Curious; does the warship have a 'prison' to hold them? That too as many as 23Kakarat wrote:[url=http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=45628]
The personnel, arms, ammunition and equipment have been taken into custody by INS Mysore and will be handed over to appropriate authorities ashore and the ship will return to her patrol-duties.
Indian Navy and International Anti-Piracy Ops
Re: Indian Naval Discussion
Re: Indian Naval Discussion
Does this means that pirates will be released in Somalia?The personnel, arms, ammunition and equipment have been taken into custody by INS Mysore and will be handed over to appropriate authorities ashore and the ship will return to her patrol-duties.
Cheers....
Re: Indian Naval Discussion
Well - if things get tough they can always be slung over the side with ropes and towed. They will not be wanting for water, and fish would probably be nearby. They can be charged for 23 ropes used for this.Aditya G wrote:Curious; does the warship have a 'prison' to hold them? That too as many as 23Kakarat wrote:[url=http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=45628]
The personnel, arms, ammunition and equipment have been taken into custody by INS Mysore and will be handed over to appropriate authorities ashore and the ship will return to her patrol-duties.
Re: Indian Naval Discussion
VLS roomsAditya G wrote:Curious; does the warship have a 'prison' to hold them? That too as many as 23Kakarat wrote:[url=http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=45628]
The personnel, arms, ammunition and equipment have been taken into custody by INS Mysore and will be handed over to appropriate authorities ashore and the ship will return to her patrol-duties.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
I think sinking of last mother ship had put the fear of god (i.e. IN ) in these mo-fo pirates.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Observe the headline. British people
Indian navy 'captures 23 pirates'
There's no need for legal drama around these pirates. The rules allow execution of pirates in international waters. MoD is filled with cowards, they reacted to media allegations from last incident and changed the rules of engagement.
Indian navy 'captures 23 pirates'
Arresting these people is madness. What next? Feed them for 20 years in Indian jails before giving an Air India ticket to Africa? Our population is going to double in the next ten years.BBC wrote: The Indian navy says it has arrested 23 Somali and Yemeni pirates who tried to storm a ship in the Gulf of Aden.
A navy spokesman said it had responded to a mayday call from MV Gibe, flying under the Ethiopian flag.
Several countries have warships patrolling the gulf amid growing international concern about piracy.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said better intelligence was needed for a land attack on pirate bases to be considered.
Mr Gates, speaking at a security conference in Bahrain, also called for shipping companies to do more to protect their vessels travelling through the Arabian Sean and Indian Ocean.
Arms cache
The Indian government said in a statement that the captured pirates had a cache of arms and equipment, including seven AK-47 assault rifles, three machine guns, and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.
The pirates would be handed over to the appropriate authorities, the statement added.
Last month, India's navy said it had sunk a pirate "mother vessel" off Somalia.
But it later emerged that the vessel was actually a Thai fishing trawler that had been seized by pirates off Yemen.
Better intelligence
Mr Gates told the security conference: "The need for increased maritime security and potentially new and better means of co-operation has been highlighted by the recent high-profile acts of piracy off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.
"As with terrorism, piracy is a problem that has serious international implications and should be of particular concern to any nation that depends on the seas for commerce."
Mr Gates said most ships could outrun the pirates and they should take more preventative measures, like pulling up their ladders when at sea and perhaps placing armed guards on board.
When asked by the BBC if the US intended to attack the pirates' land bases, Mr Gates replied that the US and its allies would first need to acquire better intelligence on who is behind the ongoing attacks on shipping.
He said he believed that just two or three Somali clans were responsible and that the individuals involved needed to be targeted accurately to avoid killing innocent civilians.
There's no need for legal drama around these pirates. The rules allow execution of pirates in international waters. MoD is filled with cowards, they reacted to media allegations from last incident and changed the rules of engagement.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
These fellows stopped when ordered to do so by the Mysore. The last bunch didn't, and proceeded to fire on the Tabar. Different outcome.
Summary execution on the high seas is not legal.
Summary execution on the high seas is not legal.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Someone invite Ilya Kramnik to Bharat Rakshak forum.
