‘Anti-piracy efforts scotched by human rights of sea pirates’
November 2nd, 2008 - 7:09 pm ICT by IANS ( 4 comments )London, Nov 2 (IANS) International efforts to end the scourge of sea piracy may be hampered because pirates could plead their human rights, according to a report Sunday.”In the old days, when the navy would catch a pirate, they would tie his hands and feet and throw him back in the sea,” said Captain Andres Breijo, the Spanish head of a new anti-piracy mission, in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph.
“Now they have human rights,” he added in comments made ahead of the arrival next month of the European Union’s first naval task force in the Gulf of Aden to combat mounting piracy.
Ten EU countries, including Britain, have pledged to fight piracy, which is fuelled by a demand for weapons in lawless Somalia.
Capt Beijo said Somalia is a “failed state”, and the West fears that if the pirates were handed over to Somali authorities they would be tortured or executed.
Instead, his task force will only be permitted to keep a protective watch over merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden, where heavily armed pirates have hijacked dozens of ships this year, including a Ukrainian vessel carrying battle tanks.
The newspaper said the Danish navy set free a crew of 10 pirates in September after deciding they would not be successfully prosecuted if brought back to Europe.
The Royal Navy unofficially admits that it is under similar instructions, the paper reported.
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- Without UN effort, piracy elimination difficult: India - Jun 27, 2011
- Indian marine commandos chase pirate ship away from Arabian Sea - Nov 30, 2010
- India tweaks navy's anti-piracy rules of engagement (Lead) - Mar 11, 2011
- 3 rescued sailors return home - Mar 16, 2011
- Somali pirates seize ship with 12 crew - Sep 25, 2010
- NATO task force frees Italian ship seized by pirates - Oct 12, 2011
- Indian Govt. mulling idea of having armed guards on merchant ships - Mar 15, 2011
- Two daring naval raids may change tactics to fight Somali pirates - Jan 24, 2011
- Before US posting, Nirupama Rao speaks on maritime policy - Jul 28, 2011
- Navy thwarts pirate attack on two cargo ships - Sep 26, 2011
- Navy warship on anti-piracy patrol intercepts foreign dhow (Lead) - Dec 04, 2010
- Efforts on for release of 53 Indian sailors: Krishna - Mar 11, 2011
- Cargo ships may have armed guards to fight pirates - Mar 15, 2011
- India probing Somali pirates' terror links - Jan 31, 2011
Tags: battle tanks, danish navy, gulf of aden, international efforts, merchant ships, royal navy, sea piracy, sea pirates, spanish head, sunday telegraph
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:53 pm
These pirates have human RIGHTS! How come Adolph Hitler didn’t have human rights. Queen Elizabeth the first must be rolling over in her grave. Where is your manhood? You are are a bunch of lily livered transvestites. You fit right in with the feely touchy political correct Americans. Maybe if you all get down on you knees and beg the pirates to be good little boys they will. FOOLS
November 20th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Human Rights my A**! These people are boarding, seizing and ransoming vessels against international law.
Everyone is so worried about doing the “Right Thing”, that they have forgot that there is only one way to fix this problem.
If you catch a Pirate in the act of “Stealing” a vessel at sea, you hang them on the spot. They are committing acts against the world. There Human Rughts BS is just that, BS! Wake up and do the right thing, or face the third world rising up around the world and hold the industrial nations hostage.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:43 pm
This piracy problem needs a two prong Attack 1. Follow the money and take out the people running this thievery ring. (take out as in kill)2. you need 2 aircraft carriers with a mix bag of fix wing planes, attack helos and transport helos with ship recovery trained special forces.All three groups with orders shoot to KILL!!! It will take some one like the Russians, Japan,or French to due this. The USA is to politically correct. All we can do is hug and kiss them and ask them to be good little children. Where oh where is Thomas Jefferson when we need him. Millions for defence not one cent for tribute.
November 23rd, 2008 at 3:07 am
The UN has hamstrung the various Navies fighting the Somali Pirates with rules of engagement that say the navies can only fire if fired on. Just who’s side is the UN on. My rules of engagement would be to blow them out of the water on sight. Remember the old Pirate saying DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES.