested the court to grant us permission file these documents. The court in its order has permitted us to file the same. 

Warm regards
Manoj
Sailors Helpline

Following is the Supreme Court order dated April 29, 2011.

SABEEHA FAIKAGE AND ORS.                                       Petitioner(s)

                   VERSUS

UNION OF INDIA & ORS.                                          Respondent(s)

(With appln(s) for impleadment)

(For final disposal)

Date: 29/04/2011    This Petition was called on for hearing today.

CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R.V. RAVEENDRAN

        HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.K. PATNAIK

           UPON hearing counsel the Court made the following

                               O R D E R

                 Mr. H.P.Rawal,learned ASG submitted that he has received some of the information in regard to the current position regarding amendments to SOLAS, RPS Rules and MLC Convention 2006 etc. and also certain other information and hence seeks time to place them on record in the form of an affidavit.

             Mr. Rajiv Dutta, learned senior counsel stated that in so far as two Ukrainian sailors, their families have refused to accept the payment.Their refusal appears to be for the reason that payment was offered in full and final satisfaction. It is made clear that the payment may be offered ex-gratia and without a condition that it is in full and final satisfaction. If such an offer is made, we are sure that they will also receive the amount and have the benefit of the same.

             Learned counsel for the petitioner stated that one of the petitioner is in dire need of the amount and the Registrar (Judl.)may be requested to dispose of his claim expeditiously. If the concerned applicant

presents the application in the required form, we are sure that the Registrar Judl.) will dispose of the same expeditiously, preferably within one month.

             Petitioners are also directed to file documents with reference to SOLAS, RPS Rules and MLC Convention 2006 etc.

             List in the third week of July, 2011.

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Additional non judiciary observations:-

# DGS apparently said that RPS and MSA have no penal provisions?
# DGS apparently said that they are terribly under-staffed.
# DGS apparently spotted having lunch with the owners.

The authorities have been looking at DGS with the same magnifying glass that they used for DGCA, and biggest question being asked is - how come DGS happily signs on documents pertaining to ship-owners whose addresses are in tax havens, when beneficiary owners are in other countries - are DGS conspiring against Indian Government in tax evasion issues now?