Why pirates stay undeterred?
Why pirates stay undeterred?
Sakaal Times wrote:
By Ilya Kramnik
MOSCOW: The pirates who hijacked the Danish vessel CEC Future in the Gulf of Aden last week were not deterred by a large group of warships from different countries, including Russia's Neustrashimy frigate, sent to the gulf to protect merchant vessels.
The general cargo vessel registered in the Bahamas was attacked as it was crossing the Gulf and was forced to divert toward the Somalian coastline.
Eleven of the 13-member crew of the hijacked vessel are Russian citizens. Clipper Projects, the Danish operator of the vessel, is negotiating their release.
We are witnessing a breakdown of the international security system in the region. No country in the world seems able to ensure the safety of navigation there.
The United States took over the title of "ruler of the seas" from Britain during World War II, but its huge navy seems unable to guarantee the freedom of navigation and trade, an underlying freedom of the Western civilization.
The reason for the failure is not the lack of warships or funds, but the Western development logic.
The freedom of navigation and trade was necessary for fighting rivals - the colonial powers that limited this freedom in their colonies. That freedom was the main price Britain paid for US assistance during WWII, and it was that freedom that catalyzed the collapse of the British Empire.
By now, whole regions have been excluded from the zone of free trade by the maintenance of governed chaos there. Regions that have turned upon themselves, such as Somalia, cannot create global problems. On the other hand, no country has pledged to ensure safety in adjacent territories.
The goal of such "exclusion" is to cut the number of resource consumers. Countries unbalanced by internal conflicts, such as Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and some others, cannot develop an economy that will consume substantial amounts of resources.
As a result, the leading players will be free to use these resources, above all energy. This system makes concerted efforts against pirates improbable, because the world's military powers will not invest in stabilizing the situation and developing a healthy economy in Somalia. Who needs another consumer, even if relatively poor, of resources that are already in short supply?
Objectively, Russia should benefit from a stable development of the global economy, because it promises a growth of oil and gas consumption. In addition, developing countries readily buy Russian industrial goods, which are cheaper than the ones made in the West.
However, at this time in history Russia cannot send groups of warships to the problem regions, or help Somalia stop the civil war and start building a healthy economy, thereby ensuring legal incomes for its population.
Interestingly, the pirates hardly ever hijack large-capacity US or British vessels. I wonder why?
The wealthy Anglo-Saxon civilization (Britain, Canada, Australia and the United States), whose navies are the strongest in the world, is unwilling to address the root causes of piracy, which are instability and poverty of developing countries.
The European Union countries and Russia, which are sustaining heavy losses from piracy, lack the economic resources and political unity to tackle this problem.
They can only escort merchant vessels through dangerous waters, sometimes routing a group of pirates or capturing a pirate leader. But nature abhors a vacuum, and so there will be more pirates and more pirate leaders.
(Ilya Kramnik is a commentator at the Russian news agency RIA Novosti)
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Gerard,Gerard wrote:Summary execution on the high seas is not legal.
- Which international treaty or obligation gurantees the pirates' right to life?
- When did India sign this document?
- Which organization enforces this treaty and makes sure that it isn't violated?
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
execution of anyone would be considered controversial irrespective of any treaty etc.
the only disclaimers apply in case of self-preservation.
JMT.
the only disclaimers apply in case of self-preservation.
JMT.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, signed by India in 1985.
Article105
Seizure of a pirate ship or aircraft
On the high seas, or in any other place outside the jurisdiction of any State, every State may seize a pirate ship or aircraft, or a ship or aircraft taken by piracy and under the control of pirates, and arrest the persons and seize the property on board. The courts of the State which carried out the seizure may decide upon the penalties to be imposed, and may also determine the action to be taken with regard to the ships, aircraft or property, subject to the rights of third parties acting in good faith.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
You are right. (Link)Gerard wrote:Article105
Terrible. Now we'll be providing accomodation to Somalis!
It would be better to extract information, release them on a dinghy near the coast, and then let the dinghy have an accident.
