The MV FAINA Piracy Crisis Chronicle – I
The ongoing piracy crisis off the Somali coast at the Horn of Africa region risks triggering the world’s first major military enterprise after Iraq. In a series of articles published on the span of the last two months, I focused mainly on the MV FAINA crisis, which is merely the most notorious case of piracy off the Somali coast because of the involved illegal arms deal between Ukraine, Kenya and the secessionist South Sudan administration.
As I intend to expand further, and publish a recapitulative record of the insightful press releases of the leading NGO Ecoterra, I present here a list of my earlier articles (21 in total) on the subject (titles and links); the list is in ascending order with the latest article being mentioned first.
Waiting for the tempest aboard MV FAINA – Ecoterra 41st and 42nd Updates
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/waiting-for-the-tempest-aboard-mv-faina-ecoterra-41st-and-42nd-updates.html
An Abyss Under Preparation: MV FAINA Piracy Crisis off the Somali Coast
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/an-abyss-under-preparation-mv-faina-piracy-crisis-off-the-somali-coast.html
38 Days off the Somali Coast: MV FAINA Crisis – Ecoterra 36th and 37th Updates
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/38-days-off-the-somali-coast-mv-faina-crisis-ecoterra-36th-and-37th-updates.html
As Neustrashimy sails in the Gulf of Aden, MV FAINA Crisis Remains Unresolved
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/as-neustrashimy-sails-in-the-gulf-of-aden-mv-faina-crisis-remains-unresolved.html
MV FAINA Negotiations: Hostage-freeing Process Approaching Culmination
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/mv-faina-negotiations-hostage-freeing-process-approaching-culmination.html
Israel Involved in the Somali Piracy of MV FAINA? Revelations from Yemen
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/israel-involved-in-the-somali-piracy-of-mv-faina-revelations-from-yemen.html
MV FAINA Piracy Crisis – The Naval & Military Build-up – An Analysis by Ecoterra
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/mv-faina-piracy-crisis-the-naval-military-build-up-an-analysis-by-ecoterra.html
MV FAINA Piracy Crisis – The Weapons Saga – An Insightful by Ecoterra
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/mv-faina-piracy-crisis-the-weapons-saga-an-insightful-by-ecoterra.html
30 Days MV FAINA Piracy Crisis – Background by Ecoterra
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/30-days-mv-faina-piracy-crisis-background-by-ecoterra.html
30 Days MV FAINA Piracy Crisis – Ecoterra 29th and 30th Updates
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/30-days-mv-faina-piracy-crisis-ecoterra-29th-and-30th-updates.html
MV FAINA Countdown Moment May Be Nigh - Ecoterra 28th Update
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/mv-faina-countdown-moment-may-be-nigh-ecoterra-28th-update.html
Yemenite Connection and Viewpoints on the MV FAINA Piracy Crisis off the Somali Coast
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/yemenite-connection-and-viewpoints-on-the-mv-faina-piracy-crisis-off-the-somali-coast.html
Waiting for the Neustrashimy, off the Somali Coast at Hobyo – Ecoterra 27th Update
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/waiting-for-the-neustrashimy-off-the-somali-coast-at-hobyo-ecoterra-27th-update.html
MV FAINA Cargo for Yemen? Ecoterra 26th Update on the Piracy Crisis off the Somali Coast
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/mv-faina-cargo-for-yemen-ecoterra-26th-update-on-the-piracy-crisis-off-the-somali-coast.html
Latest Updates from Ecoterra on the MV FAINA Piracy Crisis off the Somali Coast
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/latest-updates-from-ecoterra-on-the-mv-faina-piracy-crisis-off-the-somali-coast.html
UN Resolution Heralding Depleted Uranium Contamination of East Africa and the Indian Ocean?
