MV FAINA Countdown Moment May Be Nigh - Ecoterra 28th Update

As the Russian guided missile frigate Neustrashimy, with SS-N-25 Switchblade anti-ship missiles, SA-N-9 Gauntlet SAM, a 100-mm gun, torpedoes and depth charges, and a Ka-27 ASW helicopter, is passing through the Suez Canal, many believe that an end could occur before the frigate arrives at Hobyo off the Somali coast next week.

The assumption is due (not to an advance in negotiations about the amount of ransom but) to the situation that prevails aboard MV FAINA with the reserves of water, food and fuel, including diesel fuel for the ship's generators, about to end tomorrow or after tomorrow.

Meanwhile rumors are spread that the pirates have threatened to kill the crew tomorrow, Ukraine's Segodnya (Today) newspaper said on Oct. 22.

(Reports in English medium Ukrainian newspapers can be found here: http://www.kyivpost.com/nation/30509).

The newspaper reported that one Ukrainian journalist, talking on a satellite phone to a pirate, came to know about the dearth in food and water supply; the pirate told him "the crew would probably die tomorrow", which may have may possibilities of interpretation.

Appeasing the crew relatives, a spokesman for the company reminded them that the crew ran out of food and water a week ago and then the pirates managed to feed the sailors with supplies brought from the mainland (http://www.cargolaw.com/2008nightmare_mv.faina.html#Oct.19).

In the Ukrainian portal Forum, editorials make state of the ‘possibility’ of Neustrashimy to ‘liberate’ MV FAINA from the pirates (with the title underlined: http://for-ua.com/ukraine/2008/10/21/120937.html), which is something that the political advisors of the pirates must have by now read and understood.

Herewith I publish the latest Ecoterra press release update that refers to Archbishop (Em.) Desmond Tutu, who sent a strong message to every UN member state, calling on them to `end the slaughter' arising from the uncontrolled arms trade.

Day 28 - 645 h into the MV FAINA crisis - Update Summary

Ecoterra Intl. - Stay Calm & Solve it Peaceful & Fast!

Ecoterra International – Update & Media Release on the Stand-off Concerning the Ukrainian Weapons-ship Hi-jacked by Somali Pirates.

28th update 2008-10-22 11:43:26 UTC

New EA Seafarers Assistance Programme Emergency Helpline: +254-738-497979
East African Seafarers Assistance Programme - Media Officer: +254-733-385868

Cut out the clutter - focus on facts !

Increased efforts for a peaceful release continued, but the stand-off concerning Ukrainian MV FAINA is still not yet solved, though intensive negotiations have continued and both sides are striving to finalize the modalities of the safe release of crew and vessel.

Archbishop sends `Control Arms' message to every nation: Its time to end the slaughter!

On 21th October Archbishop (Em.) Desmond Tutu sent a strong message to every UN member state, calling on them to `end the slaughter' arising from the uncontrolled arms trade, by giving their backing to a global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and calling for them to vote in favor of the treaty at the crucial upcoming vote at the United Nations' Committee on Disarmament and International Security. The crucial vote will take forward development of the ATT within the United Nations. The Control Arms campaign is calling for a strong Treaty which will stop the transfer of weapons which fuel conflict, poverty and human rights abuses. Already 85 states have indicated that they will vote yes for the treaty by `co-sponsoring' the resolution. Every year, small arms alone kill more people than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki put together. Many more people are injured, terrorised or driven from their homes by armed violence. Even as you read this, one of these human tragedies is unfolding somewhere on the planet. Already since 2006 Desmond Tutu demands: No longer should the peace business be undermined by the arms business.

Other news ----

Indian maritime unions declared a world-wide strike against the governments inaction in ensuring a safe passage for seafarers in the pirate-infested area of Somalia and the release of the crew aboard hijacked Japanese vessel MT STOLT VALOR. Under guidance from the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) and the Maritime Union of India (MUI), seafarers aboard four ships, including AB Tarapore, Desh Rakshak, Pratibha Tapi and Puneet that were scheduled to travel through the Gulf of Aden, have indefinitely postponed their departure. It would be postponed until maritime authorities furnish them with details about the action taken by the government, in the MT STOLT VALOR case, and also about whether it is safe for them to trade in the pirate-infested areas of Somalia. This strike will escalate further unless the government takes concrete steps, said general secretary of NUSI Abdulgani Y. Serang. The expectations concerning any naval action are most likely hopeless: "India has no legal framework to order its navy to intervene in the waters of Somalia because there is no agreement between India and Somalia and also UN Resolution 1817 doesn’t allow them," stated Somali Ambassador to India Mme. Ebyan Mahamed Salah.

After learning that the NATO task force - comprising of seven vessels from six countries - has now first stopped for a rest at the splendid naval hospitality facilities of the French Navy in Djibouti before sailing into place off Somalia and moreover that it is led by Italy, many Somali groups expressed either disbelief or laughed, local observers reported. The mission under command of Italian Admiral Giovanni Gumiero on board his flagship, the destroyer DURAND DE LA PENNE, is believed now by most Somalis and analysts to achieve simply nothing, neither for maritime security nor for the country. Italy has a long-standing history as failing colonial power in Somalia, is well know for its illegal fishing activities not only in Somalia but also along all other African coastlines and is probably the worst possible choice to lead the NATO naval force into Somali waters, regional analysts stated.

UNHCR spokesperson Mr. Guterres said he urged the international community heading to fight piracy in the Gulf to look "not only for pirates but also for human trafficking situations in the Gulf of Aden". Several hundred Somalis have drowned this year while attempting the dangerous passage on clandestine vessels from Somalia to Yemen.

Note
Picture: MV FAINA