Ecoterra Somali Marine Coastal Monitor. Part IX - Penalize Spain for Promoting Piracy, Terrorism

Following earlier developments that gave the impression of a possibly peaceful exit, a clear deterioration of the Horn of Africa overall situation has taken place over the past few weeks.

While the European Union deliberately contributes to prolongation of the secessionist tyranny in Hargeisa by means of a shameful bribery, fratricide battles are raging the Somali South, and the unrepentant colonial state of Spain reconfirms all the arguments advanced by Somali pirates who defend their acts as consequence of the illegal fisheries extensively carried out off the Somali coast. At the same time, top CIA agents, viciously presented as Islamist extremists, are being safely forwarded to the Somali South (like Lenin from Switzerland to Finalnd during WW I) in order to confuse the local Shebaab movement, and thus become the reason of a large scale military intervention.

The details about the latest developments are overviewed in the 9th Ecoterra – Somali Marine & Coastal Monitor Report, which was issued earlier today. I herewith republish it integrally.

Ecoterra Intl. – SMCM (Somali Marine & Coastal Monitor) Part IX

Ecoterra International – Updates, Statements & Clearinghouse Citations

A Voice for the Voiceless, who sit between all chairs, because they are not part of organized white-collar or no-collar-crime in Somalia or overseas and neither benefit from global naval militarization, from the illegal fishing and dumping in Somali waters or the piracy of merchant vessels, nor from the booming insurance business or the exorbitant ransom-, risk-management- or security industry, while neither the protection of the sea, the development of fishing communities or the humanitarian assistance to abducted seafarers and their families is receiving the required adequate funding.

2009-04-01 23h49:42 UTC

EA Illegal Fishing and Dumping Hotline: +254-714-747090 (confidentiality guaranteed) - email: somalia[at]ecoterra.net

EA Seafarers Assistance Programme Emergency Helpline: +254-738-497979

Clearing-house

News from sea-jackings, abductions or newly attacked ships

Pirates have captured another luxury boat operating in the Indian Ocean Seychelles archipelago after it dropped off tourists on one of its islands, officials said today. It was not clear who the pirates were or when the Indian Ocean Explorer was seized with its seven Seychellois crew members. The boat is believed to be sailing towards the Somali coast, they said. Foreign Affairs Minister Patrick Pillay told reporters his government had contacted naval forces in the region who "guaranteed to track down the boat". The S/Y INDIAN OCEAN EXPLORER, a high-end cruiser designed for oceanographic research with a state-of-the-art technical suite for underwater photography and diving equipment, is kitted out to hold 12 passengers.

MT STOLT STRENGTH is moving northwards again, local reports confirmed, and is expected at Garcad in the next days. The families of the seafarers as well as Philippine government officials are reportedly no longer willing to tolerate that the managing company as well as their negotiators are obviously unsuccessful to get the vessel released. The vessel and her 23 crew are now held for almost five month, but if the license of the manning agent for the Filipino seafarers has been revoked - as it was announced by the governmental officials - could not yet be confirmed.

The owners of SEA PRINCESS II, based in Yemen, still do not yet take their duty serious to care for the release of the vessel and her 15 crew, while the 3 Somali businessmen who own the cargo of diesel-fuel destined for Socotra are obviously not capable to handle the negotiations. Meanwhile the pirates had to enter into contracts with local supply-merchants near Harardheere, which complicates the situation. While a political motivation behind the case so far could be ruled out, Socotra - today part of Yemen but still claimed as belonging to the territory of Somalia - is eyed by the Russian Federation as possible base for their naval forces and has been constantly harbouring illegal fishing vessels from numerous foreign countries.

The Pirates of the German-owned gas-tanker MT LONGCHAMP with one Indonesian and 12 Filipinos on board, actually did at first not leave the ship after the ransom had been delivered by air, it has transpired. Local marine observers reported that a shoot-out among the pirates, who differed over the splitting of the ransom, delayed the release. While the ransom was delivered by an aircraft at around 14h00 on 28th of March, the vessel only could sail free the following day because obviously no proper arrangement was in place to safeguard that the pirates went off after they received the bounty. They therefore had reportedly the opportunity to start a quarrel on board and even to engage in a fire-fight. Nobody from the crew was hurt, but the differences delayed the release for a full day.

The sea-jacked Norwegian-owned but Bahamas-registered chemicals tanker MT BOW-ASIR, with 27 crew (Norwegian captain, one Russian, one Lithuanian and 19 Filipinos) on board as well as her potentially dangerous cargo of caustic soda allegedly failed to get protection. The owners of the Norwegian tanker "Bow Asir" which has been captured by pirates, had failed to inform the international naval force patrolling the waters off Somalia about the ship's presence in the area. For this reason the EU-operated naval force patrolling the pirate-infested waters did not know that the Norwegian ship was on its way alone through the dangerous area, and was unable to give assistance. The owners are registered with us, but in this particular case we were not informed about this ship's movements, and were therefore unable to react, says Major Michael Jarl of the EU naval force to NRK. While being commandeered towards the Somali coast, the master informed the owners that the crew were all accounted for and were "all ok". The tanker was captured by pirates last Thursday, and is now anchored near the Greek Tanker around 50 km south of Hobyo, where the Sirius Star was kept before. Its cargo, caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), is a versatile alkali and a strong base, which reacts violently with acid. Accidental contact of caustic soda with many organic and inorganic chemicals may cause fire or explosion.

