Thankful Posted May 11, 2009 Times Online Boyah is a pirate. One of the original “Old Boys”, he quietly pursued his trade in the waters of his coastal home town of Eyl, years before it galvanised the world's imagination as Somalia's infamous “pirate haven”. Boyah is dismissive of the recent poseurs, the headline-grabbers who have bathed in the international media spotlight and it shows; he exudes a self-assured superiority. Pirates are easy to spot on the streets of Garowe, the regional capital: their Toyota 4x4s cluster around equally new white-washed mansions on the edge of town. But to approach them, I am warned, is to invite kidnapping or robbery. In Somalia, everything is done through connections, be they clan, family, or friend, and Mohamed, my interpreter, was on and off the phone for almost a week to coax his network into producing Boyah. Our meeting takes place at a virtually deserted farm 15km outside Garowe. Mohamed is the son of the newly elected president of Puntland and does not want to be seen in public cavorting with pirates. Moreover, Boyah has recently contracted tuberculosis and Mohamed insists that we meet him in an open space. As we step out of our vehicles, I catch my first glimpse of Boyah. Immensely tall and disconcertingly menacing, he is wearing a ma'awis, the traditional robe of a clan elder, and a cimaamad, a decorative shawl. On his feet is a pair of shiny onyx leather sandals. He weaves his way around the tomato plants and lemon trees, before settling in a shady clearing, where he squats down. Other than the farm's owners, there is no one near by, yet the two AK-47-toting police escorts, who accompany me wherever I go, stand guard with an amusing military officiousness. Asking my first question through my interpreter, I hesitate to use the word “pirate”. Somali pirates are aware enough of themselves in the international media that the word has become part of their vernacular but its closest Somali translation is burcad badeed, which means “ocean robber”, a political statement I am anxious to avoid. Boyah likes to refer to him and his comades as badaadinta badah, “saviours of the sea”, a term that is most often translated in the English-speaking media as “coastguard”. Boyah jokes that he is the “Chief of the Coastguard”, a title he evokes with pride. To him, his actions have been about protecting his sea; his hijackings, a legitimate form of taxation levied in abstentia on behalf of a defunct government that he represents in spirit, if not in law. His story is typical of many who have turned to piracy since the onset of the civil war. Fourteen years ago, he was still working as a lobster diver in Eyl - “one of the best”, he says. Since then, according to Boyah, these reefs off Eyl have been devastated by foreign fishing fleets - mostly Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean - using steel-pronged dragnets. He says that there are no longer lobsters to be found locally, a claim partially corroborated by a 2005 UN Development Project report into the depletion of local stocks. From 1995 to 1997, Boyah and others captured three foreign fishing vessels, keeping the catch and ransoming the crew. He boasts that he received an $800,000 bounty for one ship. When the foreign fishing fleets entered into protection contracts with local warlords, making armed guards and anti-aircraft guns fixtures on ships, Boyah and his men went after commercial shipping vessels instead. Boyah says that there are about 500 pirates operating in the area, over whom he serves as “chairman”. Eyl's pirate groups function as a loose confederation, and Boyah is a key organiser, recruiter, financier and mission commander, rather than a traditional crime boss, but he claims that all applicants for the position of Pirate (Eyl Division) must come to him. Boyah's sole criteria for a recruit are that he has to own a gun, and that he must “[be] a hero, and accept death” - qualities that grace the CVs of many local youth. Turnover in Boyah's core group is low; when I ask if his men ever use their new-found wealth to leave Somalia, he laughs: “The only way they leave is when they die.” He adds that a member of his band departed last night, dying in his sleep of undisclosed reasons. When it comes to targets, Boyah's standards are not very exacting. He says that his men go after any ship that wanders into their sights. He separates his prey into “commercial” and “tourist” ships. The commercial ships, identifiable by the cranes on their decks, are slower and easier to capture. Boyah has gone after too many of these to remember. He claims to employ different tactics for different ships, but the basic strategy is that several skiffs will approach from all sides, swarming like a waterborne wolfpack. If brandishing their weapons fails to frighten the ship's crew into stopping, they fire into the air. If that doesn't do it, and if the target ship is incapable of outperforming the 85 to 150 horsepower engines on their skiffs, they pull alongside their target, toss hooked rope ladders on to the decks and