Dutch Warship Rescues 17 Hostages From Somali Pirates

[News_Editor]

Dutch warship rescues 17 hostages from Somali pirates < br /> 2012-05-12 06:10:25 GMT+7 (ICT) AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS (BNO NEWS) -- A Dutch Navy vessel on Friday rescued seventeen people who were being held hostage on a suspected pirate dhow off the coast of Somalia, the Dutch Ministry of Defense said. Eleven suspected pirates were taken into custody.The Dutch Navy warship Van Amstel came across the dhow when its helicopter carried out a reconnaissance flight in the area. The dhow was pulling two smaller skiffs carrying ladders behind it, but the suspected pirates threw them overboard once they noticed they were discovered."The Van Amstel headed to the location and made radio contact. The dhow then stopped," the Dutch Ministry of Defense said in a statement. "With the use of Rhibs, fast motorboats, a special boarding-unit consisting of marines made the ship safe under observation of the (Van Amstel helicopter) Lynx."The marines took eleven suspected pirates into custody and seized weapons, ammunition and other items which can be used in piracy. The Ministry said it also rescued seventeen hostages although their nationalities were not immediately released and it was unclear when they were taken hostage."The freed crew is doing fine considering the circumstances and has continued on their way," the statement added. "The suspected pirates were transferred to the frigate. At the moment the staff of the European Union mission Atalanta is discussing the possibilities of prosecuting the suspected pirates."Last month, the Danish Navy warship Absalon freed nine Pakistanis and three Iranians who were being held captive by Somali pirates in the Horn of Africa off the coast of Somalia. Seychelles later agreed to prosecute four of the Somali pirates, but it remains unclear what will happen to the other pirates. Most pirates are eventually released as many countries cannot or do not want to prosecute them.In February, a similar operation carried out by Absalon resulted in the deaths of two hostages while several others were rescued. But with none of the nearby countries willing to prosecute the pirates, the seventeen suspects involved in the incident were released in April.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-05-12

[koheesti]

Eleven suspected pirates on a suspected pirate ship...but with 17 hostages. If they had hostages but aren't pirates, what are they? Maybe the Dutch Navy mistook a Somali cruise ship for a pirate ship? Were conditions on board that bad?

[maidu]

Good to hear. As expected, it's northern European warships and special troops who are taking the initiative and doing the tough work. With the exception of one Indian engagement, I don't recall hearing of any Asian military being engaged in such tough jobs. Certainly not Chinese navy.

Neither do we hear of Arab or African military being involved. Why is it always the northern Europeans and N.Americans and Aussies/NZ who do such things? Better equipment and better trained special forces is one answer, but I think it's the gumption to jump in and take dynamic action is just as much a reason.

Africans, Arabs and Asians (the 3 A's) would rather sit and watch from the sidelines.

Last month, the Danish Navy warship Absalon freed nine Pakistanis and three Iranians who were being held captive by Somali pirates in the Horn of Africa off the coast of Somalia.

Note how quick the Iranians and the Pakistanis hold massive rallies to pour hate on the Danes, when one Danish cartoonist posted a drawing of a whiskered man who might have resembled Mohammed. Fatwa was being yelled night and day for weeks by crowds of angry men.

Yet what response did the Danes get from Iran and Pakistan when the Danish special troops risked their lives to free their compatriots?

Edited May 13, 2012 by maidu

[koheesti]

I'm sure the Somali pirates would also prefer to be captured by Westerners and not Asians, Arabs or other Africans and certainly not the Russians who appear the only ones on the planet who know how to deal with pirates when caught.

[DP25]

Good to hear. As expected, it's northern European warships and special troops who are taking the initiative and doing the tough work. With the exception of one Indian engagement, I don't recall hearing of any Asian military being engaged in such tough jobs. Certainly not Chinese navy.

The Thai navy has been sending ships to be part of the anti piracy task force for 2 years now and have engaged pirates and rescued attacked ships. In fact the Thai navy are the current commanders of the international anti piracy task force and pursing a captured oil tanker as we speak, although the link is in Bankok Post so I can't post it. Other Asian commanders of the task force have been from Singapore and South Korea. The Chinese have sent vessels to the region as well but they operate on their own. China has actually advocated attacking the pirate bases in Somalia which no one in the west seems to want to do.