Together with the abducted yacht S/Y SERENITY from the Seychelles three hostages are held: Gilbert Victor and Andre Conrad were already listed and now John Hoareau alias Samson has been confirmed as the third hostage. "The government of Seychelles strongly condemns any act against the property and the people of Seychelles", Transport Minister Joel Morgan said. Last week, the islands' police chief confirmed that the three Seychellois sailors are been held hostage by Somali pirates since their catamaran was hijacked in late February. They had left the archipelago on February 28 for Madagascar.

A potentially dangerous crisis has evolved again on Malaysian-owned T/B MASINDRA 7 with its Indonesian-owned barge ADM1. While the owner has - after several failed attempts to fool the pirates and only causing the 11 Indonesian crew to suffer for it - apparently became more reasonable, now the pirates created havoc among themselves, moved the vessel from Eyl to the north, causing their financiers to step in to avert a deadly scenario, where some of the pirates had threatened to kill the crew one by one if the payment is not delivered. The situation has calmed down a little, but is still very serious, due to interference by Somali brokers from Djibouti. Three of the masterminds behind the sea-jacking case are now also on board in order to bring the pirate-group together. The vessel is reportedly at present off Garcad.

Seven Somali pirates are in the custody of Germans after their naval vessel, part of a multinational effort to patrol the Gulf of Aden, was mistaken for a merchant ship and fired upon by the attackers. No one was injured in the incident. Spanish, Dutch, and Greek forces gave chase on the water and by air. "Poor judgment by the pirates turned out to be a real opportunity for seven nations representing three task forces to work together and strike a momentous blow for maritime safety and security", said a NATO spokesman. Greek sailors eventually captured the pirates after a pursuit lasting five hours. Greek and Spanish forces from a European anti-pirate unit off Somalia arrested seven Somalis who allegedly tried to capture a German oil tanker off southern Yemen, the Greek merchant navy ministry first said Monday. The Greek frigate PSARA, which has been patrolling pirate-infested waters off Somalia for months, responded to a radio call for help issued by the naval supply vessel FGS SPESSART on Sunday afternoon. The German vessel issued the call after spotting a speedboat with the Somalis approaching. One helicopter from the Spanish frigate VICTORIA then made the pirates stop their skiff after firing several warning shots. According to ministry sources in Athens, Commodore Antonis Papaioannou, the commander of the European Union’s Operation Atlanta, immediately ordered the frigate to intercept the speedboat and dispatched a helicopter to monitor the operation from the air. The captured pirates were handed over to a German frigate serving in the EU force. They will remain on the RHEINLAND-PFALZ until a decision on their prosecution and if they will be handed over to Kenya is made. That this decision has not been made is obvious, since the German vessel, scheduled to arrive yesterday at Mombassa is still pondering on the high seas awaiting orders for the way forward. However, the German Defense Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that the German government will file charges against the suspected pirates through the state prosecutor in the German city of Kiel.

With the latest captures and releases now still at least 12 (13 with an unnamed sole Barge which drifted ashore) foreign vessels with a total of not less than 219 crew members accounted for (of which 96 are Filipinos) are held in Somali waters and are monitored on our actual case-list, while several other cases of ships, which were observed off the coast of Somalia and have been reported or had reportedly disappeared without trace or information, are still being followed. Over 134 incidences (including attempted attacks, averted attacks and successful sea-jackings) have been recorded for 2008 with 49 fully documented, factual sea-jacking cases (for Somalia, incl. presently held ones) and the mistaken sinking of one vessel by a naval force. For 2009 the account stands at 42 averted or abandoned attacks and 11 sea-jackings on the Somali/Yemeni pirate side as well as one wrongful attack by friendly fire on the side of the naval forces. Mystery pirate mother-vessels Athena/Arena and Burum Ocean as well as not fully documented cases of absconded vessels are not listed in the sea-jack count until clarification. Several other vessels with unclear fate (also not in the actual count), who were reported missing over the last ten years in this area, are still kept on our watch-list, though in some cases it is presumed that they sunk due to bad weather or being unfit to sail. In the last four years, 22 missing ships have been traced back with different names, flags and superstructures.

Directly piracy related news

While two African-based search and rescue sub-centres have been opened in Dar es-Salaam, Tanzania and Victoria, Seychelles, the Somali Government still has not received any direct help top combat piracy. The new foreign-financed centres will operate in conjunction with the existing regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mombassa, Kenya and are key links in a plan to provide effective search and rescue (SAR) coverage off the coast of Africa. The two sub-centres, were commissioned last week by the IMO secretary-general Efthimios Mitropoulos, and the transport ministers of the respective countries.

