Meiji Posted April 10, 2009 Somali Government Ready to Resolve Piracy Problems Somalia's new government says it would be able to deal decisively with the piracy problems off its shores if the international community would provide logistical support and supervision to its navy. This comes after Somali pirates defied international naval powers and are holding hostage the capital of an American ship on a lifeboat in the Indian Ocean. The pirates tried to hijack U.S ship Maersk Alabama Wednesday, but Captain Phillips thwarted the takeover by offering himself as a hostage. Abdulrahman Haji Ibbi is the Somali minister for Fisheries. He tells reporter Peter Clottey that if such support had been forthcoming, the pirates would not have posed the problems they now causing off the Somali coast. "This problem of the piracy in Somali sea waters is a problem and a very difficult thing for everybody. But for us it is not a difficult thing because we as Somalis have to show our experience of how we can handle and tackle these kinds of problems. But we are deeply sorry and it is regrettable all these expenses that the international community is spending towards addressing this piracy issue sending all their naval vessels to Somali sea waters without doing anything at all," Haji Ibbi said. He said several requests by the Somali government to help solve the piracy problem have fallen on deaf ears. "What they could have done, which we have told them many times is that the Somali new government wants to solve once and for all the problem of the piracy of the Somali seawaters. That the international community could help us in a very simple manner giving us the kind of support that our Somali coast guards will like to actually tackle all these problems and we will do it. We use to do it and we have been doing it during the Islamic Courts of Union we knew each other and the problem is not the water. The problem is land so and we don't want the problems happening now to continue," he said. Haji Ibbi said the international community has been reluctant to help with the new government's effort to resolve the piracy menace. "We have presented requests to all of them, all of them. There is not a single member of the international community that my president or prime minister has not mentioned this problem to. They mention the problem of piracy to all the people of foreign governments that they have met since the new government was formed and none has actually given us the kind of response that we have expected from them. We are not actually complaining, but what we are saying is to help the community to help the people and we are saying please help us because we can actually do this job in a very secure manner. And they know very well that we can do it," Haji Ibbi noted. He said the lack of funds and logistics has made the Somali coast guard ineffective in preventing the pirates from operating. "What kind of coast guard are we going to use to fight these pirates when we don't have money to pay them? We as a government don't have that kind of money or economical support which we can use to give to our soldiers to go and get these pirates and everybody knows that. We are not actually getting revenue from anywhere except the ports but we are still not getting the type of funds that we are looking for. Don't forget the government is only one month and a couple of days and as government we never inherited any economical infrastructure. For this country there is no revenue there is no central bank and the money that we are getting is that small thing from goods and services revenue from the port. In a whole month we get only 45 to 50 thousand dollars," he said. Haji Ibbi said the government could easily deal with the pirates once it receives logistical and financial support. "Definitely we can do that and I can guarantee that we can deal with it as soon as possible. We know these people and we know how to tackle them and how to solve the problem. We know where these pirates are coming from, where they are going and we know their tactics. Everybody know their own people and we keep asking the international community, the United Nations and particularly the United States of America which we believe have very good facilities for that and the European Union to actually help us. I mean these are very simple things we can get to help the world get rid of these pirates," Haji Ibbi noted. Meanwhile, the capture of Captain Philip has once again focused world attention on Somali piracy, as happened last year when gunmen seized a Saudi supertanker with $100 million of oil on board, and a Ukrainian ship with 33 tanks. The United Nations World Food Program says escalating attacks by Somali pirates are increasingly making it harder to deliver food and relief aid to the hungry in some parts of Africa. The organization said escalating attacks are raising insurance costs and making shippers wary of going there, saying it now costs hundreds of millions of dollars more to feed the same number of people because of the problems associated with shipping food and high food prices. The Kenyan port city of Mombasa, south of the Somalia coast, is a vital hub for receiving food assistance for Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Somalia and Kenya. Meanwhile, Washington has brought in FBI hostage negotiators to work with the military in trying to secure the release of Capt. Richard Phillips of Underhill Vermont with officials saying the bandits were in talks with the Navy about resolving the standoff peacefully. The head of the US Central Command, Gen. David Petraeus, said more ships would be sent to the area to ensure that there is capability that might be needed over the course of the coming days. Washington says it was seeking a peaceful solution, but was not ruling out any option in freeing Phillips. Some political observers believe the additional ships are a show of force in response to a rise in the number of attacks and the first one on a U.S.-flagged ship. The move is expected to give the U.S. military more eyes on the threatened area to act as a deterrent to future pirates attacks. President Barack Obama is reportedly being kept abreast with ongoing developments in the negotiations between the military and the pirates who are still holding Captain Philips hostage. Source: Voice of America, April 10, 2009 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meiji Posted April 10, 2009 Maamulka Puntland oo codsaday in wax laga siiyo lacagaha lagu bixiyo Howlgalka Atlanta ee la-dagaalanka Burcad Badeedda Khamiis, April 09, 2009(HOL): Maamulka DGPL ayaa ku guul darraystay in uu gacanta ku soo dhigo Markab laga leeyahay dalka Yemen , kaasi oo maalmo ka hor ay kooxo burcad badeed ah ka af-duubteen Xeebaha gacanka Cadmeed. Ciidamo ka tirsan Ilaalada Xeebaha Puntland ayaa dhawaan u boqoolay gacanka cadmeed si ay u soo furtaan markabaasi oo sida la sheegay waday shidaal aad u faro badan, waxaana ay ciidamadii loo diray hawlgalkaasi ay dib ugu soo laabteen degmada Eyl ee Gobolka Nugaal. Wasiirka Wasaaradda Amniga DGPL C/llaahi Siciid Samatar oo ka hadlay sababta keentay in la soo furan waayo markabkaasi ayaa sheegay in aysan jirin ciidamo u tababran la dagaalanka Burcadda, isagoo intaasi ku daray in markabka lala aaday meelo ka baxsan Xeebaha Puntland. Waxaa kaloo Wasiirka Amniga C/llaahi Siciid Samatar uu xusay in afduubayadu ay intaasi ka sii badan karaan haddii aan maamulka Puntland la kaashan ,isagoo eedayn ballaaran u jeediyay Maraakiibta shisheeye ee ku sugan biyaha Somaliya. "Ma jiro Cid Maamulka ka caawisay dagaalka lagula jiro Burcad badeedda ,waana taasi sababta keentay in afduubayadu ay sii bataan" ayuu wasiirka u sheegay qaar ka mid ah Wariyayaasha Bosaaso. C/llaahi Siciid Samatar Wasiirka Wasaarada Amniga Puntland ayaa xusay in lacago faro badan lagu bixiyo hawlgalka lagu magac daray Atlanta ee la dagaalanka Burcad Badeedda ,waxaana uu codsaday in Maamulka lacagahaasi wax laga siiyo si loo soo afjaro Burcad badeedda. Faysal Maxamed Xasan (Boston), Hiiraan Online boston@hiiraan.com Bosaso,Somaliya Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meiji Posted April 10, 2009 The irony in this all: The International community already knowes that the Puntland admin is involved in the Piracy issue, and hugely profits from it. The admin and region have truelly become Pirate's nest and none of the actors in that region want to combat it. Hence why nobody takes their cries serious. Also, why are their no pirates operating from the Northwestern region of Somalia under the rule of ''Somaliland'' admin? Or from Southern Somalia's coast near Jubba regions? Both those locations are strategicall too, but still no piracy activity. Clearly, the problem is not lack of funding but lack of will and sincerity on the part of the Pirate-admin/Puntlan d. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AYOUB Posted April 10, 2009 ^^ Is there a piracy scourge in Galmudug as well? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meiji Posted April 10, 2009 Hobyo and Xarardheere are hotspots who ran the risk of foreign occupation too. AYOUB, I noticed the flag on your display, perhaps you can answer me some questions in this thread: Secessionism---On What Grounds? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AYOUB Posted April 10, 2009 ^^Why is piracy a problem in Galmudug? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meiji Posted April 10, 2009 Piracy is a problem wherever it manifests itself. Also, the writings on the wall are clear: Some powers are fabricating a pretext to make moves. What are those moves? We believe that they want to send in troops to Somalia's coast-cities which are infested by Piracy. Hobyo, Xarardheere, Garacad, Eyl, Bosaso etc run the risk. Also, major towns that are connected to those coastial cities face the same risks. Now, since your questions are answered, can you adress the questions I have asked in the thread about secessionism. So far, both NGONGE, YOU AND ABU-DIAB have exhibited an evasive behaviour towards discussing the main grounds on which secessionism is based on. Whats up with the secrecy? If you deeply believe in something you should be able to explain WHY. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AYOUB Posted April 10, 2009 ^^ The question was WHY? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted April 10, 2009 Meiji: Good post keep it up, the Piracy is a conspiracy in a way. As for Ayoub and the secessionist they can not discuss anything you have more chance with JB and NGOONGE than with the other light weights. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meiji Posted April 13, 2009 Rescue off Somalia prompts calls for action WASHINGTON, April 12 (Reuters) - The dramatic rescue of U.S. cargo ship captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates on Sunday fueled calls for aggressive action to stop attacks off the Horn of Africa, including the arming of merchant vessels. Others called for called for changes to international law that would make it easier to pursue and try pirates. "We remain resolved to halt the rise of piracy in this region," President Barack Obama said in a written statement after the rescue. Rescue off Somalia prompts calls for action "To achieve that goal, we must continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks, be prepared to interdict acts of piracy and ensure that those who commit acts of piracy are held accountable for their crimes," he said. The U.S. Navy ended the five-day ordeal of Richard Phillips, captain of the Maersk Alabama cargo ship, by killing three pirates who held him captive on a lifeboat. A fourth pirate was taken into custody. Phillips was the first American taken captive in a wave of piracy that is rampant off the Horn of Africa, where Somali civil conflict has let the practice flourish for nearly two decades in an atmosphere of poverty and lawlessness. "We've got to figure out a way in an international community to ... arm the crews, increase the number of warships that are there on scene (and) reduce the abilities of the Somalis to have ships that are anchored off the coast in a safe haven," Adm. Rick Gurnon, president of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy where Phillips was trained, told a news conference. ARMING CREWS UNPOPULAR WITH SHIPPING COMPANIES A military operation may be needed to clear out the pirate bases on land, he said, "I think the international community needs to seriously look at that." Republican U.S. Senator Tom Coburn said, "we're going to have to be much more aggressive" against pirates. Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," he said "a tremendous increase in resources" would be needed and other countries must share the burden. U.S. military officials expressed caution. U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen said arming crews remains unpopular with shipping companies, who are concerned about liability or an arms race with pirates. "That's not what these mariners are trained to do," Allen said shortly before the rescue on ABC television's "This Week." He called instead for new international legal agreements to fight piracy, which often involves multiple questions of national jurisdiction. "What you really have to have is a coordinating mechanism that ultimately brings these pirates to court," Allen said. The U.N. Security Council over last year authorized navies to chase pirates into Somalia's territorial waters and later allowed land operations against pirate havens. The United States, Britain and the European Union have struck agreements with Kenya for prosecuting captured pirates there, but Kenya has warned that it cannot be the only place for trials. Vice Admiral William Gortney, head of the U.S. Naval Central Command, said the successful U.S. strike could possibly escalate violence. He said the conditions that give rise to piracy -- failed governments, lawlessness and poverty -- must be wiped out to end the threat. Source: Reuters, April 12, 2009 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meiji Posted April 13, 2009 More foreign interference in Somalia's affaries. The Pirates have been allowed to grow to this proportion on purpose or they have been covertly helped by those powers who need a pretext and thus need to create a hype. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted April 13, 2009 I was the big green monster dhe! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites