Somali security forces that freed pirated ship say NATO must do more

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Somali security forces that freed pirated ship say NATO must do more

By Abdiqani Hassan

REUTERS

 

Maritime police are seen aboard oil tanker Aris-13, which was released by pirates, as it sails to dock on the shores of the Gulf of Aden in the city of Bosasso, northern Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland, March 19, 2017. REUTERS/Abdiqani Hassan

 

BOSASSO (Reuters) - Somali officials whose forces freed a hijacked oil tanker and its eight Sri Lankan crew said on Sunday that NATO ships must do more to prevent the illegal fishing that locals say sparked the latest attack.

 

Monday's hijacking was the first time that Somali pirates had successfully hijacked a commercial ship since 2012. Unlike previous hijackings, the ship was freed swiftly and with no ransom paid after the Puntland Maritime Police Force intervened.

 

The intervention reassured shipping companies concerned that resurgent pirates could once again threaten one of the world's most important shipping lanes.

 

Officials from the semi-autonomous region of Puntland blamed local anger over illegal fishing by foreign vessels for the attack. They warned that more hijackings might happen unless the problem was tackled.

 

"We requested NATO warships to tackle the illegal fishing, but they replied it was not their mandate," Abdihakim Abdullahi Omar, the vice president of Puntland, told reporters at Bosasso port.

 

"We told them that if they cannot take measures against the illegal fishing vessels who come under their cover and those who pour wastes into our waters, then their presence is a burden rather than a benefit."

 

The Somali pirates often claim they attacked ships in revenge for illegal fishing by foreigners, then broadened that out to include any foreign-owned vessel.

 

NATO officials were not immediately available for comment. They have previously said illegal fishing along Somalia's coast is not in their mission.

 

Pirate attacks peaked in 2011 but fell sharply after shipping companies upgraded security aboard vessels and regional naval forces stepped up patrols.

 

The emergence of the marine force in Puntland also helped, said John Steed, a former British defence attache who has worked on Somali piracy for nearly a decade.

 

The force of around 1,000 men is paid by the United Arab Emirates and has dual roles: fighting piracy and fighting Islamic militants.

 

"Our role is to capture smugglers, pirates and terrorists ," said Abdirahman Mohamud, the head of the marine force. "When illegal fishing vessels are captured, we hand them over to the Puntland government, which fines them a high amount of money so that they do not fish illegally again."

 

In 2012, the force stormed the MV Iceberg 1, freeing its crew of 23, who had been abandoned by the ship's owner and subjected to increasingly brutal torture over nearly three years of captivity.

 

In 2015, the force rescued the crew of the MV Al Amal, whose 34 crew were washed ashore just south of the pirate haven of Eyl when their ship broke up on rocks, Steed said.

 

In December, the force helped drive militants affiliated with Islamic State from the northern port town of Qandala.

 

(Additional reporting by Katharine Houreld,; writing by Katharine Houreld,; editing by Larry King)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-03-20

[craigt3365]

And how much hast Somalia contributed to the NATO budget?  What a messed up country.

[Emster23]

Last time I checked, NATO meant "North Atlantic Treaty Organization". Last time I checked Somalia was not anywhere near North Atlantic, or any part of Atlantic. Perhaps they should take their case to the African Union?

[rickudon]

Nato are about the only country doing anti-pirate patrols in the area. That's why they get mentioned.  The Somali fishermen do have a case, without any fisheries protection forces Somalian territorial waters became a free for all for foreign fishing boats, that's why the piracy started in the first place. With the increasing lack of piracy the foreign fishermen are returning, and conflict with Somalian fishermen is growing again. 

 

It is not the only African country that has problems with foreign fishing boats. Unfortunately the poorer the country, the less able they are able to protect their waters, and the worse the problem. A typical case of the strong preying on the weak.

[colinneil]

13 minutes ago, rickudon said:

Nato are about the only country doing anti-pirate patrols in the area. That's why they get mentioned.  The Somali fishermen do have a case, without any fisheries protection forces Somalian territorial waters became a free for all for foreign fishing boats, that's why the piracy started in the first place. With the increasing lack of piracy the foreign fishermen are returning, and conflict with Somalian fishermen is growing again. 

 

It is not the only African country that has problems with foreign fishing boats. Unfortunately the poorer the country, the less able they are able to protect their waters, and the worse the problem. A typical case of the strong preying on the weak.

 

 I think you are slightly off, NATO is not a country.

Why should NATO  do anything?

What about African countries doing something?

[Blindedbythelight]

4 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

And how much hast Somalia contributed to the NATO budget?  What a messed up country.

555     They are not a NATO member !

[Jonmarleesco]

'Officials from the semi-autonomous region of Puntland blamed local anger over illegal fishing by foreign vessels for the attack. They warned that more hijackings might happen unless the problem was tackled.' And there was the civilised world thinking the problem was Somalia's non-functioning government and laws, when it is, in fact, illegal fishing that is driving Somalia's peaceful and prosperous fishermen to turn to piracy.

[Blindedbythelight]

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

 I think you are slightly off, NATO is not a country.

Why should NATO  do anything?

What about African countries doing something?

Didn't NATO win the World Cup of Football 30 years ago ?  And Miss Universe in 1934 ?

I think NATO also had the first man to walk on the Sun. I also have a NATO country passport. No visa fee for the moon.

Google it.

[sanukjim]

5 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

And how much hast Somalia contributed to the NATO budget?  What a messed up country.

So the Somalia forces negotiated with Somali pirates to "Let" them "rescue" the captured oil tanker, after The Samalei government found out that the tanker belonged to one of their own rich guys.And now they want the UN to do more.I would love to see heavy guns and missles on board these tankers.

[rickudon]

Ok, NATO is an organisation. I didn't say that NATO should sort out the illegal fishing, but just pointing out that this is one of the factors behind the piracy off Somalia.

 

See this bit about the effects in West Africa .......

 

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/jun/29/tackling-illegal-fishing-in-western-africa-could-create-300000-jobs

 

If this was sorted we might have less economic migrants coming to Europe. And some of this illegal fishing is done by European fishing vessels.

[ilostmypassword]

5 hours ago, sanukjim said:

So the Somalia forces negotiated with Somali pirates to "Let" them "rescue" the captured oil tanker, after The Samalei government found out that the tanker belonged to one of their own rich guys.And now they want the UN to do more.I would love to see heavy guns and missles on board these tankers.

There's nothing stopping them from doing just that if they choose.

[sead]

How about they attack the illegal fishing boats and seize them instead?

 

[rickudon]

Quote

How about they attack the illegal fishing boats and seize them instead?

Well, that is what they used to do before they moved on to bigger game. Unfortunately, the boat owners are often quite willing to right off an old, small trawler with a half a dozen 3rd world crew rather than pay, Just didn't make the news. Actually now it is protection money from the fishing boats ......

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/somalia/12066913/Somali-pirates-earn-new-cash-by-acting-as-escorts-to-the-fishing-boats-they-once-hijacked.html

 

But of course that doesn't help those who still fish .....