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The daring operation to rescue 21 crew members of the freighter Samho Jewelry from Somali pirates on Jan. 21 seemed flawless. Right after Korean naval commandos rescued the cargo ship and its crewmen, President Lee Myung-bak came forward and proudly said he endorsed the unprecedented operation dubbed “Dawn in the Gulf of Aden.”
Most media outlets lauded the victorious maneuver and gave a thumbs-up to President Lee for his bold decision to give the go-ahead to the mission, comparing it to Operation Entebbe.
The meticulously-prepared operation would have been perfect had Captain Seok Hae-kyun not been wounded. But he sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Military authorities initially said one of the captured pirates fired multiple rounds at him from an AK-47 rifle, citing testimonies from crewmembers.
Some Korean netizens were immediately suspicious of the announcement. As in the past, these so-called netizen investigators raised questions and analyzed every bit of information and data disclosed by the authorities.
They raised the possibility that he might have been caught in crossfire, claiming that bullets fired by an AK-47 rifle at close range wouldn’t have remained in his body, but gone straight through him.
The Ministry of National Defense called such allegations “totally groundless.” And a lawmaker of the ruling Grand National Party said it amounts to “an act of espionage” to suggest the captain was caught by friendly fire.
However, the special investigation team under the Coast Guard in Busan, wrapping up its one-week investigation, concluded Monday that one bullet was fired from an M5 submachine gun by a Korean commando, shocking the nation.
Despite the announcement, many questions are left unanswered. Mysteries are growing over the four bullets taken out from the captain’s body.
Of the four bullets, two were removed during surgery in Oman and the other two here. According to the investigation team, one was from a shot by a pirate, another by a Korean commando.
But it is unknown which side is responsible for the two other bullets ― one is missing and it is unknown whether the other is a bullet or a metal fragment.
In particular, the missing bullet is sparking speculations. Professor Lee Guk-jong of Ajou University Hospital, who treated Captain Seok in Oman, says he lost one of the two bullets along with his belongings on his way home from Oman.
The missing bullet is a critical piece to put together the who-shot-the-captain puzzle.
How come the doctor, not government or military officials, was in charge of carrying the bullets? It was critical evidence that warranted extra care from government officials.
Is there any possibility of retrieving the lost bullet? It’s unknown exactly when and where the doctor lost it. It’s also odd why he lost just one of the two bullets he received from the Omani hospital.
Now the prosecution has taken over the case from the Coast Guard. But it won’t be easy to prove that a pirate shot the captain given a lack of hard evidence. The investigation team has pointed the finger at Arai Mahomed based on testimonies from crewmen and other pirates.
However, even the bullet that the investigation team said was shot by Mohamed is also suspected of being a ricochet. At the same time which of the four bullets caused critical wounds is unclear.
The National Forensic Service, which is examining the bullets, may provide clearer answers to the questions.
Of course, the best scenario is that Captain Seok will recover from unconsciousness and state exactly what happened.
Until then, rumors surrounding the bullets are unlikely to subside. What frustrates people is not the fact our captain was shot by friendly fire but the way the government is handling the situation.
Even during Operation Entebbe, several hostages were shot dead by Israeli commandos. In a risky operation as rescuing hostages from notorious Somali pirates, some sacrifice cannot be ruled out completely. People are well aware of that.
If Cheong Wa Dae or other ministries knew one of the bullets was fired by our commandos, they should have made it public earlier. What people want most from the authorities is a greater dose of candor.
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