Don't bring the pirates home.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Greetings.
I am Tom of Virginia. I am a former US Navy destroyer man and big admirer of the MUMBAI class destroyers.
Congratulations to MYSORE for nabbing 23 pirates today!
Couple questions.
"Russia Today" carried a story about MYSORE's actions today and accompanied the story with a photo of MARCOS. Does anyone have a bigger image of that photo, as it appears they are wielding Gurkha knives. (I am a fan of NSG, MARCOS and the Indian Navy. She, on the other hand, is a fan of the Gurkhas!) Here is the link:
http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/34718
Second question: The dhow that MYSORE's MARCOS detachment seized is named the SALAHADDIN, according to the official Indian Navy press release. That name does not strike me as a Somali name, and is more likely a vessel from another nation that the pirates seized at some point (though I could be wrong). Does anyone know the origins of the SALAHADDIN?
Many thanks -- and congratulations again!
~Tom
I am Tom of Virginia. I am a former US Navy destroyer man and big admirer of the MUMBAI class destroyers.
Congratulations to MYSORE for nabbing 23 pirates today!
Couple questions.
"Russia Today" carried a story about MYSORE's actions today and accompanied the story with a photo of MARCOS. Does anyone have a bigger image of that photo, as it appears they are wielding Gurkha knives. (I am a fan of NSG, MARCOS and the Indian Navy. She, on the other hand, is a fan of the Gurkhas!) Here is the link:
http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/34718
Second question: The dhow that MYSORE's MARCOS detachment seized is named the SALAHADDIN, according to the official Indian Navy press release. That name does not strike me as a Somali name, and is more likely a vessel from another nation that the pirates seized at some point (though I could be wrong). Does anyone know the origins of the SALAHADDIN?
Many thanks -- and congratulations again!
~Tom
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
doesn't look like khukris. more like sickle.
the personnel are not like MARCOS either.
I think those are supposed to be pirates ! might be a file shot of the SE asian variety.
btw, tom you need to choose a human sounding name.
plz suggest one and we'll change it for you.
welcome to BRF.
the personnel are not like MARCOS either.
I think those are supposed to be pirates ! might be a file shot of the SE asian variety.
btw, tom you need to choose a human sounding name.
plz suggest one and we'll change it for you.
welcome to BRF.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Please treat yourself with bigger pics. But i am still shaken over your "Gurkha knives" comment . And those are not MARCOS in link posted by you.TomOfVirginia wrote:Greetings.
I am Tom of Virginia. I am a former US Navy destroyer man and big admirer of the MUMBAI class destroyers.
Congratulations to MYSORE for nabbing 23 pirates today!
Couple questions.
"Russia Today" carried a story about MYSORE's actions today and accompanied the story with a photo of MARCOS. Does anyone have a bigger image of that photo, as it appears they are wielding Gurkha knives.
Many thanks -- and congratulations again!
~Tom
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o_no4M2xEPY/S ... 728017.JPG
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_o_no4M2xEPY/S ... 726658.JPG
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Thanks, friend -- and I am sorry about the comment. The folks in that photo certainly were not Somali pirates, so the reader is forced to conclude they are the captors. Or -- ha, better -- the reader concludes that still another news outlet used inapplicable stock footage. ANyway, that is why I asked. ~ Tom
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Great Job!!!
What are the chances of an IN ship getting into a bad tangle with these guys? What impact can a RPG have on the ship's exterior; or if it sneaks through on the ship upper structure?
We need to hyper-careful now as the Somalian pirates might decide to lure a IN ship and ambush it. Having easily captured 1 and destroyed 1, there's a need to be hyper vigilant on ship safety.
What are the chances of an IN ship getting into a bad tangle with these guys? What impact can a RPG have on the ship's exterior; or if it sneaks through on the ship upper structure?