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/un-resolution-heralding-depleted-uranium-contamination-of-east-africa-and-the-indian-ocean.html
Military Solution in the MV FAINA Piracy Crisis Heralds Overall Aggravation
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/military-solution-in-the-mv-faina-piracy-crisis-heralds-overall-aggravation.html
Ecoterra Updates on the MV FAINA Piracy Crisis off the Somali Coast
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ecoterra-updates-on-the-mv-faina-piracy-crisis-off-the-somali-coast.html
Down with the Kenyan Paramilitary – Freedom for Andrew Mwangura – Light on Illegal Arms Deals
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/down-with-the-kenyan-paramilitary-freedom-for-andrew-mwangura-light-on-illegal-arms-deals.html
Horn of Africa Region About to Explode, following Somali Piracy of the Ukrainian MV FAINA
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/horn-of-africa-region-about-to-explode-following-somali-piracy-of-the-ukrainian-mv-faina.html
Ecoterra Press Release on the Global Stand-off with Somali Pirates of the Ukrainian MV FAINA
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ecoterra-press-release-on-the-global-stand-off-with-somali-pirates-of-the-ukrainian-mv-faina.html
In the present article, I will publish the Ecoterra Press Release updates no 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47. The order of publication is descending with the oldest being republished first. In forthcoming articles, I will complete the record.
43th Update 2008-11-06 14:38:26 UTC
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.
We also can make sea-piracy in Somalia an issue of the past - with empathy and strength and through coastal and marine development as well as protection !
New EA Seafarers Assistance Programme Emergency Helpline: +254-738-497979
East African Seafarers Assistance Programme - Media Officer: +254-733-385868
Day 43 - 1008 h into the FAINA Crisis – Update Summary
Increased efforts for a peaceful release continued, but the now one and a half month long 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.
NATO in a press-conference in Mombasa stated today clearly that a military interference with the stand-off concerning MV FAINA is ruled out so far.
Negotiators have moved closer to the scene in order to finalize with the key-person on the side of the captors, whereby is seems to be difficult to determine the person from the captors who also can responsibly negotiate the modalities of a release satisfactory for both sides.
Other news -----
The counsel of Yasa Maritime, the company owners of M/V YASA NESLIHAN, which was sea-jacked off Somalia, said on Wednesday that talks continued with the pirates adding that they were trying to agree on the amount of the ransom. Lawyer M. Fehmi Uelgener, the Counsel, said talks may last for nearly 2 months, and noted that the crew of the ship was in good condition. The families of seafarers in Turkey, however, wonder why it necessarily would have to be two month until the ship could be released, as predicted by the companies negotiator. Release negotiations in several cases were concluded in a time of less than a month, some even in days.
Four humanitarian staff, who have been working for Action Against Hunger (ACF) - a French non-governmental organization (NGO) - and two pilots of a European Commission chartered aircraft were abducted in Central Somalia. EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel and UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon in separate statements have strongly condemned the abduction of four aid workers (two French ladies, a Bulgarian lady and a Belgian man) and two Kenyan pilots from an airstrip near the central Somali town of Dusamareb, and demanded that they be released immediately. Ban Ki-moon called upon all parties to respect the neutral and impartial status of humanitarian staff, and to allow them to do their work bringing vital life-saving assistance to millions of Somalis, nearly half of the population, who are counting on this support for their survival," his statement reads. "It was a flight under contract to the EU Commission and it was an Action Contre la Faim operation," the European Commission spokesman confirmed. Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin said that the ministry would do everything possible to free the woman. The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, however, said no one was hurt and there had been no contact with the kidnappers so far. Aid workers have been increasingly targeted this year for assassination and kidnap in Somalia, where Islamist insurgents are fighting the transitional government and its Ethiopian military allies. Suspicion generally falls on clan militia and the insurgents. But the Islamists accuse President Abdullahi Yusuf’s government of staging such attacks to blacken their name.
"Rescue" gone bad: One of a group of 10 mostly French hostages seized off Cameroon last week by gunmen in speedboats, which abducted the hostages from an oil vessel, has been killed in a rescue attempt, a militia leader has said. A group opposing Nigeria's recent secession of Bakassi to Cameroon, the Bakassi Freedom Fighters, had claimed responsibility for the abduction. Militia commander Ebi Dari said the hostage had died during a raid by security forces in the country's Bakassi Peninsula. There was no immediate official confirmation of the rescue attempt or the hostage killing, and there were conflicting reports about whether the security forces involved were from Cameroon or Nigeria.