In the wake of the incidents, Greece, which is home to the biggest commercial fleet in the world, called on the EU "to play a more active role" in cracking down on piracy, The Australian reported. Merchant Marine Minister Anastasis Papaligouras was quoted in The Australian as saying that the EU should "expand the rules of engagement and the area patrolled by the European naval force".

The real agenda of EU NAVFOR becomes clear also in Lloyd's lists article by Keith Wallis:

"Oh! The cheek of it!", was the initial reaction to a report for the European Union that Britain should hand over its naval bases to the EU to better protect shipping lanes. No doubt Britain’s red top daily newspapers would have a more robust opinion. On first reading, the plan sounds crazy. Why should Britain, and France for that matter, hand over its strategic facilities in places such as Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands to mandarins in Brussels? These bases represent British and French interests, not those of a wider EU Grand Strategy, and should be protected as such. It also seems doubtful that naval bases in the Mediterranean would prove to be much deterrent to Asian countries such as China and India who might harbour blue water expansionist ambitions. Cyprus would be little use to "Europeanised" naval forces if China carries out its intention to build aircraft carriers patrolling the Pacific and Indian oceans. But the report does highlight the success of the EU’s first joint naval mission – the anti-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia which appeared to have curbed pirates’ enthusiasm to hijack commercial shipping. Consequently, these joint missions could pave the way for further naval collaboration between European Union member states that could see joint navy new building programmes. Not only would they help shore up Europe’s battered shipbuilding industry, but provide vessels for sizeable European carrier groups that would patrol the world’s oceans. These would be more effective than the single-ship goodwill visits that currently take place.

What can 2 MSDF ships do off Somalia?, ask Toshimitsu Ishima and Tsuyoshi Takasawa, staff Writers for Yomiuri Shimbun.

The Maritime Self-Defense Force is expected to face great difficulties in protecting Japan-related ships off Somalia as it must fulfill its mission with just two destroyers. The MSDF will therefore have to forge cooperative ties with warships from other nations on anti-piracy missions including exchanging pertinent information and flexibly coordinating operations. The MSDF started its mission Monday off the African nation. More than 2,000 Japan-related ships--vessels to be guarded by the MSDF destroyers--sail in the waters in question. In Monday's escort operation, three vessels carrying cars and two tankers, which were sailing from near Oman into the Gulf of Aden, were chosen as the first to be granted protection by the two MSDF destroyers--the Sazanami and the Samidare. A senior MSDF officer expressed a sense of relief after hearing of the first mission. "With five ships, the line of the convoy is not too long and the two destroyers will be sufficient to guard them", the officer said. It is extremely rare for MSDF ships to form a convoy with private-sector commercial vessels. As such convoys will comprise ships with different speeds and sizes, it will be a cause for constant concern among the crew of the destroyers to ensure safe passage through the zone of about 900 kilometers. If many ships form a convoy with a long-line, it brings with it higher risks of attack from pirates. But if the MSDF limits itself to guarding five or so ships at a time, numerous Japanese or Japanese-related ships will end up having to sail through the area unguarded. According to the Defense Ministry, it takes about five days for the MSDF to make a return trip guarding ships in the patrol zone. If the MSDF continues escorting five or so ships in each operation, it will be able to guard 10 ships in five days or about 730 ships a year. But according to the Japanese Ship owners' Association, a total of 2,103 Japanese-related ships sailed through the zone last year. Under the current situation, the MSDF is capable of guarding only one-third of these ships.

The MSDF aims to gradually broaden the kinds of ships it selects for protection and to increase collaboration with other countries operating naval vessels in the zone. But it is still far from certain whether the MSDF will take part in convoys comprising dozens of ships. There were 111 pirate attacks in the zone last year. On March 22, the Jasmine Ace, a vehicle-carrying ship belonging to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., was fired on by pirates about 1,500 kilometers south of the zone in which the MSDF destroyers are operating. The range in which pirates have been active is expanding quickly, presenting an increasingly serious problem for anti-piracy operations. The area in which the Jasmine Ace was attacked is a very important route for maritime traffic traveling via South Africa's Cape Town. It is as important as a route connecting the Suez Canal, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. To cope with the new development, the government plans to send an MSDF P-3C patrol aircraft to cover this wider stretch of sea.

The government envisages that the aircraft will monitor the movement of pirates from the air and provide the information to navies participating in the anti-piracy missions off Somalia, after signing a status of forces agreement with Djibouti, which neighbours Somalia. To this end, the government will need to facilitate mutual cooperation with the navies of the United States, countries in the European Union and others among the 20 nations and regional blocs participating in the anti-piracy operations. It may be especially hard to collaborate with the navies of Kenya and Turkey, since the MSDF has never held joint drills with the navies of these countries. Hideaki Kaneda, formerly commander of the MSDF's fleet escort force, said: "Though it's a matter of course that the framework of maritime policing actions should be complied with, it's important for the MSDF to show a cooperative stance. For example, if other countries' ships seek help, the destroyers should fly its helicopters to the relevant area to collect information".