We need to hyper-careful now as the Somalian pirates might decide to lure a IN ship and ambush it. Having easily captured 1 and destroyed 1, there's a need to be hyper vigilant on ship safety.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Some more details on the encounter, including firing by INS Mysore.
http://richaredifferent.wordpress.com/2 ... ed_content
http://richaredifferent.wordpress.com/2 ... ed_content
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
kudos to the Navy! looks like Tabar's was a great psy-ops move, not sure if the pirates can distinguish between different navies, so in a way the credibility of other naval forces to intercept is increased
of course one can never tell the reach of pirate grapevine or their local news, so should be prepared all the time.
we should do similar stuff with the jihadis and pakis, keeps them silent for another decade and a 'proactive move' before that impression is forgotten should settle TSP for good.
Hope the Navy gets these
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... Mystic.jpg
they seem to help in a variety of roles, including carrying the element of surprise
if you can build a full submarine, why not these mini subs? to air drop them anywhere using an IL-76 helps in logistics
of course one can never tell the reach of pirate grapevine or their local news, so should be prepared all the time.
we should do similar stuff with the jihadis and pakis, keeps them silent for another decade and a 'proactive move' before that impression is forgotten should settle TSP for good.
Hope the Navy gets these
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... Mystic.jpg
they seem to help in a variety of roles, including carrying the element of surprise
if you can build a full submarine, why not these mini subs? to air drop them anywhere using an IL-76 helps in logistics
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
From the Times Of India
Re: Indian Naval Discussion
Would anyone enlighten which appropirate authorities ashore are they talking about?neerajbhandari wrote:Does this means that pirates will be released in Somalia?The personnel, arms, ammunition and equipment have been taken into custody by INS Mysore and will be handed over to appropriate authorities ashore and the ship will return to her patrol-duties.
Cheers....
Cheers....
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Absolutely...you beat me to posting this info!!!!Sid wrote:notice in the pictures... here too MARCOS are wearing the same green camo they used in Taj operations.Kakarat wrote:With Pictures
Indian Navy beats up Somali Pirates again
Photos: INS Mysore arrests 23 pirates - Shiv Aroor
Re: Indian Naval Discussion
the group that the RN arrested last month were offloaded to Kenyan authorities, either them or the Saudis I supposeneerajbhandari wrote:Would anyone enlighten which appropirate authorities ashore are they talking about?neerajbhandari wrote: Does this means that pirates will be released in Somalia?
Cheers....
Cheers....
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Although all these news regarding IN anti-piracy operations are getting limelight, i have some reservations over them.
In the last few days, Brits and Danish warships also apprehended pirats and Danish warship destroyed pirate boat after capturing pirates. But only IN is getting this much attention.
Negative side of this can be that Indian ships or Indians might be singled out during hijacking attempts. IN should continue with wonderful job they are doing but this news should be highlighted as "collation" or something action.
One can always expect a recoil from from these kind of (anti-piracy) actions.
In the last few days, Brits and Danish warships also apprehended pirats and Danish warship destroyed pirate boat after capturing pirates. But only IN is getting this much attention.
Negative side of this can be that Indian ships or Indians might be singled out during hijacking attempts. IN should continue with wonderful job they are doing but this news should be highlighted as "collation" or something action.
One can always expect a recoil from from these kind of (anti-piracy) actions.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Danish warship rescues suspected pirates off SomaliDanish warship destroyed pirate boat after capturing pirates
COPENHAGEN, Dec 4 (Reuters) - A Danish warship rescued a group of suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday after receivnig a distress signal from the ship, which was floundering in heavy seas, the Danish Navy said.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
This Ethiopian paper has a photo of the MV Gibe
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Gerard, i was talking about this news. It has complete video footage of capture as well as destruction of pirate boat.Gerard wrote: Danish warship rescues suspected pirates off Somali
COPENHAGEN, Dec 4 (Reuters) - A Danish warship rescued a group of suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday after receivnig a distress signal from the ship, which was floundering in heavy seas, the Danish Navy said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7768204.stm
Danish special forces on board a navy warship have destroyed a small boat full of suspected Somali pirates.
Denmark's TV2 channel said that special forces officers captured the alleged pirates, before sinking the vessel.
Seven pirates were taken into custody and are being sailed to Yemen, according to TV2.