board the ship. Resistance is rare. Boyah guesses that 20 to 30 per cent of attempted hijackings succeed. Speedy prey, technical problems, and foreign naval or domestic coastguard intervention account for the high rate of failure. Captured ships are steered to Eyl, where guards and interpreters are brought to look after the hostages during the ransom negotiation. Once secured, the money - often routed through banks in London and Dubai and parachuted directly on to the deck of the ship - is split: half goes to the hijackers, a third to the investors who fronted cash for the ships and weapons, and 20 per cent to everyone else, from the guards to the translators (occasionally high school students on a summer break). Some money is also given as charity to the local poor; such largesse, Boyah tells me, has turned his merry band into Robin Hood figures. When I ask where his men have obtained their training, he pithily responds that it comes “from famine”. This isn't the whole truth. Beginning in 1999, the government of Puntland launched a series of ill-fated attempts to establish an (official) regional Coastguard, efforts that each time ended with the dissolution of the contracting company and the dismissal of its employees. The new generation of Somali pirates - better trained, more efficiently organised and possessing superior equipment - can be traced in part to these failed experiments. When pressed, Boyah confirms that some of his men are former coastguard recruits, and he reveals another detail of the interwoven dynamic between pirates, coastguards and fishermen. He claims that the Puntland Coastguard of the late 1990s and early 2000s worked as a private militia for the protection of commercial trawlers in possession of official “fishing licences”, alienating local fishermen. Sometimes the situation escalated into confrontation and Boyah recounts that in 2001 his men seized several fishing vessels “licensed” by President Abdullahi Yusuf and protected by his coastguard force. Almost a decade before the rise in pirate hijackings hit the Gulf of Aden, the conditions for the coming storm were already recognisable. Boyah's moral compass, like his body, seems to be split between sea and shore. “We're not murderers,” he says, “we've never killed anyone.” He warns me, half-jokingly, not to run into him in a boat, but assures me that he is quite harmless on land. He insists that he is not a criminal but that he knows what he is doing is wrong. Boyah hasn't been on a mission for more than two months, for which he has a two-pronged explanation: “I got sick and became rich.” He has called for an end to hijackings albeit from a position of luxury that most do not enjoy. I ask him whether his ceasefire was motivated by the recent deployment to the region of a Nato task force. “No,” he says, “it has nothing to do with that. It's a moral issue. We realised that we didn't have public support.” That support, according to Boyah, took a plunge last summer when a delegation of clan and religious leaders visited Eyl and declared that dealing with pirates is haram - religiously forbidden. Nato deliberations regarding possible missile strikes on Eyl, though, do not worry Boyah: “Only civilians live there, it would be illegal for them to attack. If they do...that's OK. We believe in God. Force alone cannot stop us,” he says vehemently, “we don't care about death.” Throughout our interview, Boyah has looked uninterested but when I ask him to recount his most exhilarating raid, he brightens up, launching into the story of the Golden Nori. In October 2007, he captured the Japanese chemical tanker about eight nautical miles off the northern Somali coast, only to be surrounded by the US Navy. Boyah recalls seven naval vessels encircling him. He recites by rote the identification numbers marking the sides of four of the vessels: 41, 56, 76, and 78 (the last being the destroyer USS Porter). Fortunately for them, the Golden Nori was carrying volatile chemicals, including the extremely flammable compound benzene. The stand-off dragged on for months and he claims that they “almost abandoned the ship so we wouldn't start eating the crew”. Eventually, Boyah ordered the ship into the harbour at Bosasso, Puntland's big port and most populous city. In case the Nori's explosive cargo proved an insufficient deterrent, Boyah added the defensive screen provided by the presence of the city's civilian population. His perseverance paid off. After extensive negotiations, a ransom of $1.5million was secured for the ship and its crew. The US military guaranteed Boyah and his team safe passage off the hijacked ship and Puntland's security forces could only watch as US gunships escorted the pirate skiffs to land and allowed them to disembark. Why did he and his men trust the Americans? “Because that was the agreement,” Boyah says. But I already know the real answer. Like many Western nations, the Americans wouldn't have known what to do with Boyah and his men if they had captured them. According to international law - to the extent that international