UN Security Council to establish special anti-piracy courts in Somalia

[News_Editor]

UN Security Council to establish special anti-piracy courts in Somalia

2011-04-12 05:16:39 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Security Council on Monday unanimously voted to establish special anti-piracy courts in Somalia to try local and regional suspects.

The 15 members of the Council approved the measure recognizing the need for further steps to increase anti-piracy efforts. The Council also urged actors affected by piracy, especially the international shipping community, to support efforts through the trust fund set up for that purpose.

The Security Council stressed the need for a "comprehensive response to tackle piracy and its underlying causes by the international community." In addition, the council outlined a series of measures to more effectively tackle piracy.

These actions include cooperation between States on hostage-takin issues; encouraging nations and organizations to cooperate with Somalia in strengthening its coastguard capacity, criminalize piracy under domestic laws and prosecuting those who finance, plan and/or organize such criminal activities.

In previous resolutions, the Council authorized States and regional organizations to enter Somalia's territorial waters and use all necessary means to fight piracy including deploying naval vessels and military aircraft.

In addition, the UN body previously allowed countries to seize skiffs, vessels, firearms, weapons and all other items used for piracy. Monday's resolution was a response to the worsening piracy off Somalia and the inability to prosecute them.

A UN report indicated that 90 percent of pirates captured had to be released because jurisdictions were not prepared to prosecute them. The document was made by Jack Lang, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Legal Issues Related to Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.

Lang also remarked that piracy was a direct consequence of the ongoing instability in Somalia. The resolution stressed the need to assist the Transitional Federal Government and regional authorities in Somalia in establishing governance, rule of law and sustainable economic growth, as well as supporting policing on land and coast-guard capabilities off the coast.

Somalia has not had a functioning central government since 1991 and thus has been torn apart by decades of conflict and factional strife, more recently with al-Shabaab Islamic militants. The country is also facing a humanitarian crisis as 2.4 million people are in need of assistance.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-12

[endure]

"UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Security Council on Monday unanimously voted to establish special anti-piracy courts in Somalia to try local and regional suspects."

"Somalia has not had a functioning central government since 1991 and thus has been torn apart by decades of conflict and factional strife, more recently with al-Shabaab Islamic militants. The country is also facing a humanitarian crisis as 2.4 million people are in need of assistance."

So the UN want to establish 'special anti-piracy courts' in a country 'that has not had a functioning government since 1991"?

How does that work then? Is there funding to be had? Is someone looking to stuff their wallet?

[geriatrickid]

No, but I bet some pirates will be stuffing of the sea if Long John Abdullah catches wind of any of them scalliwags singing like canaries.