The officers were on board the Danish warship HDMS Absalon, which is part of a NATO task force set up to combat the increasing problem of piracy in the Gulf of Aden.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
It is the same event. The pirates called for help and the Danes rescued them.
Foreign warships will chase off pirates attacking a vessel but have been reluctant to pursue them as Tabar and Mysore have done.
Foreign warships will chase off pirates attacking a vessel but have been reluctant to pursue them as Tabar and Mysore have done.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Gerard wrote:These fellows stopped when ordered to do so by the Mysore. The last bunch didn't, and proceeded to fire on the Tabar. Different outcome.
Summary execution on the high seas is not legal.
These fellows stopped .....
They seem to have learned very quickly!!
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Randomn googling reveals:
http://www.thehindujobs.com/thehindu/20 ... 841200.htm
http://www.thehindujobs.com/thehindu/20 ... 841200.htm
http://www.forceindia.net/interview1.aspNine Sri Lankan Tamils were picked up by the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard in January 1993 after their vessel, mv Aahat, was sunk in the Bay of Bengal off Chennai.
http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpap ... r1379.htmlThen we were successful in intercepting MV Aahat, a LTTE ship which was transporting arms and ammunition leading to sinking of the vessel in the ensuing action off Chennai in January 1993. Thereafter in October 1999, the Indian Navy made history, wherein we became the first Navy in the world to physically intercept a pirated ship, MV Alondra Rainbow and restored her to her rightful owners.
- Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Jagjit Singh Bedi PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC
<History updates>Though, the vessel was sighted in Indian waters off Kochi, the chase by an Indian Coast Guard Vessel, CGS Tarabai, had forced the pirates to shape a course towards the Pakistan waters. The pirates were defiant and refused to stop on being ordered. The ship was fired at by the Coast Guard Dornier aircraft as well as by the Coast Guard Ship Tarabai. The pirated vessel could only be stopped after an Indian Naval Ship INS Prahar joined the hunt and provided the additional fire power required to effectively stopping Mega Rama. The firing of shells did damage the Ship and commenced a fire in the engine room. The ship was boarded and the Pirates taken in to custody. However, the offenders had managed to destroy their passports and various other legal documents. The Naval and Coast Guard team also prevented the ship from sinking subsequent to the scuttling efforts. The Ship was made tow worthy and towed by another Coast Guard Ship to Mumbai and the case lodged with the concerned Police Station at Yellow Gate Mumbai
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
No takers for seized pirates
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/15/stor ... 071400.htm
NEW DELHI: The Navy is saddled with two-dozen pirates it captured in the Gulf of Aden on Saturday with no country willing to take them into custody till reports last came in.
India has now approached Yemen asking whether it would like to prosecute the pirates in line with its commitment on anti-piracy operations in the area.
Besides, according to the Navy, 11 of the pirates are from Yemen. The remaining 12, arrested by the Navy while responding to a distress call from a merchant vessel, are Somalis.
But with the State virtually non-existent and the political crises having deepened with the President of Somalia firing his government, there are no official takers in Somalia.
The subject was the focus of discussions at a roundtable on anti-piracy operations in Manama on Saturday to which India was invited.
The consensus that emerged was that there was no enabling provision in the international law to deal with a situation where pirates are arrested in the international waters.
During operations earlier, INS Tabar had once fended off two piracy bids. In either case, there were no arrests.
Now, its successor INS Mysore has to carry the pirates on board till a country accepts them for prosecution.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Indian Navy praised in West Asian region for tackling pirates
Dubai, Dec 14: The report of Indian Navy men boarding a pirate boat and taking 23 pirates into custody has been splashed in almost all the dailies in the West Asian region and also figured in global television coverage, giving a commendable make over for the Indian image.
The National daily in Abu Dhabi carried the report with photo while the Khaleej Times and the Gulf News also gave prominent coverage to the incident.
Indian diplomacy has not succeeded enough to project India's military and technological prowess despite the feats like Chandrayaan which did not get the publicity it deserved in the region, analysts said.
