Pirate Death Penalty implemented ?

[Amistad]

just wondering if anyone here can confirm this (?) or is this just some blustering bravado from Puntland security officials?

 

 

Somalia: The Staging Ground for Piracy

30 Mar 30, 2010 - 10:45:00 AM

 

Jim Sciutto: From the Front Lines

News, commentary, views from the ground and adventure from around the world with ABC News Senior Foreign Correspondent Jim Sciutto

“Our coast guard has one boat”

 

The trip into Somalia gives an early taste of life on the ground here: nothing follows a schedule or a plan, only dumb luck. The airline we booked went out of business the week before our trip, so we had to hitch a ride in with a humanitarian team from Kuwait. It was, without exaggeration, the oldest plane I’ve ever flown on – an ancient turboprop piloted by a team of Ukrainians in matching sleeveless red t-shirts. We were the only plane at the airport as we arrived. But as soon as we landed, we got the royal treatment, greeted by a long convoy of gleaming SUV’s, ready to carry us and the members of Puntland’s Special Police Unit who would serve as our guards on the trip.

 

Bossaso is Puntland’s largest port, and the staging ground for Puntland’s fight against piracy. But the coast guard consists of just one working patrol boat – a 15-foot skiff which had been confiscated from pirates. The other patrol boats were tied up in various states of disrepair. The commander explained that he and his forces borrowed fishing boats when they needed them – and proudly showed off their trophies: a pile of captured pirate skiffs, a handful of Russian and Chinese RPG’s, and the long, rickety metal ladders the pirates use to board the giant cargo ships they attack. We tried to raise the ladders ourselves – on land – and couldn’t imagine how they’d do the same in a skiff on the rolling seas. Firing the RPG’s from the skiffs would be an even bigger challenge. Our security guard – a former member of the British special forces – said his unit had tried the same in training and always failed.

 

It becomes clear very early here that Somalia is fighting a losing battle against piracy, despite the international force of 29 ships now patrolling the shipping lanes of the Gulf of Aden just to the north. Attacks were up sharply in 2009. The head of port security told us the number of Somalis involved in piracy was 1000 and rising. To date, they had 280 in prison, all of them sentenced to death by firing squad. But it remains an irresistible profession for many here. The going rate for a successful hijacking: $50,000 per pirate, with the rest of the ransom – which can reach as high as $7 million – going to the criminal gangs which oversee the business. Somali officials are suspected of involvement. The security chief told us a local police commander was recently arrested for involvement.

 

Other jobs are painfully scarce in Somalia, with the exception of one: terrorism. Al Shabaab, the home-grown Islamist terror group now affiliated with Al Qaeda, is also a strong and growing presence here. Somalia has become a magnet for jihadis from around the world, including the US. We will meet some of the members of Al Shabaab (more on that in the coming days). But for now, consider this fact: the pirates and the terrorists are linked, with Al Shabaab charging the pirates a ‘tax ‘of $100,000 on each hijacking. It is an enormous source of funding – and another reason US officials consider Somalia, along with Yemen, a rising terror threat.

 

SOURCE: ABC NEWS

[Gheelle.T]

the pirates and the terrorists are linked, with Al Shabaab charging the pirates a ‘tax ‘of $100,000 on each hijacking.

How so? This kind of lame reporting just kills the reliability of these journalists.

[Cowke]

Not 1 single pirate has been sentenced to death. I am fairly certain of that. Infact they maximum penalty they get in puntland is 5 years. Their have been reports of somaliland officials sentencing 15 years to pirates.

 

But have not heard of firing squad, I think that is exagerration. As for al-shabab their is rumors from various sources that say they have vested interest in the piracy and use the funds to attack the tfg however no solid link has been made yet and is all speculation at best!!!

[Amistad]

Usually ABC Reporters most generally can be viewed ABC news is generally viewed as reliable news sources and reporting.... thats why I was thinking it may just have been some bravado statements of Puntland Security Officials. The "firing squad" statement did seem extremely strange.

 

I visited pirates at the prison up in the mountains of Somaliland, and they had all received 10 years.

 

What happened to the private counter-piracy force in Puntland, SOMCAN ? I read somewhere they where back and hard at it?

 

I also caught this news this a.m.

 

http://puntlanddiaspora.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83

 

Somalia: Puntland and the TFG sign a historic agreement.

10 April 2010

 

Somalia: Puntland and the TFG sign a historic agreement.

By Hussein Farah

 

On Saturday, the leader of the semi autonomous administration of Puntland State has signed a collaboration agreement with the Transitional Federal government of Somalia.

 

After days of talks in Galkaio, the Prime Minister of Somalia, Dr.Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, told Horseed Media that they have reached important agreement with the Puntland administration.

 

The agreement consisted of the following points:

 

1- The TFG and Puntland will collaborate in safeguarding the unity and the statehood of Somalia. The TFG recognizes Puntland as a stable and self governing part of Somalia, it also considers it as a model for the Federal system in Somalia.

 

2- The TFG would work on finalizing the Federal constitution, and will establish a constitution commission, Puntland will support the TFG with the consitution.

 

3- In order to accomplish, the Federal constitution and the creation of Federal states in Somalia, The commission will be based in Garowe, the capital of Puntland. In retrun Puntland will support the commission in fulfilling their tasks.

 

4- In accordance with the Federal Charter, The Federal government will form more autonomous states in Somalia, and the TFG will also encourage the only existing State in Somalia, which is Puntland

 

5- Puntland is allowed to participate as an administration, in all meetings regarding the State’s interests.

 

6- The TFG together with Puntland, will lobby for the return of Italian development projects of FIA and re-energizing the development projects in the region, that were terminated after the collapse of the Somali government in 1991.

 

7- Both parties agreed on setting up military camps in Puntland.

 

8- Both parties agreed on establishing the command of anti piracy forces in Puntland

 

9- The TFG and Puntland will collabarte on fighting the piracy.

 

10- All education funds and Scholarships to Somalia, Puntland will receive it’s share of 25%.

 

11- The Education ministers of Puntland and the Federal government will work together on training the teachers and establishing a new curriculum.

 

12- The TFG and Puntland agreed on, calling for all International agency working in Somalia, to move their main offices in to stable regions in Somalia, such as Puntland.

 

13- Both parties will work together on protecting Historic sites in the country, safeguarding the cultural heritage and the religion.

 

14- Both parties agreed to support and Encourage the Somali Diaspora, to take part in rebuilding their country.

 

15- Both administration’s ministers will also work together

 

The agreement was signed by the Prime minister of Somalia Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke and Puntland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole.

 

Source: horseedmedia.net