War torn countries in Africa go for the handouts to the east and the west. Whether the east and west exploited their situation does not matter so long G-1, 2,3, would forgive their debts and give awards in a few million dollars for reconstruction.
Somalis are not going for an “easy ride.” “When two elephants fight the grass suffers” may not be all of the time. When you put two brothers against each other to fight with weapons, they might, after the fight and realizing their stupidity for being used, turn the weapon against you, the instigator.
Somali so-called pirates must be a new African Redemption Force, African Defense Force, Africa’s new superpower, or African Nationalist Warriors ready to teach Africa’s instigators and exploiters a lesson.
In spite of the UN Security Council resolution adopted on November 20, 2008 proposed by Britain introducing tougher sanctions against Somalia over the country's failure to prevent a surge in sea piracy, Somalis remain undeterred. They are going after the main lifeline of former colonial economies (trade route) used to exploit Africa.
Barbara Starr told CNN "U.S. warship can't stop pirates off Somalia."
Januna Ali Jama, a spokesperson for the pirates, based in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, told Al Jazeera last year, “The ransom demand is a means of reacting to the toxic waste that has been continually dumped on the shores of our country for nearly 20 years.” "The Somali coastline has been destroyed, and we believe this money is nothing compared to the devastation that we have seen on the seas," he said.
Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the UN envoy for Somalia confirmed to Al Jazeera the world body has "reliable information" that European and Asian companies are dumping toxic waste, including nuclear waste, off the Somali coastline.
Number of ships captured by Somalis and ransoms paid.
Some ransoms were not reported and some ships were not completely captured.
2005
The MV Feisty Gas,
a liquefied petroleum gas tanker
ransom $315,000
2007
cargo ship
Flag(owner)
Denmark
Ransom: US$1,500,000
MV Golden Nori
Flag: Japan/Panama
Chemical tanker
Ransom: US$1,000,000
2008
January-March
MV Switzer Korsakov
tugboat)
Flag(owner): Japan/Russia
Ransom: US$700,000
MV Lehmann Timber
(cargo ship)
Flag(owner): Germany
Ransom: US$750,000
MV Stella Maris
(bulk carrier)
Flag(owner) Panama and Japan
Ransom: US$2,000,000
MV Bunga Melati Dua
(oil tanker)
Flag(owner):
Malaysia
Ransom: US$2,000,000
MV Lehmann Timber
(cargo ship)
Flag(owner): Germany
Ransom: US$750,000
MV Stella Maris
(bulk carrier)
Flag(owner): Panama/Japan
Ransom: US$2,000,000
MV Bunga Melati Dua
(oil tanker)
Flag(owner): Malaysia
Ransom: US$2,000,000
MV BBC Trinidad
Flag(0owner) Antigua and Barbuda
Germany
Ransom: US$1,100,000
MVMV Irene Irene
Flag(owner) Japan
Ransom: US$1,500,000
MV Bunga Melati 5
(chemical tanker)
Flag(owner) Malaysia
Ransom: US$2,000,000
Carré d'As IV
(yacht)
Flag(owner): France
Ransom: €1,000,000
MT Stolt Valor
(chemical tanker)
Flag(owner): Hong Kong/Japan
Ransom: Between US$1-2.5 million
MV Faina
(cargo ship)
Flag(owner): Belize and Ukraine
Ransom: US$3,200,000
MT African Sanderling
(bulk carrier)
Flag(owner); Panama and South Korea
Ransom: US$2,000,000
MV Sirius Star
(oil tanker)
Flag(owner): Liberia and Saudi Arabia
Ransom: US$15,000,000
MV Adina/MV Amani
/MV Arena/MV Erina
(cargo ship)
Flag(owner) Yemen
Ransom: US$2,000,000
Blue Star
(cargo ship)
Flag (owner) Saint Kitts and Nevis (Egypt)
Ransom: US$1,000,000
AFRICAN PANORAMA
WATCHING THROUGH THE BIRDS' EYES
Pirates or Defense Force?
Somalis Hitting Back-Making Fortune
Payoff in Billions-and others not reported
Pirates or Defense Force?
By Thomas Kai Toteh
References:
U.S. warship cannot stop pirates off Somalia
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/06/06/pirates/
Somali pirates leave Japan-owned ship, crew safe". Reuters. http://af.reuters.com/an, Sana Aftab. Tackling Piracy in Somali Waters:
Rising attacks impede delivery of humanitarian assistance http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2007/webArticles/073107_somalia.htm
Piracy off Somalia htt:
//www.imo.org/TCD/mainframe.asp?topic_id=1178
Somali pirates seize Spanish boat". BBC News.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7357831.stm
http://www.somalilandtimes.net/sl/2005/213/23.shtml
Somali insurgents
Pictures of activities happening in and around Somalia
Pictures of activities happening in and around Somalia
A 16 yr. old Somali boy pirate arrested and now in US custody in New York.