The first incident where the Indian Navy sunk a pirate mother ship had got equally good publicity and much encomium in the media here which only grudgingly gives positive coverage to India.
In fact the countries in the West Asia with the exception of Iran and Israel have no naval teeth to talk about. Many depend on the US Fifth Fleet for naval security.
About 11 per cent of the world’s seaborne petroleum passes through the Gulf of Aden en route to the Suez Canal or regional refineries.
More than 16,000 merchant ships also pass through the Gulf of Aden.
But now many ship owners are considering the longer route via Cape of Good Hope because of the pirate threat.
Some newspapers wrote editorials praising India for its naval clout and stepping in, when even the European countries who had higher stakes were dilly dallying.
The Indian Navy destroyer INS Mysore yesterday arrested 23 pirates who attempted to hijack an Ethiopian vessel some 160 nautical miles off the Yemeni port of Aden. Somali pirates have become increasingly bold and recently seized a Saudi supertanker loaded with 100m dollar of crude oil.
Dubai, Dec 14: The report of Indian Navy men boarding a pirate boat and taking 23 pirates into custody has been splashed in almost all the dailies in the West Asian region and also figured in global television coverage, giving a commendable make over for the Indian image.
The National daily in Abu Dhabi carried the report with photo while the Khaleej Times and the Gulf News also gave prominent coverage to the incident.
Indian diplomacy has not succeeded enough to project India's military and technological prowess despite the feats like Chandrayaan which did not get the publicity it deserved in the region, analysts said.
The first incident where the Indian Navy sunk a pirate mother ship had got equally good publicity and much encomium in the media here which only grudgingly gives positive coverage to India.
In fact the countries in the West Asia with the exception of Iran and Israel have no naval teeth to talk about. Many depend on the US Fifth Fleet for naval security.
About 11 per cent of the world’s seaborne petroleum passes through the Gulf of Aden en route to the Suez Canal or regional refineries.
More than 16,000 merchant ships also pass through the Gulf of Aden.
But now many ship owners are considering the longer route via Cape of Good Hope because of the pirate threat.
Some newspapers wrote editorials praising India for its naval clout and stepping in, when even the European countries who had higher stakes were dilly dallying.
The Indian Navy destroyer INS Mysore yesterday arrested 23 pirates who attempted to hijack an Ethiopian vessel some 160 nautical miles off the Yemeni port of Aden. Somali pirates have become increasingly bold and recently seized a Saudi supertanker loaded with 100m dollar of crude oil.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Washington Post - finally the wrath of the civilized world can be brought to bear...
U.N. Authorizes Land, Air Attacks on Somali Pirates
International Effort to Secure Sea Route May Stumble Amid Political Disarray in East African Nation
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 16 -- The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize nations to conduct military raids, on land and by air, against pirates plying the waters off the Somalia coast even as two more ships were reportedly hijacked at sea.
The vote represented a major escalation by the world's big powers in the fight against the pirates, who have disrupted commerce along one of the world's most active sea routes and acquired tens of millions of dollars in ransom. It came as China -- which has had several ships commandeered in recent months -- said it is seriously considering joining U.S., European and Russian warships policing the region.
The U.S.-drafted resolution authorizes nations to "use all necessary measures that are appropriate in Somalia" in pursuit of pirates, as long as they are approved by the country's transitional federal government. The resolution also urges states to deploy naval vessels and military aircraft to carry out the operations, and it calls for the creation of a regional office to coordinate the international effort.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who personally pushed for the resolution's passage, said the vote sends "a strong signal of commitment to combat the scourge of piracy. Piracy currently pays. But worse, pirates pay few costs for their criminality; their dens in Somalia provide refuge from the naval ships in the Gulf of Aden."
ad_icon
Rice said the United States would help establish a contact group of governments to share intelligence and to coordinate naval and military operations in the region.
She also called on the shipping industry to strengthen the defenses of commercial vessels and urged countries victimized by piracy to detain captured pirates and prosecute them in their own courts. An unwillingness to apprehend and prosecute pirates captured on the high seas has hindered the global response to the threat, Rice said.