Ecoterra Press Statement: (updated) Stay Calm and Solve it Peaceful but Fast
Ecoterra Intl. welcomes the statement by Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council: "The priority should be to resolve the problem only through negotiations with the pirates without the use of force," as well as the statement by Russia: "The Russian Navy rejects the use of force!" as stated by Capt.1st Rank Igor Dygalo to RIA Novosti concerning the FAINA case and lately the statement by the US-American Government: "The United States is seeking a peaceful resolution to the hijacking, while preventing the cargo from falling into the hands of anyone who would use it to further destabilize the region."
Ecoterra International still urges all sides in the case of the hi-jacked Ukrainian ship MV FAINA to further de-escalate the extremely dangerous situation. "If the falcons from Kenya or Sudan, from Russia or Ukraine, from the U.S., NATO or the EU and last but not least some ill-advised regional politicians or religious leaders not to mention some suicidal captors or fanatic volunteers would get their way and drive the case to an end by destroying the vessel and its cargo, a major humanitarian and environmental disaster would be created in the case of the weapons transporter MV FAINA!", Ecoterra Intl. spokesman Dr. Hans-Juergen Duwe stated and expressed his specific trust in Ukrainian Prime Minister Lady Yulia Tymoshenko to care for the lives of her seafarers.
The cargo of the ill-fated ship comprises not only of the 1,500 mt of refurbished battle tanks (33 units), it also consists at least of 1,000 mt other military hardware, including 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition with a substantial amount of 125mm 3BM32, which contain a depleted uranium (DU) penetrator. It can not be ruled out that among other loaded munitions also tank rounds encased in a DU liner for ‘enhanced killing power’ can be found, which Russia has marketed for export and which have an even a higher DU load.
In case Kenya - as announced by its Foreign Minister together with China and India (though India refuted that and stated clearly that it even will not enter Somali territorial waters) - would really get its way and the Ukraine, Russia, France, the United States of America, the EU parties, NATO or any other power are willing to stand by and to do nothing against a military solution, while the FAINA has been prepared by the pirates or commandos in the meantime to be blown up, a grave humanitarian and a major environmental disaster would be created only around 8 miles off coastal villages and 11 km from the town of Obiyo (Hobyo). The whole coastal stretch with other nearby towns like Xarardheere (Haradheere) to the South or Iidaan to the North would be affected.
Depleted uranium (DU) munitions are at least controversial because of unanswered questions about potential long-term health effects and they are classified as a toxic heavy metal. Cellular and animal studies have shown that uranium is a kidney toxin, neurotoxin, immunotoxin, mutagen (agent which changes the genetic information of an organism), carcinogen and teratogen (agent causing malformations of the embryo or foetus), which is why not only the vast majority of countries - including Kenya - have signed a resolution to ban its proliferation, but also the UN and the EU work on its global ban.
"The acutely pending humanitarian and environmental crisis and disaster situation still can be averted by thorough negotiations", Dr. Duwe is convinced, "because the pirates are only interested in the money and a quick, safe get-away".
"This crisis is of such magnitude that it can not be left to diplomats in Nairobi or to the arms-exporters to drag on, while the military hard-liners, referring to ill-advised demands by some biased Somali politicians, who this time might not benefit, get ready or "allow" others to blow this case into a real problem", the Ecoterra spokesman concluded with the advise that the stand-off must be solved peacefully by a payment coming from those who left this dangerous shipment unprotected into Somali waters. Ecoterra Intl. demands that the UN agencies tasked with peacekeeping and arms-embargoes in the region as well as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the IAEA concerned with nuclear hazards as well as other relevant organizations are called in to inspect the cargo after the pirates release it.
Since 26. Sept. 2008 Ecoterra Intl. has daily urged the Somali group, which hi-jacked FV FAINA, to treat the ship's crew with all human respect, to allow medical personnel as well as supplies for the people to come on board, to not tamper with the cargo and to agree to an unproblematic quick and directly negotiated solution to the crisis. Likewise Ecoterra called on the governments involved to live up to their responsibilities. The recent developments, however, characterized by calling in the guns to bring the stand-off to an end would cause a real disaster and must be averted by all means.
It must be avoided too that the now re-enforced pirate-gang becomes so paranoid and desperate that they would blow up the ship or start killing members of the crew. Even though some war-mongers might see Ukrainian seafarers only as collateral damage, the world community has to recognize and safeguard their human rights - to life at least and not to be sacrificed for the smooth running of legal or illegal business as usual. Under the present situation the pirates might even abandon the ship and leave the crew unharmed, if the Navy ships would open for them an escape possibility. Not doing so means either paying or having to sacrifice the crew, the ship and the cargo as well as creating an environmental disaster at the seashore of impoverished Somalia.
