Somali pirates receive record ransom for ships' release

[fionntan]

Somali pirates receive record ransom for ships' release

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/49829000/jpg/_49829293_tanker_still.jpg The Samho Dream's 24 crew members are said to be in good condition
Continue reading the main story (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11704306#story_continues_1) PIRACY CRISIS


Growing risk (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11470238)
Q&A: Prosecuting a pirate (http://www.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8664623.stm)
Spotlight on 'guns for hire' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8585967.stm)
Somali piracy: Global map (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10354350)


Somali pirates are reported to have received a total of $12.3m (£7.6m) in ransom money to release two ships.
They are believed to have been paid a record $9.5m (£5.8m) for Samho Dream, a South Korean oil tanker, and nearly $2.8m (£1.7m) for the Golden Blessing, a Singaporean flagged ship.
"We are now counting our cash," a pirate who gave his name as Hussein told Reuters news agency. "Soon we shall get down from the ship."
All crew are believed to be unharmed.
The Samho Dream supertanker was hijacked in the Indian Ocean in April and its crew of five South Koreans and 19 Filipinos were taken hostage. It was carrying crude oil worth $170m (£105m) from Iraq to the US.
Although released it is still within Somali waters and the ship's 24 crew members are said to be in good condition.
Andrew Mwangura, co-ordinator of the East African Seafarers Assistance Programme in Mombasa, told Reuters that the ransom would be the highest paid out to pirates since they started hijacking ships in recent years.
Continue reading the main story (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11704306#story_continues_2) From Jan-Sept 2010:


Pirates boarded 128 ships
Guns used in 137 incidents and knives in 66
One crew member killed, 27 injured, 773 taken hostage
Source: IMB

"They initially demanded $20m. What I can confirm is that negotiators tell me they agreed to make the drop with an amount in excess of $9m.
"This would be the highest sum paid out to pirates so far," he said.
The BBC's Kevin Mwachiro in Nairobi says the size of the payment is likely to change the rules of engagement when it comes to securing the release of ships held by Somali pirates. They are currently holding at least 25 vessels.
Earlier reports said the pirates had received $9m for Samho Dream and $7m for the Golden Blessing, but this was later revised.
The Golden Blessing has 23 Chinese crew.
According to a recent report by the International Maritime Bureau (http://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=424:pirates-intensify-attacks-in-new-areas-with-first-somali-hijacking-reported-in-red-sea&catid=60:news&Itemid=51), a maritime watchdog, ship hijackings hit a five-year high in the first nine months of 2010, with Somali pirates responsible for the majority.

[fionntan]

Great stuff:thumbup1: Black beard would be proud...

[fionntan]

Haiti: Somali pirates offer aid



Sunday, January 24, 2010 - 11:00


The article below is abridged from Aporea.org. It has been translated by Kiraz Janicke.
Spokespeople for the so-called Somali pirates have expressed willingness to part of their loot captured from transnational boats to Haiti.
Leaders of these groups have declared they have links in various places around the world to help them ensure the delivery of aid without being detected by the armed forces of enemy governments.
The "pirates" typically redistribute a significant portion of their profits among relatives and the local population.
A Somali "pirate" spokesperson said: "The humanitarian aid to Haiti can not be controlled by the United States and European countries; they have no moral authority to do so.
"They are the ones pirating mankind for many years."

[Stand Your Ground]

Haiti: Somali pirates offer aid



Sunday, January 24, 2010 - 11:00


The article below is abridged from Aporea.org. It has been translated by Kiraz Janicke.
Spokespeople for the so-called Somali pirates have expressed willingness to part of their loot captured from transnational boats to Haiti.
Leaders of these groups have declared they have links in various places around the world to help them ensure the delivery of aid without being detected by the armed forces of enemy governments.
The "pirates" typically redistribute a significant portion of their profits among relatives and the local population.
A Somali "pirate" spokesperson said: "The humanitarian aid to Haiti can not be controlled by the United States and European countries; they have no moral authority to do so.
"They are the ones pirating mankind for many years."
Is this true?

If so, how should we feel about this?

[fionntan]

Proud... happy...

[Ovi]

About a past incident (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/world/africa/01pirates.html?_r=1)

He said that so far, in the eyes of the world, the pirates had been misunderstood. “We don’t consider ourselves sea bandits,” he said. “We consider sea bandits those who illegally fish in our seas and dump waste in our seas and carry weapons in our seas. We are simply patrolling our seas. Think of us like a coast guard.
Mr. Sugule said his men were treating the crew members well. (The pirates would not let the crew members speak on the phone, saying it was against their rules.) “Killing is not in our plans,” he said. “We only want money so we can protect ourselves from hunger.”
When asked why the pirates needed $20 million to protect themselves from hunger, Mr. Sugule laughed and said, "Because we have a lot of men."

[~Spectre]

Worthy of Captain Jack Sparrow.

[Reznov]

Is this true?

If so, how should we feel about this?

How should we feel?

What you don't have feelings and opinions?

[Stand Your Ground]

How should we feel?

What you don't have feelings and opinions?
Nope. :rolleyes:

What I was asking was others opinions.

In my opinion, it ALMOST sounds as if what they are doing is positive, in some way. Robbing from the rich to feed the poor.

[WeAreReborn]

Nope. :rolleyes:

What I was asking was others opinions.

In my opinion, it ALMOST sounds as if what they are doing is positive, in some way. Robbing from the rich to feed the poor.
I agree. I'm glad they are so successful, they won't change much but hey it is better then nothing.

[bots]

lol agorism in action

[Rafiq]

Is this true?

If so, how should we feel about this?

Support them.

[Rafiq]

For some reason, this makes me very happy.

The US, Russia, Britain and China have been circulating weapons across the globe, and through Somalia.

It makes me very happy to see there boats being hijacked.

[bretty]

I hope that's true about the Aid. however I couldn't see the original article about the aid?

-B

[Blackscare]

I can't wait for the day they capture an illegal arms-dealing ship.

[Lacrimi de Chiciură]

Here is the link to the article about Somali aid to Haiti from January 2010: http://www.aporrea.org/internacionales/n149313.html