Billy’s starvation shows solidarity
FORMER paratrooper Billy Irving is staging a hunger strike in his Indian jail cell.
The drastic action is designed to show solidarity with his friends and family who held a peaceful protest in London last Friday.
Campbeltown-educated Billy, 38, was arrested in 2013 for possession of illegal weapons while working as an anti-piracy guard on the ship MV Seaman Ohio, off the Indian coast.
He is currently serving a five-year sentence in Puzhal Prison, near Chennai, with five other British ex-servicemen, as well as 14 Estonians, three Ukrainian and 12 Indian nationals who were also working onboard the ship.
The former British soldiers, now known as the Chennai Six, insist that they had the weapons legally and are being wrongfully detained in horrific conditions.
The men lodged an appeal against their conviction but are awaiting the verdict.
Billy began his hunger strike, the only way he is able to peacefully protest, last week, in a bid to support the hundreds of protesters who marched through London’s streets last Friday.
Speaking of his son’s refusal to eat, Billy’s dad, Jim Irving, posted on Facebook: ‘As you will no doubt be aware Billy, John Armstrong and Nick Simpson, along with all the Estonian and Ukrainian men, are staging a hunger strike.
‘The men are so appreciative of the actions taken by others on their behalf, and those taking part in the hunger strike feel it is the only protest they can make to show their support.’
Supporters of the Chennai Six trooped to the Indian High Commission to show their opposition to the men’s incarceration, hoping to put pressure on the British government to push for a decision on the men’s appeal. A Chennai Six spokesperson said: ‘We are so thankful to everyone who has supported us, sent postcards to the Indian embassy and Downing Street, attended the protest and sent us well wishes for the day.’
The group’s lawyer, Stephen Askins, said: ‘The Chennai Six are at the wrong end of poor judgement and a miscarriage of justice.
‘The Indians have made their point – it is now time for the men to come home.’