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UN Allows Land and Air Strikes to Hunt Somalian Pirates

by Sanjay Jha | December 16, 2008 at 11:36 pm

152 views | 17 Recommendations | 2 comments

As the news of Somalian pirates hijacking two ships came today, the UN Security Council authorized member countries to conduct land and air attacks on pirate bases on the coast of the Horn of Africa country.

Pirates have today reportedly captured an Indonesian-flagged puller ship and a Turkey-flagged cargo rent by a France-based oil company Total in Yemen Sea.

The UN decision came in the wake of huge increase in the number of hijack ships by Somalian pirates who are evading an international naval flotilla to intercept huge tankers, freighters and other ships to hold for ransom.

In recent times, Somalian Pirates have hijacked more than 40 vessels off Somalia's 3,000-kilometre. Indian warship have captured 25 pirates but is struggling to deal with them as no country wants to take control of them.

The Council's move came as the US for the first time supported deployment of the UN peacekeepers in the war torn country which does not have working government for last 17 years. Most of the southern part is controlled by Islamists and the government recognised by the United Nations hardly holds sway over any territory and is weak and divided.

The spurt in the pirates who have earned millions of dollars in ransom by hijacking ships in major sea lanes have created panic and several countries have sent naval ships but without much effect.

The Council decided to give wide powers to the countries whose Navies are operating in areas as diplomats said they were handicapped as they could not pursue pirates on land in Somalia. But by some accounts, the pirates are leading luxurious lives in Somalia on the money obtained from ransoms.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who attended the Council's meeting yesterday, said Washington would set up a contact group to coordinate and enhance anti-piracy efforts and called for setting up a United Nations peacekeeping force by the end of the year.

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azzayindia

at 09:14 on December 18th, 2008

i wonder if these somalian pirates are trained by terrorists

banker (not verified)

at 17:20 on April 19th, 2009

At the end of the day everybody got to eat. And is not like these pirates are going into international waters and hi-jacking these vessels, there doing it within there coast. Just think about it in a way, where these ships are getting taxed for crossing through there water.

Just because they don't have a goverment, it doesn't give right for other countries to take advantage of their water and resources. These big Corporations deserves what they get , which is there ship gets confiscated until they pay the fine.