Piracy hits Puntland economy, brings vices-leader

[Thankful]

Piracy hits Puntland economy, brings vices-leader

9 Apr 9, 2010 - 11:29:50 AM

 

 

 

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Piracy off the coast of Somalia has damaged livestock exports and the fishing industry in semi-autonomous Puntland, bringing vices like alcohol and prostitution, the region's president said.

 

A cash bonanza from millions of dollars in ransoms has filled pirate coffers and led to an influx of gleaming cars, new villas and luxury goods into Puntland, which declared itself independent in the early 1990s when the Horn of Africa nation was plunged into anarchy and civil war.

 

Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole told Reuters that piracy had emerged as an industry for a wide range of people, including brokers and facilitators, disrupting the region's traditional economy.

 

"They have disrupted our economy, which traditionally is based on livestock export and fisheries. No one is fishing on the waters now," he said in the interview conducted late on Thursday. "They have spoiled the cultural and religious values, and introduced drugs, alcohol and prostitution."

 

Somalia's economy is based almost entirely on remittances, livestock exports to Gulf Arab countries and donor inflows. But the threat of hijackings in the dangerous waters of the Gulf of Aden has deterred livestock traders from crossing the waterway, hitting trade volumes.

 

Farole rejected accusations by the United Nations that pirates may be collaborating with officials in Puntland and criticised the lack of aid from foreign powers to help the region fight piracy.

 

He said said his government's $20 million plan to train a 600-strong anti-piracy force and put dozens of speedboats on 80 coastguard stations had failed to attract donor attention.

 

"We brought this plan to many organisations including governments and the (United Nations). Everybody appreciated it but up to now we have not got any assistance," Farole said.

 

The northern region has been relatively peaceful compared with southern Somalia. But Farole, who was in Kenya to meet with donors, said prisons were stretched to their limits with 264 arrested pirates and Puntland needed assistance to increase its jail capacity.

 

Australia's Range Resources and partner Africa Oil Corp are exploring for crude oil in Puntland and Farole said there was a "good prospect" that their efforts would yield results.

 

Somalia has no proven oil reserves but a joint World Bank/U.N. survey of northeast Africa 16 years ago ranked it second only to Sudan as the top prospective producer. Geologically-similar formations in Yemen, across the Gulf of Aden, hold nearly 4 billion barrels.

 

Reuters

[Thankful]

CNN

 

 

NAIROBI, Kenya (CNN) -- Somalis are so desperate to survive that attacks on merchant shipping in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean will not stop, a pirate leader promises.

 

 

A French warship keeps guard over commerical vessels in the Gulf of Aden last week.

 

"The pirates are living between life and death," said the pirate leader, identified by only one name, Boyah. "Who can stop them? Americans and British all put together cannot do anything."

 

The interview with the pirate was conducted in late August by journalists employed by the Somali news organization Garowe Online. The complete interview was provided to CNN last week and provides a glimpse of why piracy has been so hard to control in the region.

 

Recorded on grainy video, the interview took place in the Somali port city of Eyl, now a center of pirate operations. Eyl is on the east coast of Somalia in the autonomous territory of Puntland. It is a largely lawless zone, considered extremely dangerous for Westerners to enter.

 

The Puntland government said two unidentified Western journalists were taken hostage Wednesday as they attempted to report on pirate activity.

 

Boyah said that the piracy began because traditional coastal fishing became difficult after foreign fishing trawlers depleted local fish stocks. Traditional fishermen started attacking the trawlers until the trawler crews fought back with heavy weapons. The fishermen then turned to softer targets. Watch why fishermen turned to piracy »

 

"We went into the deep ocean and hijacked the unarmed cargo ships," Boyah said.

 

"For the past three years, we have not operated near the Somali coast. We have operated at least 80 miles [out], in international waters."

 

Over the past year, the number of pirate attacks has increased dramatically. The International Maritime Bureau cites more than 90 pirate attacks off East Africa so far in 2008. When attacks are successful, the hijacked ships are taken to Somali waters, where the ships and crew are held until a ransom is paid. See how pirate attacks have increased »

 

Ships recently captured include a massive Saudi supertanker laden with crude oil valued at more than $100 million and a freighter carrying Russian-built tanks.