"The accumulated effect of these minor actions will lead to the building of trustful relations", he said.

Limits on MSDF destroyers

The MSDF destroyers are only allowed to protect Japan-linked vessels. However, many ships with no link to Japan sail through the Gulf of Aden. What can the MSDF destroyers do if they are asked to help these unrelated ships? In October 2007, a U.S. Navy destroyer received a distress call from a Panama-registered chemical tanker owned by a Japanese company. The Golden Nori was hijacked by pirates, and it took about 1-1/2 months for the tanker and its crew to be freed. However, at one point, the U.S. destroyer was able to sink pirate boats in the vicinity of the tanker. In the case of the MSDF destroyers, they can protect vessels fulfilling any one of the following three conditions: ships that are Japan-registered; ships operated by Japanese companies; or ships that have Japanese crew. The Golden Nori is a Japan-linked ship. According to a senior official of the Defense Ministry, in a case like that of the Golden Nori in which an MSDF destroyer receives a distress call from a Japan-linked ship not sailing in a convoy of ships protected by an armed escort, the MSDF destroyers would first send a helicopter out on a reconnaissance mission. MSDF destroyers are only allowed to use weapons for issuing a warning, in self-defense or to make an emergency evacuation. Therefore, if a ship sending a distress signal has already been boarded by pirates by the time the helicopter arrives, it will be difficult for the destroyer to tackle the situation.

Even if an MSDF destroyer came across pirate ships near the threatened ship, the only thing it would be able to do would be to contact navy vessels of the United States or other countries. In February, the U.S. Navy received a call for help from a commercial ship registered in the Marshall Islands, and sent a cruiser to the site. Servicemen from the cruiser boarded a nearby pirate ship and took seven pirates into custody. If an MSDF destroyer received a similar call from a ship under attack from pirates, it would be able to send a helicopter even if the ship was not Japan-related. However, as the possibility such a pirate attack could actually be a feint with the objective of attacking the Japanese fleet after the helicopter left the destroyer, it is likely that the MSDF destroyer would end up asking naval ships of other countries for help in such scenarios. The senior Defense Ministry official said: "We can't operate like other countries as long as our use of weapons is limited. We need to get started and have a look at what we can actually do, and that's the difficult mission that lies ahead".

A task force from Russia's Pacific Fleet has set sail from Vladivostok for the Gulf of Aden to take part in ongoing anti-piracy operations. The Admiral Panteleyev destroyer, a salvage tugboat, and a tanker will replace a previous task force led by the Admiral Vinogradov destroyer, which has been involved in an anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia since the beginning of January, RIA Novosti reported earlier today. "Russia has again entrusted sailors of the Pacific Fleet with the task of participating in a difficult, but honorable international operation to thwart piracy off the Horn of Africa [north eastern peninsula]. This is a complex task because pirates are acting aggressively and understand only the language of weapons", Vice Admiral Konstantin Sidenko, commander of the Pacific Fleet, said at the departing ceremony. The Admiral Panteleyev is an Udaloy class missile destroyer. The ship is armed with anti-ship missiles, 30-mm and 100-mm guns, and Ka-27 Helix helicopters. The Admiral Vinogradov and the Boris Butoma tanker have completed their anti-piracy mission around the Horn of Africa, and are expected to return to their home base in Vladivostok at the beginning of April.

Illegal fisheries and related issues

The coastguard of Puntland has arrested two illegal fishing vessels. Reports speak of one Korean and one Japanese tuna vessels.

The Spanish associations of fishing vessels that target tuna in the Indian Ocean are demanding that the European bloc extend its anti-piracy operations and control zone to the south-east of Somalia for added fleet protection.

- Problem is only that Spain does not respect the Somali EEZ, Spanish owned vessels have been poaching in Somali waters for years and that many Spanish owned vessel (around 200) operate under a flag of convenience, which Spain feels not responsible to discipline.

According to the Spanish Fishing Confederation (CEPESCA), the 50 European tuna fishing vessels are taking refuge in the Mozambique channel under threat of pirate attacks, which have shifted south to areas that include Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In light of the new situation, CEPESCA Secretary General Javier Garat has asked the Secretary of State for the European Union (EU), Diego Lopez Garrido, to shift the operational range of the Atalanta Operation to the south and east of Somalia, in order to protect the tuna fishing fleet besieged by pirates, who have rerouted to the south-east.

Leaders from the National Association of Freezer Tuna Vessel Owners (ANABAC) and the Big Frozen Tuna Vessels Producers Association (OPAGAC) have also sent written requests to the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs for the establishment of a secondary Atalanta Operation command centre in Mahe, Seychelles, or Mombassa, Kenya, that would bolster protection of tuna fishing vessels from Spain and the EU that operate off southern Somalia.

