More Piracy Near Somalia

[Entropy]

What goes on inside Somalia may well make Torquemada blush for all I know; but the negligible reports of instances where torture employed by the pirates is notable. A few articles I’ve seen the pirates take offense to notion that they torture, or are terrorists – strictly business for these guys.

That is true - there was a a recent series of NPR about a pirate negotiator. See this and this. It's worth it to listen to the stories, especially the first one.

[Uboat509]

Based on what I have read and heard, this habbit of being nice to their hostages until the ransom is paid is largely a Somali phenomenon. Reports from other areas of heavy pirate activity, seem to indicate that pirates in these areas are far less kind to prisoners. I supose this could be at least partialy due to the fact that the organizations running vessals through those waters are less willing/able to pay ransoms for crews. In that case the crew would be, at best, witnesses and at worst and active impediment to the pirate operations.

SFC W

[bourbon]

Also if the pirate’s motivation is kidnap & ransom or plunder based. I have not read of any instances where the Somali pirates specifically attack to steal the cargo or ship; whereas the plunder motive is the case in other regions. There were cases of ships being hijacked in the Strait of Malacca where the pirates would plunder the load of industrial metals, repaint/rename the ship, and execute the crew.

[davidbfpo]

An update by the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8122858.stm
Plus a wider review and graphics.

davidbfpo

[Rex Brynen]

From the US Institute of Peace:

Counting the Costs of Somali Piracy

By Raymond Gilpin

The upsurge in attacks by Somali pirates between 2005 and mid-2009 reflects decades of political unrest, maritime lawlessness and severe economic decline. Piracy has dire implications for economic development and political stability in Somalia, with economic prospects constrained, business confidence compromised and human security worsening. It could also have a destabilizing effect on global trade and security unless immediate steps are taken to craft a coordinated strategy to address the complex factors that trigger and sustain crime and impunity on the high seas. However, poorly designed and implemented strategies could inadvertently strengthen the hand of extremists in and around Somalia. The Somali authorities and their international partners should plan for a sustained application of "smart power" by all stakeholders. This paper offers practical strategies to mitigate the rising costs of Somali piracy and lay the foundation for lasting peace.

[Jedburgh]

CNA, 16 Jul 09: China’s Participation in Anti-Piracy Operations off the Horn of Africa: Drivers and Implications

....On March 20, 2009, CNA China Studies hosted a half-day conference to discuss China’s anti-piracy activities. Bringing together U.S. officials, analysts, and active-duty military personnel, the conference examined the reasons that piracy has become a problem in the Gulf of Aden/HoA region; the drivers for China’s unprecedented naval participation in international anti-piracy efforts; the implications that this participation has for China’s navy; and the potential implications that it has for the United States.

This report first outlines four major themes discussed throughout the conference. It then turns to a more detailed discussion of each of the conference’s three panels.....

[Stan]

This may have little to do with the current string of piracy, or does it?

Eight people have been arrested for hijacking the cargo ship Arctic Sea, Russia's defence minister says.

... the group of suspects included Russian, Estonian and Latvian nationals.

The crew reported having been boarded by up to 10 armed men as the ship sailed through the Baltic Sea, but the intruders were reported to have left the vessel on an inflatable boat after 12 hours.