Ecoterra Intl. together with Madam Nyna Karpachyova, the Ukrainian parliament's human rights ombudsman, and the Ukrainian as well as Russian families and in accordance with many national and international Human Rights Organizations and several embassies in the region plead not to sacrifice the crew but to come now to a quick solution and a peaceful release of the vessel.
Ecoterra Intl. in addition urges the NATO fleet and other navy ships involved in securing the waters off Somalia to also assist in fighting illegal fishing by foreign vessels, even or especially if they have links to their home countries and to arrest any case of toxic waste dumping in a way that it can be prosecuted under UNCLOS and other relevant legislation by the International Maritime Court in Hamburg and its International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) or even by the ICC as far as the international humanitarian law and human rights are affected in cases of toxic or nuclear waste dumping having genocidal impacts on the coastal people of Somalia. "Also self-discipline is what is asked for from the nations, who send now their navies into Somalia's waters," concluded the Ecoterra spokesman.
Ecoterra Intl. and ECOP-marine on 2nd November declared Captain Andres Breijo, the Spanish head of the new anti-piracy mission of the European Union - dubbed EU NAVCO - unfit to hold this high office. The Spanish captain made the following statement in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph: "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, "Now they have human rights."
While some frustrations felt by Europe's admiralty due to their restrictive rules of engagement could be understood due to the complex and tricky legal situation in the waters of Somalia, "the obvious wish of Capt. Breijo to tackle situations the old way, is an indication that he would not necessarily like to follow the rule of law and his obvious disregard for today's set of human rights is appalling," a spokesman for the organizations said and added: "We request that Capt. Breijo is relieved from his duties with immediate effect and be replaced with a commander, who is experienced in critical situations, educated to the highest standards, respectful to the laws and human rights and does not hail from a country, whose illegal fishing activities in Somalia have been recorded since many years, whereby conflict of interest is given."
By stating further: "What can you do?" said Capt. Breijo, "They don't belong to any nation." - the present commander of NAVCO showed without any doubt that he is not even aware that Somalia is a nation and Somalia's citizens belong to that nation. Capt. Breijo thereby demonstrated total disrespect for the territory and the people he would have to assist in safeguarding the Somali waters from criminal activities and he also disqualified himself from being able to trustworthy represent the states and peoples of the European Union in this important mission at the Horn of Africa.
Note
Reading Ecoterra's demand to relieve the Spanish head of the new anti-piracy mission of the European Union, Capt. Andres Breijo for given reason from his duties with immediate effect, many supporting statements for this necessary step were received. One such statement reads in excerpt: I read your reporting of what Spanish Captain BREIGO, as head of EU NAVCO, said regarding Pirates. I, as a EU Citizen and former captive of Somali pirates, am horrified at his reported utterances. If the CAPITANO was on board a highjacked vessel and had a Kalashnikov assault gun with two clips full of ammunition and one round up the breech put to his head as he went to the toilet, he would sing a different tune. Clear off and leave the work of dealing and negotiating with pirates to the professionals, who have the experience, character and qualification. Patience, understanding and a love of fellow man is needed in these circumstances, and a modicum of psychology. The Pirates themselves have a code of behaviour and punish their own, Capt. BREIGO.
Ecoterra Intl. supports this statement and can make the contacts of that professional seafarer as well as the contacts of a Captain of an abducted and released ship available to interested parties, since both agreed to be available to be addressed "with questions, and we will try and answer truthfully".
44th Update 2008-11-07 15:25:17 UTC
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.
We also can make sea-piracy in Somalia an issue of the past - with empathy and strength and through coastal and marine development as well as protection!
New EA Seafarers Assistance Programme Emergency Helpline: +254-738-497979
East African Seafarers Assistance Programme - Media Officer: +254-733-385868
Day 44 - 1033 h into the FAINA Crisis – Update Summary
Increased efforts for a peaceful release continued, but the now one and a half month long 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.
It is expected that around the weekend further important details for the release will be elaborated.