 

The hijackings have been profitable. Kenya's foreign minister, Moses Wetangula, estimates the pirates have been paid more than $150 million during the past year. One pirate gang wants $2 million dollars to release a Yemeni freighter and crew seized last week.

 

Facing increasing disruptions through one of the busiest sea lanes in the world, several countries have sent warships to patrol the area. There have been reports of skirmishes between pirates and naval forces, but the military presence does not concern pirate leader Boyah. He boasts the pirates literally sail in a vast ocean beneath the radar of the warships. Watch how piracy thrives off Somalia »

 

"No ship has the capability to see everything," he said. "A ship can see 80 miles or so [on radar]. It cannot see us at all. No one can do anything about it."

 

Boyah said it is unlikely the Puntland regional government would ever crack down on piracy because government officials are involved in financing the piracy and collect a cut of the ransoms.

 

"They motivate us. It's their money and their weapons," Boyah said. "Thirty percent belongs to them."

 

The Puntland foreign minister, Ali Abdi Aware, denied government involvement with the pirates, including taking bribes. The minister cited the arrest of six pirates earlier this year as evidence it is acting to stop piracy.

 

Pirate Boyah said he is unimpressed with the arrests by Puntland authorities.

 

 

"The pirates are at sea and Puntland does not approach them. The pirates are on land and Puntland does not approach them," Boyah said. "They arrest some small people and tell the world that they captured pirates, but they are liars."

 

While Boyah may have been outspoken about the government's ineffectiveness, he did not allow interviewers to show his face, an indication that even in this lawless country, pirates still have some fear.

[Thankful]

Before Faroole's admin came to power, according to this CNN (which was written a month before the elections) the biggest pirate leader "Boyah" was too scared to conduct interviews without concealing his identity; Except with Garoweonline run by the presidents son!

 

However since Faroole came to power Boyah has done many interviews and walks around freely. If Faroole wants international assistance, he needs to start arresting these kinds men and severe their close relationship with one another. Until he is arrested, he will not be taken serious.

[xiinfaniin]

updated 1:48 a.m. EST, Thu December 4, 2008

 

Thankful, Any particular reason why post last year’s news? Any chance, that you oppose Farole on other issues internal to Puntland state?

[xiinfaniin]

Originally posted by Thankful:

However since Faroole came to power Boyah has done many interviews and walks around freely. If Faroole wants international assistance, he needs to start arresting these kinds men and severe their close relationship with one another. Until he is arrested, he will not be taken serious.

What about if Boyah is no longer a pirate, and the Puntland State deems his expertise on the matter useful to its fight against piracy problems?

[Thankful]

I am responding with my own personal opinion on why Faroole hasn't received any international aid, which he seems to not understand according to the reuters report released today!

 

My reasoning is that the biggest pirate leader was scared to show his face before Faroole came to power, and now he is not, as he conducts interviews freely! Just like the Security Council report said....he should arrest Boyah!

[Thankful]

xiinfaniin, the man is a criminal, it doesnt matter if he committed the crimes 50 years ago. He should be arrested. He has admitted to taking dozens of ships!

 

Don't you find it weird that the Faroole's son's website Garoweonline was able to conduct an interview with him in Eyl back in December 2008 in which Boyah insisted on covering his face.

Yet after the elections in which Faroole is named president, his son is able to arrange a personal interview with Boyah and a foreign reporter but this time inside Garowe where Boyah doesnt feel the need to cover his face anymore?

 

In a few months he went from being too scared to show his face and after the elections he completely changed and hand no problem with foreign reporters photographing and recording him on video!

[xiinfaniin]

Thankful, you are missing the point awoowe. Boyah should not be the focus of Puntland State or that of international community. Piracy should be. In that strategy formulation, piracy crime should be fought with whatever weapon and method permissible and available to the admin. Recruiting from the piracy members and reforming them is not a new method to fight established criminal enterprise. If Boyah is helping the state fight piracy, it should be seen as a progress. What would the objection be? Retribution?

 

The Security Council report you're quick to cite is riddled with data with coffee-shop-talk quality, and I am sure the organization under whose name such nonsense was compiled is feeling embarrassed.

[Burn Notice]

where is the accountability???

 

you can commit a crime today....say "sorry, i won't do it again" tomorrow and you will be absolved

 

no crime should go unpunished