More than 60 ships have been seized by pirates this year, including two on Tuesday -- a Turkish cargo ship and an Indonesian tugboat under contract with the French oil firm Total.
Rice's diplomatic achievement in the council was tempered by the unraveling political and security situation in Somalia, which could jeopardize the international effort. Somalia's government has been hobbled by a power struggle between its president and prime minister.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned that Somalia may descend into "chaos" by the end of the month, when an Ethiopian occupation force leaves the country. He said his efforts to muster an international force strong enough to stabilize the situation have been unsuccessful.
Ban rejected Rice's proposal for a U.N. peacekeeping mission in Somalia, suggesting that conditions there were not secure enough. Instead, he asked the Security Council to increase funding for a financially strapped African Union force that has struggled to secure strategic sea and air ports.
Rice countered that it would be better to place the Africans under a U.N. flag, which would require the world body's 192 members to fund the operation. She urged the council to authorize a peacekeeping mission by the end of the year but said the United States was not yet prepared to present such a resolution to the council. "While the conditions may not be auspicious for peacekeeping, they will be less auspicious if chaos reigns in Somalia," she said. She voiced concern that Islamist extremists could take advantage of a breakdown in security to stage a return to power for the second time in three years.
Aid groups, meanwhile, said the approval of military raids could worsen the situation on the ground. "Expanding anti-piracy operations inside Somalia risks further complicating the conflict and could exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis," said Nicole Widdersheim, who heads Oxfam International's New York office. She urged nations to focus on reducing violence within the country, rather than "the threat to commercial interests from piracy off the Somali coast."
The commander of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet warned last week that ground attacks on suspected Somali pirates would put the lives of innocent civilians at risk. Rice told reporters Tuesday, "What we do or do not do in cases of hot pursuit we'll have to see, and you'll have to take it case by case."
The Security Council meeting, which was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, marked the end of a two-day effort by Rice to showcase progress on a series of international crises, including the Middle East conflict and Iran's nuclear ambitions. Early Tuesday, the council adopted a rare Middle East security resolution, which highlighted international efforts to end the conflict.
U.N. Authorizes Land, Air Attacks on Somali Pirates
International Effort to Secure Sea Route May Stumble Amid Political Disarray in East African Nation
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 16 -- The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize nations to conduct military raids, on land and by air, against pirates plying the waters off the Somalia coast even as two more ships were reportedly hijacked at sea.
The vote represented a major escalation by the world's big powers in the fight against the pirates, who have disrupted commerce along one of the world's most active sea routes and acquired tens of millions of dollars in ransom. It came as China -- which has had several ships commandeered in recent months -- said it is seriously considering joining U.S., European and Russian warships policing the region.
The U.S.-drafted resolution authorizes nations to "use all necessary measures that are appropriate in Somalia" in pursuit of pirates, as long as they are approved by the country's transitional federal government. The resolution also urges states to deploy naval vessels and military aircraft to carry out the operations, and it calls for the creation of a regional office to coordinate the international effort.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who personally pushed for the resolution's passage, said the vote sends "a strong signal of commitment to combat the scourge of piracy. Piracy currently pays. But worse, pirates pay few costs for their criminality; their dens in Somalia provide refuge from the naval ships in the Gulf of Aden."
ad_icon
Rice said the United States would help establish a contact group of governments to share intelligence and to coordinate naval and military operations in the region.
She also called on the shipping industry to strengthen the defenses of commercial vessels and urged countries victimized by piracy to detain captured pirates and prosecute them in their own courts. An unwillingness to apprehend and prosecute pirates captured on the high seas has hindered the global response to the threat, Rice said.
More than 60 ships have been seized by pirates this year, including two on Tuesday -- a Turkish cargo ship and an Indonesian tugboat under contract with the French oil firm Total.
Rice's diplomatic achievement in the council was tempered by the unraveling political and security situation in Somalia, which could jeopardize the international effort. Somalia's government has been hobbled by a power struggle between its president and prime minister.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned that Somalia may descend into "chaos" by the end of the month, when an Ethiopian occupation force leaves the country. He said his efforts to muster an international force strong enough to stabilize the situation have been unsuccessful.
