Majority of the hijacked ships are being berthed at the port of Eyl and would be released upon receipt of ransoms.Whoever is controlling this group of pirates will gain a upperhand in the civil war between warlords in Somali, that is without a government for last seventeen years. Imagine having thirty three tanks in your hands. I think it's also a problem as you need more than thirty three experienced personnels to operate those tanks.
The sea pirates in realising this personnel shortage is now asking for US$35 million in return for the MV Faina ship. This demand has gotten up the nerves of the superpowers. Just this year alone, ransoms paid by ship owners or countries with interests in those shipments have reached approximately US$100 million. Not bad at all.
To ensure safety for the moment. USA has deployed one of their destroyers, USS Howard (DDG 83), to monitor the situation. Even Russia has commandered a warship to the region to assist. France has two of its navy ships serving in the same region protecting their interests.
Of course not forgetting my very own country's Royal Malaysian Navy that is being represented by our naval ships, KD Lekiu dan KD Sri Inderapura. They were there to escort two Malaysian-owned ships, MT Bunga Melati Dua and MT Bunga Melati Lima, safely to their final desitnation in Djibouti. Both these ships have been released by the Somali sea pirates after a reported sum of US$4.0 million has been paid to the Somali law breakers.
Is the Malaysian government condoning this hijack? Whose money was used? Whom did they pay to? This info will help the investigation in tracing the sea pirates by the international bodies.
Tags: Somali, Eyl, T-72 Tank, MV Faina, USS Howard, Royal Malaysian Navy, KD Lekiu, KD Sri Inderapura. MT Bunga Melati Dua, MT Bunga Melati Lima
5 comments:
The pirates are really testing the superpowers as you said. I think their days are numbered as the Somali government had given them the greenlight to combat them
Hmmm... it would be interesting to learn how the RM 4.0M will be recorded in MISC books? PR expenses - "Somali Pirates - Ransom 2008"?
and, and, if they are tax-deductible??? :D
Anyway, I am glad that the crews returned safely!
acura - they have not seen the real firepower that these warships posses
lupic - its us$4.0m not rm4.0m. maybe under staff welfare?
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Being Muslims, they must be peaceful pirates at least. These Somali Buccaneer monkeys are out of control. They go out for weeks in little rickety boats with just weapons and water and eat raw fish they catch and keep hijacking bigger then bigger, then bigger boats.
These terrorist monkeys must be exterminated with extreme prejudice. Sending several drones into their camps when they're fat and happy celebrating their new money should do the trick.
Lots of great Pirate coverage over at Dinah Lord:
Somalian Gov't Charges Pirate Negotiator Andrew Mwangura
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absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
don't exterminate pirates
seizing ships for ransom
everybody gets rich
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absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
let pirates operate
you will get cut of ransom
and maybe some weapons too
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All real freedom starts with freedom of speech. Without freedom of speech there can be no real freedom.
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Philosophy of Liberty Cartoon
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Help Halt Terrorism Today!
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USpace
:)
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uspace - their boldness grew as they have been successful in getting those ransoms all this while
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