law has any meaning in an utterly failed state - the Americans were not even supposed to be in Somali territorial waters. The Golden Nori hijacking took place before the international community had become aware of the piracy problem, when foreign navies tended to give them a slap on the wrist. More recently, concerned states have begun to use the international legal instruments available - particularly a UN Security Council Resolution allowing entry into Somali waters - more rigorously. Foreign warships are increasingly excluding, detaining and rendering suspected pirates to neighbouring countries to face justice. In April 2008, Boyah's gang seized a French luxury yacht on route from the Seychelles to the Mediterranean - what he refers to as a “tourist” ship. Boyah calls it the “Libant,” a clumsy fusion of its French name, Le Ponant. After delivering a ransom and freeing the hostages, French helicopters tracked the pirates to the village of Jariban. On the orders of President Sarkozy, French commandos laun ched “Operation Thalathine”: Special Forces snipers disabled the pirates' getaway vehicle and captured six men, later flying them to Paris to face trial. Such a determined pursuit was once a rarity but that incident, along with US use of navy SEAL snipers to kill pirates holding Captain Richard Phillips hostage this week, illustrates that the international community is now taking piracy more seriously. But a military solution alone is incapable of completely eradicating piracy off the Somali coast-certainly not one which is economically or politically feasible. Boyah's men have been captured or killed with increasing frequency (his brother is sitting in a local prison), yet imprisoning them is almost useless: for each pirate captured, there are dozens of young men desperate to replace them. If there is a solution to the problem, it lies in economic principles: the cost-benefit analysis for these men must be shifted from piracy to more legitimate pursuits. Naval battle fleets can do their part to boost the “cost” side, but without the “benefit” of meaningful occupations on land, there will be no permanent resolution. Boyah may have accumulated a small fortune, but how long his current state of affluence will last is unclear - he announces with pride how he has given his money away to his friends, to the poor and how he didn't build a house or a hotel like many of his more parsimonious co-workers. When asked about his future plans, Boyah is evasive. “That is up to the international community,” he says, “they need to solve the problem of illegal fishing, the root of our troubles. We are waiting for action.” Jay Bahadur is working on a book The Pirates of Puntland, with news agency Garowe Online (garoweonline.com). E-mail: piratesofpuntland@gm ail.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mintid Farayar Posted May 11, 2009 Originally posted by somalipride: Times Online Mohamed is the son of the newly elected president of Puntland and does not want to be seen in public cavorting with pirates. Moreover, Boyah has recently contracted tuberculosis and Mohamed insists that we meet him in an open space. [/b] And some still make the claim that there's no collusion between the Puntland Authority and Piracy . What a joke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted May 11, 2009 ^^^LOOL. Only you are making a big deal out of the pirates. They are big time and all you can do is get angry at the money. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Emperor Posted May 11, 2009 Lool, usheeg, and did he not see the two million dollar delivered to Eyl yesterday Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meiji Posted May 11, 2009 You can not boost about 2 million earned by piracy and on the other hand pledge for 20 million to fight piracy. Puntland and Piracy are two sides of the same coin. Everybody knowes it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mintid Farayar Posted May 11, 2009 Keep it up, gentlemen We'll see where it gets your Puntland at the end. And you wonder why Faroole was refused at Nairobi?! You guys have to do some housecleaning first. Adde was not the best leader but he was a whole lot more forthcoming about the situation. The "international community" is aware of the connection between piracy and Madaxtooyada in Garowe. This will keep Faroole's cabinet from developing any meaningful relationships with "the international community". After all, there's that damning UN Report from a few months ago (which I will be happy to post again if you ask...LOL). Ooh, another lawless region of the former Somalia... Tsk,tsk.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mintid Farayar Posted May 11, 2009 Originally posted by Meiji: You can not boost about 2 million earned by piracy and on the other hand pledge for 20 million to fight piracy. Puntland and Piracy are two sides of the same coin. Everybody knowes it. Meiji, Obviously no one told you about these boys. The ears and the mouth are on the same head but never hear each other Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted May 11, 2009 Jay Bahadur is working on a book The Pirates of Puntland, with news agency Garowe Online (garoweonline.com). E-mail: piratesofpuntland@gm ail.com Money, money, money its not funny in the rich mans world. They even author books on these lads.