Ban rejected Rice's proposal for a U.N. peacekeeping mission in Somalia, suggesting that conditions there were not secure enough. Instead, he asked the Security Council to increase funding for a financially strapped African Union force that has struggled to secure strategic sea and air ports.
Rice countered that it would be better to place the Africans under a U.N. flag, which would require the world body's 192 members to fund the operation. She urged the council to authorize a peacekeeping mission by the end of the year but said the United States was not yet prepared to present such a resolution to the council. "While the conditions may not be auspicious for peacekeeping, they will be less auspicious if chaos reigns in Somalia," she said. She voiced concern that Islamist extremists could take advantage of a breakdown in security to stage a return to power for the second time in three years.
Aid groups, meanwhile, said the approval of military raids could worsen the situation on the ground. "Expanding anti-piracy operations inside Somalia risks further complicating the conflict and could exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis," said Nicole Widdersheim, who heads Oxfam International's New York office. She urged nations to focus on reducing violence within the country, rather than "the threat to commercial interests from piracy off the Somali coast."
The commander of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet warned last week that ground attacks on suspected Somali pirates would put the lives of innocent civilians at risk. Rice told reporters Tuesday, "What we do or do not do in cases of hot pursuit we'll have to see, and you'll have to take it case by case."
The Security Council meeting, which was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, marked the end of a two-day effort by Rice to showcase progress on a series of international crises, including the Middle East conflict and Iran's nuclear ambitions. Early Tuesday, the council adopted a rare Middle East security resolution, which highlighted international efforts to end the conflict.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indi ... latestnews
Indian navy hands over caught pirates to Yemen
17 Dec 2008, 2100 hrs IST, AP
SAN'A (YEMEN): A Yemeni security official says the Indian navy on Wednesday handed over 12 Somali and 11 Yemeni pirates it caught at sea to Yemen
authorities.
The official says the handover took place in the southern Yemen port of Aden.
He says the pirates will be interrogated and will later face charges in court.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to media pending a government statement.
The 23 pirates were arrested by an Indian navy ship in the Gulf of Aden on December 13 after they threatened a merchant vessel in the lawless waters.
The Indian sailors boarded two pirate boats and also seized arms and equipment at the time.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
Didnt find any mention of pakis in above article? is it paki chutzpah or paki-like chutzpah?
The tomato hurling incident mentioned in the article would have very been funny if it was not highlighting the desperate life-or-death situation of the crew.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
But it still doesn't mandates a UN task force to tackle this problem with clear objectives.Singha wrote:Washington Post - finally the wrath of the civilized world can be brought to bear...
U.N. Authorizes Land, Air Attacks on Somali Pirates
International Effort to Secure Sea Route May Stumble Amid Political Disarray in East African Nation
This will only cause more problems, with countries attacking randomly (with no coordination) and in their own vested interests.
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops (More on Chinese Ship)
UK's "Shipping Times" just reported that the Chinese crew locked themselves in the accommodation block and waited 5 hours for help to arrive while pirates tried to bust in.
5 hours?! Can that be accurate?
Yeesh.
Tom
5 hours?! Can that be accurate?
Yeesh.
Tom
Re: Indian Navy anti-piracy ops.
I am sure the Chinese, just like the Russians are very resilient people, this resilience can be verily explained by the hardships they underwent under the communist regimes, the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution were very hard times for the ordinary Chinese Citizens....Tom Wyld wrote:UK's "Shipping Times" just reported that the Chinese crew locked themselves in the accommodation block and waited 5 hours for help to arrive while pirates tried to bust in.
5 hours?! Can that be accurate?
Yeesh.
Tom
In 2005 I believe a shipping container was found with a lot of illegal Chinese citizens in it, they survived for 2 weeks in it..surviving off some packed food eaten sparingly....just to show what the Chinese are capable of....
Link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/do ... 410007.htm
Last edited by Yogi_G on 23 Dec 2008 04:59, edited 1 time in total.