[pieandmash]

Good to hear. As expected, it's northern European warships and special troops who are taking the initiative and doing the tough work. With the exception of one Indian engagement, I don't recall hearing of any Asian military being engaged in such tough jobs. Certainly not Chinese navy.

The Thai navy has been sending ships to be part of the anti piracy task force for 2 years now and have engaged pirates and rescued attacked ships. In fact the Thai navy are the current commanders of the international anti piracy task force and pursing a captured oil tanker as we speak, although the link is in Bankok Post so I can't post it. Other Asian commanders of the task force have been from Singapore and South Korea. The Chinese have sent vessels to the region as well but they operate on their own. China has actually advocated attacking the pirate bases in Somalia which no one in the west seems to want to do.

Do the Thai Navy ask for tea money from the somali pirates then send them on their way ?

[DP25]

Here is video of the Thai navy coming to the aid of a cargo ship last year

[media=]

[/media] Edited May 13, 2012 by DP25

[DP25]

Good to hear. As expected, it's northern European warships and special troops who are taking the initiative and doing the tough work. With the exception of one Indian engagement, I don't recall hearing of any Asian military being engaged in such tough jobs. Certainly not Chinese navy.

The Thai navy has been sending ships to be part of the anti piracy task force for 2 years now and have engaged pirates and rescued attacked ships. In fact the Thai navy are the current commanders of the international anti piracy task force and pursing a captured oil tanker as we speak, although the link is in Bankok Post so I can't post it. Other Asian commanders of the task force have been from Singapore and South Korea. The Chinese have sent vessels to the region as well but they operate on their own. China has actually advocated attacking the pirate bases in Somalia which no one in the west seems to want to do.

Do the Thai Navy ask for tea money from the somali pirates then send them on their way ?

I think everyone usually sends them on their way except for the Russians. In this video though the Thai navy liberated their jackets, canned fish, and cigarettes first

[media=]

[/media]

[koheesti]

Good to hear. As expected, it's northern European warships and special troops who are taking the initiative and doing the tough work. With the exception of one Indian engagement, I don't recall hearing of any Asian military being engaged in such tough jobs. Certainly not Chinese navy.

The Thai navy has been sending ships to be part of the anti piracy task force for 2 years now and have engaged pirates and rescued attacked ships. In fact the Thai navy are the current commanders of the international anti piracy task force and pursing a captured oil tanker as we speak, although the link is in Bankok Post so I can't post it. Other Asian commanders of the task force have been from Singapore and South Korea. The Chinese have sent vessels to the region as well but they operate on their own. China has actually advocated attacking the pirate bases in Somalia which no one in the west seems to want to do.

Do the Thai Navy ask for tea money from the somali pirates then send them on their way ?

I think everyone usually sends them on their way except for the Russians. In this video though the Thai navy liberated their jackets, canned fish, and cigarettes first

Toward the end of the video it looks like the cig lighters came from Thailand.

[DP25]

Yeah definitely a Thai lighter. They've captured Thai ships before, maybe taken from one

[Colin Yai]

I'm sure the Somali pirates would also prefer to be captured by Westerners and not Asians, Arabs or other Africans and certainly not the Russians who appear the only ones on the planet who know how to deal with pirates when caught.

[media=]

[/media] Yeah the Ruskys certainly know how to deal with these pirates ,its the only lingo they understand , the faint hearted do gooders should not watch this video, personally IMHO if every Country did the same piracy would very soon be a thing of the past. Edited May 13, 2012 by Colin Yai

[folium]

I'm sure the Somali pirates would also prefer to be captured by Westerners and not Asians, Arabs or other Africans and certainly not the Russians who appear the only ones on the planet who know how to deal with pirates when caught.

[media=]

[/media] Yeah the Ruskys certainly know how to deal with these pirates ,its the only lingo they understand , the faint hearted do gooders should not watch this video, personally IMHO if every Country did the same piracy would very soon be a thing of the past.