Other news -----
It has transpired and reports from Somalia indicate that the abduction of the 4 European aid-workers and two Kenyan pilots would have a background related to the killing of a prominent Somali Islamist Adan Hashi Ceyrow (Eyrow, Ayrow) near Dusamareb. The Dhusamareb airstrike took place on May 1, 2008, at around 3:00 am local time when - after four United States aircraft were overflying the area since 2 o'clock a.m. and allegedly also dropped bombs - admittedly a U.S. naval ship from the Navy's 5th Fleet based in Bahrain launched a missile attack from an off-shore location with five Tomahawk cruise missiles against a village in the Dhuusamarreeb (Dusamareb) area in central Somalia. The attack was targeted against the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab. More than twenty people were killed in the strike, among them two leading militants and numerous civilians. The insurgency spokesman named the dead Islamist leaders as Aden Hashi Ayro and Sheikh Muhyadin Omar. Many civilians were injured. Some analysts close to the Washington Post stated back then that the United States has exaggerated the Somali insurgents' ties to al-Qaeda and were taking sides in a messy civil war at the cost of rising anti-American sentiment in a moderate Muslim country. Immediately after the killings Islamist fighters in Somalia threatened to avenge the death of Eyrow, their leader of Hizbul Shabaab, and warned Americans to stay out of the Horn of Africa nation. The warning also applies to citizens of countries friendly to the United States and to neighboring Ethiopia, which has sent troops to fight Somalia's Islamist insurgency, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow (or Abu Mansur) had stated at that time. Now it seems that the six hostages are held by the very militia, who sees Eyrow as a martyr and vowed to pay back. Frantic efforts by human rights defenders have been made for the abducted aid-workers and pilots in order to avert a senseless killing in revenge.
The deployment of warships from European Union states against pirates off the coast of Somalia is to begin in December, EU diplomats said Friday. The final decisions on the matter are to be taken on Monday at a EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. The operation, to be called Atalanta, is to be led by an admiral from Britain's Northwood naval command, and tasked with protecting freighters against pirate attacks either off the Somali coast or on their way into Mogadishu ports. The defence against pirates is to include the use of force if necessary, diplomats said. Pirates are not only to be combated but detained if possible and brought before courts in the countries deploying the war ships. Details of the deployment are to be decided later.
With a new round of negotiations resuming for MT STOLT VALOR, fresh hope comes for the families of the seafarers.
Lloyd's List reports that SVITZER has become the first major shipping company openly to confirm that it is rerouting all vessels around the Cape of Good Hope at all times, in preference to transiting the Suez Canal, seeking to avoid the risk of pirate attack in waters close to Somalia. The decision comes after the towage and salvage contractor earlier this year became the victim of a vicious vessel hijack, which saw Somali pirates seize its tug Svitzer Korsakov on a voyage from St Petersburg to Sakhalin in February. The unit and its crew of six was released the following month, reportedly on payment of a ransom widely reported at $700,000. A representative of the company added that the proscription applied in all circumstances but did not wish to discuss costs, beyond saying that the company had decided to absorb the impact, because it believes the safety of personnel is paramount. Other companies are known to have adopted a similar policy.
45th Update 2008-11-08 14:01:53 UTC
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.
We also can make sea-piracy in Somalia an issue of the past - with empathy and strength and through coastal and marine development as well as protection!
New EA Seafarers Assistance Programme Emergency Helpline: +254-738-497979
East African Seafarers Assistance Programme - Media Officer: +254-733-385868
Day 45 - 1056 h into the FAINA Crisis - Update Summary
Increased efforts for a peaceful release continued, but the now one and a half month long 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.
Numerous attempts to have Somali members of parliament contributing to a faster and peaceful solution have been so far fruitless, since still too much interference from solely profit-oriented sides disturb a meaningful way forward.