OPAGAC managing director Julio Moron backed Spain’s request for the modification of protection coverage offered by the Atalanta Operation, which was launched by the EU to keep up defense maneuvers of merchant ships that cross the Gulf of Aden against pirate attacks.

"[The EU fishing fleet] is now neglected, after the displacement of the pirates to the very zone where they operate", affirmed CEPESCA in a press release.

Meanwhile, ANABAC managing director Jose Angel Angulo emphasized that the situation for vessels has worsened in the last few weeks. Pirates followed them to the south of the equator, in the EEZ of the Seychelles, next to the Comoros Islands and in front of the coast of Kenya and Tanzania, to more than 500 nautical miles (1,000 kilometers) off the Somali coast, he explained.

The Community tuna fishing fleet – now totaling about 50 vessels – has been cut by 20 per cent over the last two years due to the threat of piracy.

"CEPESCA recognizes the efforts of the Spanish Government and its role in the defense of the fishing fleet against pirate attacks and hopes that the Community authorities will grasp the problem the fleet is facing, and trusts the situation can improve so that safety can be guaranteed to the crew and serious mishaps, which nobody wants to see happen, can be avoided", the industry association stated.

35 crew members of the FV Tawariq 1 are expected to be brought back again to the Dar-es-Salaam law courts soon. It is said that on or about March 8, 2009 within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United Republic of Tanzania the accused were caught fishing without valid license contrary to section 18 (1) of the Tanzania Deep Sea Fishing Authority. Further it is alleged that on the same date the first accused - Capt. Chin Tai Hsu, who is the ship's master - did erase fishing tracks from the Global Position System (GPS) Plotter with the intention to conceal the information on the fishing vessel's movement and activities. Further, it is said that FV Tawariq 1 was impounded 180 nautical miles from Dar es-Salaam for illegally fishing. The multi-national crew of the ill-fated vessel are composed of 15 Chinese, 5 Vietnamese, 8 Philippines, 3 Kenyans and 5 Indonesians. Unsustainable exploitation of marine resources in Africa’s oceans is occurring on a massive scale, causing the collapse of fisheries, the loss of critical ecosystems and the extinction of marine wildlife. A large part of the problem is unreported and illegal fishing by foreign fishing companies. It has been estimated that the market value of fish caught illegally in Africa by commercial fishing companies could be as much as $1 billion every year. Due to this gross over fishing, small scale fishing is under sever strain. The economic and social consequences for coastal communities is a major concern throughout the continent.

No real peace in sight yet

Somalia's new interim government, led by Islamist moderate Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, has received an $18 million donation from the Arab summit that concluded Tuesday in Qatar, the capital of Qatar. President Sheikh Sharif had requested aid at the summit in Doha, because Somalia's new government needs funding support to establish governance organs in a country torn apart of 18 years of conflict. Arab leaders discussed the situations in several countries, including Sudan, Iraq and Somalia. The $18m donation, channeled through the Arab League, will be handed over to the Somali government in the course of six months, giving the new government in Mogadishu a monthly funding boost of $3 million to undertake security and reconstruction efforts. Returning to the Somali capital President Sheik Sharif was welcomed today at Aden Ade International Airport in Mogadishu by the speaker of the parliament Sheik Aden Madobe and Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmake.

At around 10:10am local time the Somali member of parliament Camir Mohamed Shaketi was wounded at Shibis district in Mogadishu. Witnesses said unidentified men sprayed the lawmaker's car with gunfire, leaving him with several wounds, including one in the chest. "The Somali MP and his driver were simultaneously sprayed with bullets by three masked men". While his driver died on the spot, the lawmaker himself was seriously wounded and was rushed to Keysaney hospital in the north of the Somali capital.

US American is Member of Somalia’s Terrorist Al - Shabaab. Somalia’s Mujajideen Youth Movement, an apparent offshoot of the al-Shabab group, has released a video (http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/197048.php) featuring a figure who appears to be an American member. The man in the video speaks American English and goes by the nom de guerre Abu Mansoor al-Amriki. The video is entitled "Ambush at Bardal", but it’s unclear what the context of the video is so far. The video itself is 31 minutes and 37 seconds long and is the second one featuring an American English speaker from the group — considered by Jamestown Foundation as one of the more potent militant groups in Somalia. Its origins date back to at least April 2007, when a number of foreign fighters began infiltrating into Somalia using tactics similar to the insurgency of Iraq. Somalia seems to be an increasing focus of al Qaeda as it struggles to win back the propaganda initiative in the face of a unity government in Mogadishu.

Lat year this American Mujaahid and trainer for the Mujaahideen, Abu Mansoor al-Amriki came out with a statement in English and an Islamist website claims that this was done in regards to the reality of the ICU (Islamic Courts Union) and the Shabaab al-Mujaahideen, of whom many held the belief that the ICU were the real deal.