Ah, so there are some good aspects to socialism?

[folium]

I'm sure the Somali pirates would also prefer to be captured by Westerners and not Asians, Arabs or other Africans and certainly not the Russians who appear the only ones on the planet who know how to deal with pirates when caught.

[media=]

[/media] Yeah the Ruskys certainly know how to deal with these pirates ,its the only lingo they understand , the faint hearted do gooders should not watch this video, personally IMHO if every Country did the same piracy would very soon be a thing of the past.

Rather more effective than murdering suspected pirates on the high seas, see attached below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18069685

[Colin Yai]

I'm sure the Somali pirates would also prefer to be captured by Westerners and not Asians, Arabs or other Africans and certainly not the Russians who appear the only ones on the planet who know how to deal with pirates when caught.

[media=]

[/media] Yeah the Ruskys certainly know how to deal with these pirates ,its the only lingo they understand , the faint hearted do gooders should not watch this video, personally IMHO if every Country did the same piracy would very soon be a thing of the past.

Rather more effective than murdering suspected pirates on the high seas, see attached below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk...africa-18069685

Suspected Folium?, obviously you are well acquainted with the case in question ,any chance of a link?

[Colin Yai]

I'm sure the Somali pirates would also prefer to be captured by Westerners and not Asians, Arabs or other Africans and certainly not the Russians who appear the only ones on the planet who know how to deal with pirates when caught.

[media=]

[/media] Yeah the Ruskys certainly know how to deal with these pirates ,its the only lingo they understand , the faint hearted do gooders should not watch this video, personally IMHO if every Country did the same piracy would very soon be a thing of the past.

Ah, so there are some good aspects to socialism?

Nice to read that what the Ruskys did met with your full agreement

[folium]

I'm sure the Somali pirates would also prefer to be captured by Westerners and not Asians, Arabs or other Africans and certainly not the Russians who appear the only ones on the planet who know how to deal with pirates when caught.

[media=]

[/media] Yeah the Ruskys certainly know how to deal with these pirates ,its the only lingo they understand , the faint hearted do gooders should not watch this video, personally IMHO if every Country did the same piracy would very soon be a thing of the past.

Ah, so there are some good aspects to socialism?

Nice to read that what the Ruskys did met with your full agreement

Seems that there is a good old capitalist solution to Somali piracy rather than the Soviet/Russian murderous approach. This approach is a lot more effective than macho posturing and benefits everyone but the pirates.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18209357

[chuckd]

Seems that there is a good old capitalist solution to Somali piracy rather than the Soviet/Russian murderous approach. This approach is a lot more effective than macho posturing and benefits everyone but the pirates.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...africa-18209357

You don't think this protection company will be doing a bit of "macho posturing"?

A shot across the bow is considerably more than macho posturing.

From your link:

"Our rules of engagement will ultimately allow us to resort in lethal force, but there are lots of methods to deter pirates from approaching our exclusion zone."

[folium]

Seems that there is a good old capitalist solution to Somali piracy rather than the Soviet/Russian murderous approach. This approach is a lot more effective than macho posturing and benefits everyone but the pirates.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...africa-18209357

You don't think this protection company will be doing a bit of "macho posturing"?

A shot across the bow is considerably more than macho posturing.

From your link:

"Our rules of engagement will ultimately allow us to resort in lethal force, but there are lots of methods to deter pirates from approaching our exclusion zone."

The "macho posturing" relates to the teenage w**k film clip of unprofessional, overweight Russians wasting ammunition and all set to some garbage sound track again obviously designed for male teenage use.

Typhon is hiring ex UK Royal Marines who are the antithesis of macho posturing but are likely to perform a professional duty in their own inimitable style, while of course making lots of money paid for by the shipping companies reduced insurance premiums. All far preferable to the Soviet style of roaming the seas dishing out summary executions.

The only way to stamp out piracy is to reduce the potential gains, increase the potential losses and most importantly of all provide an alternative form of employment and income.