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacaylbaro Posted May 11, 2009 Mohamed is the son of the newly elected president of Puntland and does not want to be seen in public cavorting with pirates. ,, that is why it is only Bugland that can stop the piracy ,,, hehehe Father: Son, come here i wana talk to you Son: Yes Daddy Father: U know we got some good business lately. Now we want to show them that we are the men. Son: Show who ? Father: The world Son: which world Daddy? Africa ? Father: No, u dump, i mean the US and Westerns. Son: Oh, Ok. So what shall we show them, our money ? Father: I can't believe this, NO, i mean to show them that we're the men. Son: Of course we are the men. Father: now that is good. We want to stop the piracy and tell our militia to go home. Son: But we got more ships out there ? Father: No problem, just finish with them quickly as i make some appeals to the UN. It will take time u know. Son: So there will be no more piracy ? Father: No, because they should see that we are doing someting. Son: But adeero was ready to start a new piracy business and ayeeyo got some weapons for her sons to get some ships. Father: You go talk to all of them. I need this to stop for sometime. Not forever anyway. Son: But ................. Part Two coming .................... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thankful Posted May 11, 2009 NY times Puntland’s last president, Mohamud Muse Hirsi, was a former warlord widely suspected of collaborating with pirates and voted out of office in January. The new president, Mr. Abdirahman, is a technocrat who had been living in Australia and came back with many Western-educated advisers — and an ambition to be Somalia’s first leader to do something substantive about piracy. He formed an antipiracy commission and even issued a “First 100 Days” report. This article was written by assistance of Garoweonline (look at the video) it is favoring their Father who's sons are the owner of the site. They are now writing a book "the pirates of Puntland". I guarantee you 100% that it will bash the former admin, it will blame numerous people and just like this article it will paint their father in a good light. Even though the Pirate base is in their province, Faroole was born in Eyl, THE SON ACTUALLY MEETS WITH THESE CRIMINALS AND HAS CONNECTIONS WITH THEM. I can't believe the presidents son would actually bring a reporter to meet with a internationally wanted criminal. It's one thing if he was doing the interview behind bars, but this is UNREAL. My guess is that he wanted to be the one to bring the reporter to the criminal rather then someone else. He wanted to translate to so he can edit the responses. He definitely didn't want the pirate to reveal too much. I see these outrage when the PIS does an operation from certain people or when the previous government signed deals. But silence when these haram acts are taking place. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suldaanka Posted May 11, 2009 Mohamed is the son of the newly elected president of Puntland and does not want to be seen in public cavorting with pirates. LOOL Few years ago Cadde Muuse's nephew was captured at the Togwachale border crossing trying to smuggle people. And now we have another family member of the ruling thugs in Puntland having a direct stake in the Piracy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
General Duke Posted May 11, 2009 ^^^Mugged ones are learning the names of the relatives of Puntland leaders. Thats an important step indeed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thankful Posted May 11, 2009 HA Togwachale border crossing, you mean with the one guy chewing khat and the other napping?!!! I think the Ny Times is a bit more credible then your Somali land news! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suldaanka Posted May 11, 2009 Originally posted by General Duke: ^^^Mugged ones are learning the names of the relatives of Puntland leaders. Thats an important step indeed. Can you explain what you mean by "Mugged ones", I would kindly reply. Originally posted by somalipride: HA Togwachale border crossing, you mean with the one guy chewing khat and the other napping?!!! I think the Ny Times is a bit more credible then your Somali land news! What are you trying say here that the nephew of Cadde Muse was not caught trying to traffic poor people from Ethiopia? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mintid Farayar Posted May 11, 2009 Somalipride, I agree with you. Adde Musse was more decent than Puntland's previous leaders and present ones. Unfortunately, too many within Reerka were trying to undermine him at all times. Garoweonline was created for that express purpose.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