Statement:

In the Name of Allaah the Most Beneficent the Most Merciful

From Abu Mansoor al-Amriki

To the beloved Mujaahideen (in specific) and the Muslims (in general)

All praise is due to Allaah who separated truth from falsehood and that which is despicable from that which is pure. All praise is due to Allaah who caused the filth to become removed and caused that which benefits mankind to remain in the earth. All praise is due to Allah, alone, without partners, the One who sent the messengers with the Shari’ah and the methodology; the One who made the path leading to Him as a shining lamp; and the One who sent Muhammad to be a crown for the messengers and creation; to clarify to them in order for them to know the destroyed from the saved. May Allaah send His salaah upon him and his family and his companions.

As for what follows:

I saw it very important in these recent days to clarify some facts that might be unknown to many. In specific I am referring to that which relates to the Islamic Courts and the Shabaab.

It is well-know amongst the practicing Muslims of Somalia that these two groups have a long history and they are not from the new groups that have come on the scene. Rather, the founding officers of the Shabaab go back to the fall of Siad Barre and the first battles with the Americans. However, more important than establishing their presence from a long time is establishing the large and essential difference between the two groups from the very beginning.

While the Courts used to judge over each individual tribe, the Shabab were made up of many different tribes and they used to cooperate with the Muhaajireen from the outside. Also, while the Courts had a goal limited to the boundaries placed by the Taaghoot, the Shabab had a global goal including the establishment of the Islamic Khilaafah in all parts of the world. This difference did not go away in the days of victory nor has it gone away even up until today. But rather it has grown larger and clearer to everyone; including the stupid Kuffaar.

As for the days of victory, then it is known that the picture presented to the world was the "moderate" picture of the Courts (as they describe them) and they strived in that period to control the financial sources, the direction of the Jihaad, and the foreign affairs. Despite these facts even the Kuffaar could see something else behind the scenes. They publicized that there is an "extremist" group (according to their description) lurking within the government of the Courts. They were right on about most of this except for mistakenly believing that the leader of this extremist group was Hasan Thaahir Uways.

Therefore, more deservingly, the Shabaab also knew about this reality and they used to encounter many difficulties because of the policies of the Courts. Similar to them were the Muhaahijreen who were welcomed at the airport by the Islamic Courts with terrible statements like: "We don’t need the Muhaajireen", and they tried to send them back; if it were not for a few of the Shabaab (like Shaykh Fu’aad and Abu Talhah as-Sudaani) who saved many of these Muhaajireen at the airport and tended to their affairs.

The situation remained like this until the defeat befell and some of the best of the Shabaab became shuhadaa’. So due to that, many of these realities became hidden to the new fighters who had witnessed the unity in the early days (which was for the purpose of combining the strength of each group, to avoid fitnah in accordance with ((Cooperate upon righteousness and piety and do not cooperate upon sin and transgression)), and in order to judge by what Allaah revealed, as all groups claimed to want) but they did not witness the hidden reality that was lived by those who preceded them on this path.

Therefore, this matter was in need of clarification, without a doubt, but we did not realize the seriousness of this need until after the conferences in Asmara.

These conferences invoked doubt within us for several reasons:

The first : is that Eritrea has not ceased opposing the Mujaahideen in their land. So how could they want to help the Mujaahideen in the neighboring lands? There is no doubt that they are not looking out for what is in our best interest or what is in the best interests of the Jihaad.

The second : is that Eritrea rooted out the Mujaahideen in their land due to a very despicable trick on behalf of the Sudanese government. Namely, they opened the door of politics in order for them to forget armed resistance which is the true solution to the problems of the Ummah today. So here we have the members of the Courts in the lands of the Kuffaar, underneath their control, sitting in the road of politics which leads to the loss and defeat they were running from.

The third : is that they chose a nationalistic look for these conferences. The very name of their party indicates that this issue is strictly Somali, leaving no room for interference from foreigners (as they call the Muhaajireen) unless the interference comes from John, or Tom, or George! In that case such interference is allowed! So, while they deny the presence of Muhaajireen in Somalia (despite the fact that I was seen on al-Jazeerah in a Somali training camp under the name of the Courts before realizing that the Manhaj had become extremely distorted) and while they say that they are not in any need of foreigners, their actions indicate that they ARE in need of the apostates from ‘Abdullaah Yusuf’s parliament and the original Kuffaar of Eritrea. Subhaan Allaah! How have the scales of allegiance and enmity been flipped!

The fourth: is that they tried to steal the efforts of the Shabaab by claiming that they are in control of the direction of the Jihaad and the events taking place on the ground from their hotels.

All of these affairs would have lead- if not for the proclamation of innocence from these conferences on behalf of the Shabaab- to many problems:

The first is a lack of clarity of the issue for the Muslims on the outside (even for those on the inside as we have seen from some of the fighters) who might aid us with self, wealth, or supplication.

The second is a lack of a clear example to guide the Mujaahideen in the future. We see that despite the fact that the Ikhwaan had a good example in Sayyid Qutub and al-Mawdoodi –who both refused to accept entering into the kaafir governments as a solution- it seems that there is no other solution for the problems of the Ummah, according to those who ascribe themselves to the Ikhwaan today, except for the ballot box! So how would it have been if their beginning was characterized by their exemplary figure compromising his principles and having an unclear manhaj?

The third is that this matter will be unclear to the populace after coming to power. If the Shabaab differ with the Courts after obtaining victory, the people will see the Shabaab like the Khawaarij, or Jamaa’ah at-Takfeer, or benefit seekers (similar to how they said that the Courts are just one tribe and they didn’t really want to establish Shari’ah in the days of victory). This will lead to many tribulations and a loss of previous gains.

The fourth is a lack of ability to control the direction of the Jihaad because the wealth and media is in their hands.

Therefore, due to this huge danger the Shabaab- may Allaah reward them- announced that they are free of these conferences. At the same time the Muhaajireen (who came to Somalia after the capture of Mogadishu in stages) also felt the need to do this. In due course the Muhaajireen wrote a word of advice to some of those in charge of the Courts regarding these matters. Then, after learning that they will continue upon this dangerous path, the Muhaajireen declared their innocence from the Courts alongside their brothers from the Shabaab. Here now is their announcement that they are free of the deviant leadership of the Courts before all of the Muslims. And to Allaah belongs the praise.

This is in regards to what we have seen of the Courts. As for the Manhaj of the Shabaab then we see that they are focused upon the pure manhaj which is adopted by the Mujaahideen in the rest of the blessed lands of Jihaad. It is the same manhaj repeatedly heard from the mouth of the mujaahid shaykh Usaamah bin Laden (may Allaah preserve him). It is the same manhaj heard in the addresses of the lion, the genius, the doctor Ayman ath-Thawaahiri (may Allaah preserve him) and the one heard in the advices of the shaheed (in shaa’ Allaah), the hero, Abu Mus’ab az-Zarqaawi (may Allaah have mercy on him). The list of the heroes of this time goes on.

We stress here that we are striving to establish the Islamic Khilaafah from East to West after removing the occupier and killing the apostates. We will do this while holding on to the Book and the Sunnah, upon the manhaj of the salaf, with the mus-haf in one hand and the sword in the other, beneath the black banners, by the will of Allaah. We do not care about the blame of the blamers or the threats of scarce provision and we do not need doubtful finances. Rather, Allaah is our Provider and our Protector. How great a Protector and how great a Disposer of Affairs and He is the best of Providers!

Here is an important point that must be made. Indeed this point is that it is befitting to cooperate with any group from the Muslims (as long as they are truly Muslims) whether the group is the Courts or otherwise. This must, of course, be in accordance with the guidelines of the correct manhaj.

Finally, before closing this address of mine I would like to mention that there has not ceased to be sincere people amongst the Islamic Courts. I see them to be sincere, but Allaah is the One who will truly bring them to account. Therefore, these words do not mean that all of them want to destroy the religion and betray the Somali Jihaad. However, sometimes unmindful people require a harsh reminder to wake them from their deep sleep.

I ask Allaah for sincerity in these words. Whatever they contain of truth then it is from Allaah and whatever they contain of mistake is from me and the Shaytaan.
May Allaah send peace and salaah upon the most noble of the prophets and the messengers. The last of our calls is all praise is due to Allaah the Lord of the Worlds.

Abu Mansoor al-Amriki

Somalia

The month of Muharram, day 1, year 1429 after the Prophetic Hijrah

Coinciding with (1/8/2008)

End of statement

According to a US intelligence source, the man in the video, Abu Mansoor al-Amriki, is an ex-US soldier who fought in Bosnia in the early 1990s. No US soldiers officially fought in the Bosnia war, but about a dozen Muslim ex-US Special Forces soldiers fought in Bosnia and trained al-Qaeda and other mujaheddin forces there around 1993. At the time, the US military and Saudi government apparently had an interest in sending Muslim ex-Special Forces there. Mansoor is said to be a high-ranking member of al-Qaeda’s East Africa leadership, and is a lead trainer for Somali insurgent forces. Islamist opposition factions control large swathes of the country, including the key southern towns of Kismayo, Baidoa and Marka.

18 members of the US-financed and masterminded Puntland Intelligence Service (PIS), established as a rather independent security outfit during the reign of former Puntland President Adde Musse, who holds a Canadian passport, were seriously injured by attacking al-Shabab fighters at Lanta Hawada in the separated north-eastern Somali region. Local witnesses reported that a US-helicopter made two flights to evacuate the wounded officers and also took one wounded al-Shabab fighter. The PIS had recently arrested over 15 foreign insurgents from Syria, Irak and other Muslim countries operating with al-Shabab. Allegedly, the captured foreigners had been handed over to US forces and their whereabouts are unknown. Earlier a Sheikh, who had returned from Kismayu in southern Somalia was also arrested by the PIS, but then let off again when al-Shabab had threatened to attack. According to local reports the vast majority of Puntlanders opposes the ungoverned activities of the PIS men in the region, who are said to get paid and supplied by a special flight from Djibouti every Tuesday in return for intelligence and counter-terrorism activities.

Impacting news from the global village

Over the next seven days, most of the world’s leaders will attend a string of summits in Europe and make a series of decisions that will shape the world. The discussions at these meetings will focus on the global economy, the overall tone and strength of U.S.-European relations, and the United States’ course for the future. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has threatened to walk out of the G20 summit in London if leaders of the world's biggest economies fail to commit to introducing tougher financial regulations. One G20-protestor has already died in London. Police said the man collapsed inside a police cordon on St Michael's Alley, not far from the Bank of England where thousands of anti-capitalist protesters had earlier converged for a demonstration ahead of Thursday's G20 summit.

Red Alert: Redefining the Global System (Open Access)

April 1, 2009 1858 GMT

A redefinition of global systems is taking place via the ongoing flurry of global summits, and STRATFOR will provide the historical and analytical record. [more]

01. April 2009 ---------------------

Somali Pirates Take Ransom in Wine

04.01.2009 (N.B.: This is a April first - fools-day - joke)

Apparently the stepped-up patrols of U.S. warships off the coast of Somalia and increased vigilance on the part of ships' captains in the area have not been enough to prevent yet another freighter hijacking. According to CNN, early yesterday Somali pirates in several small boats were able to pull alongside and board the Matriarch, a Delaware-based freighter.

Despite the known danger of operating in the coastal waters off of Africa's eastern coast south of the Suez Canal, the crew of the Matriarch were unarmed, and unable to offer any resistance to the pirates, who quickly brought the vessel to a halt and began their ransom demands.

So why am I bothering to mention this random bit of international news on Vinography? Because it turns out that the ship's refrigerated cargo hold was full of, among other things, hundreds of cases of cult California wines that were destined for the port of Dubai!

As I've written about in the past months, the economy has taken a serious toll on wines in the upper end of the pricing spectrum. Mailing lists that were once exclusive are now increasingly accessible to motivated wine lovers, provided they have the means to purchase.

But opening up mailing lists isn't doing the trick, especially when restaurants in Vegas, which could always be counted on to take a few cases of cult Cabernet, have stopped their ordering cold. As a result, high-end producers are having to look farther a field for buyers, to major financial centers like Hong Kong and Dubai.

Which is why 250 cases of upper-echelon Cabernet from the likes of Harlan, Screaming Eagle, Colgin, and Husic ended up on a boat from Europe to the Middle East.

And amazingly, the story doesn't end there. When the pirates learned that part of their cargo included bottles of wine that sold for hundreds, even thousands of dollars per bottle, they dropped their ransom demands, and made off with the bottles. The AP news photo shows some of the pirates celebrating with their spoils.

The willingness to settle for expensive wine instead of ransom cash has more than a few experts mystified. Some are suggesting, however, that the wine might be seen as a status symbol in many Pirate communities. I find this highly unlikely however, given that virtually the entire country is Muslim. But who knows? These Somalis may have adopted more traditional pirate values along with their basic tactics.

Yet another Somali hijacking barely registered as an international news story, but here at home in California, the news has spread quickly throughout wine country. I called up some of the folks I know to get their take on the story.

"This financial loss adds insult to injury in these times", said Terry Hall, Communications Director at the Napa Valley Vintners Association. "These wines represent so much hard work not to mention capital investment, it's going to devastate some of these folks when they find out". Apparently some of the vintners involved don't know yet as they often take Spring Break week for vacation.

Dalia Banerjee, Executive Director of the Oakville Winegrowers (an appellation that was disproportionably represented in the hijacked cargo) offered hope that the wine might be recovered. "I can't provide details at the moment, but at least one of the vintners has retained a private security firm with the hopes of recovering their wines", she said.

Several people I talked to though that the whole thing was a publicity stunt cooked up by a group of cult producers who regularly meet for poker nights in St. Helena. That sounds pretty far fetched to me, but if it were true, it might be the coolest underground PR stunt I've ever heard of -- the wine equivalent of faking your own death to become famous.

The Matriarch, a bit lighter in cargo, is on its way to Dubai, with a crew that feels lucky to be alive.

For families of presently captive seafarers and in order to console their worries, Ecoterra Intl. can make contacts with professional seafarers, who had been abducted in Somalia, as well as of a Captain of a sea-jacked and released ship, who agreed to be addressed "with questions, and we will try and answer truthfully".

Press Contacts:

ECOP-marine
East-Africa
+254-714-747090
www.ecop.info

ECOTERRA Intl.
Nairobi Node
+254-733-633-733

EA Seafarers Assistance Programme
SAP Media Officer
+254-733-385868

Note
Picture: Where Jendayi Frazer failed, high ranking US officer Abu Mansoor al-Amriki is expected to mark a success. From: http://counterterrorismblog.org/2008/02/