Other news -----
Somali pirates stormed yesterday at 12h40 GMT a ship off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, using rocket launchers and Kalashnikov assault rifles. News of the attack were first relayed by the captain of an Italian ship, the 'PB Tankers Green Point', from the sailing company Pietro Barbaro. The Danish operated cargo CEC FUTURE under Bahamas flag has according to the latest crew-list 13 seafarers on board (8 Russians, 4 Estonians, 1 Georgian), who were recruited by Baltic Crew International Ltd and are supported by the Latvian Seafarers Union. The ship is owned by CEC Future Shipping and was sailing from the Middle East to Asia while being managed by CLIPPER PROJECT SHIP MGMT AS from Copenhagen, Denmark. The sea-jacking was today confirmed by the piracy reporting centre Kuala-Lumpur and the company as well as Kjeld Fredriksen, duty commander at the Danish Admiral Fleet. The Danish maritime official said that the shipping company would be responsible for any negotiations with the pirates or ransom payments. The crew members are unharmed, the Danish company Clipper Group said. "Clipper is in close communication with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of crew and to establish contact with the hijackers," the company said. The new attacks come despite increased international cooperation to crack down on pirates near Somalia.
Unconfirmed reports from the Gulf of Aden speak of a recent incident involving a British naval ship and a Somali skiff.
While the aircraft of the abducted four aid-workers from Dhuusa Mareeb (Dusamareb) was quickly picked up by another company pilot and brought back to Nairobi, the European ACF staff and the two Kenyan pilots were taken by their around 20 well organized and heavily armed kidnappers further inland passed Ceel Qooxle (Elkoole) near Ceel Buur - 250 kilometres (155 miles) northeast of Mogadishu. Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, a top Islamist leader exiled in the Eritrean capital Asmara, condemned the abductions. "I am condemning the kidnapping of aid workers that are helping Somalia, they deserve respect and protection," he told AFP. "The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally, there is no religious explanation for such acts," the cleric added. "The few elements who did that in Dhusa Mareb are a disgrace and I am appealing to them to release the hostages and fully refrain from such acts of violence," Sheikh Aweys said.
Meanwhile, a Somali armed group that kidnapped a Japanese woman and a Dutch man working for a French medical charity in the Ogaden , the so called Somali Region 5, occupied by Ethiopia, demanded USD 3 million (EUR 2.32 million) to release their hostages on Wednesday, since their earlier demands to have political and religious prisoners released from Ethiopian jails were not met. Ethiopian government forces have carried out devastating military operations in the Ogaden, a large south-eastern region populated by ethnic Somalis where groups have been fighting for independence.
A group of more than 200 Somali MPs are stranded in the Kenyan capital a week after attending a regional summit. The MPs say the organisers of the summit have refused to cover their travel expenses back to Somalia. One of the MPs told the BBC's Network Africa programme that the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) was supposed to pay their expenses and arrange their flights back to Somalia. One of the MPs told the BBC's Network Africa programme that the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) was supposed to pay their expenses and arrange their flights back to Somalia. The MPs were now trying to pay for their expenses themselves and go back to Somalia, Mr Iro said.
46th Update 2008-11-10 15:45:12 UTC
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.
We also can make sea-piracy in Somalia an issue of the past - with empathy and strength and through coastal and marine development as well as protection!
New EA Seafarers Assistance Programme Emergency Helpline: +254-738-497979
East African Seafarers Assistance Programme - Media Officer: +254-733-385868
Day 47 - 1105 h into the FAINA crisis - Update Summary
Increased efforts for a peaceful release continued, but the now one and a half month long 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.
Russian and Ukrainian families get impatient and start to speak out again in order to speed up the release process though they had received gagging orders.
Russian sources claimed today that MV CAPT. STEFANOS, which is anchored close to MV FAINA and has one Ukrainian on board, had been released, but this information was quickly dismissed from the ground and later also the Greek owner denied the rumour.
Military raids into foreign countries, typically carried out by U.S. Special Operations (forces, were authorized by a classified order that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld had signed in spring of 2004 with the approval of President George W. Bush, the officials said. The secret order gave the U.S. military new authority to attack terrorist networks anywhere in the world, and a more sweeping mandate to conduct operations in countries not at war with the United States. the New York Times reported. Some of the military missions have been conducted in close coordination with the C.I.A., according to senior American officials describing nearly a dozen previously undisclosed attacks. Some were conducted in coordination with the CIA and one was broadcast live to CIA headquarters in Virginia, via cameras mounted on aircraft. Whereas in the past the Pentagon needed to get approval for missions on a case-by-case basis, which could take days when there were only hours to act, the new order specified a way for Pentagon planners to get the green light for a mission far more quickly, the official said. The secret executive order was issued after the Bush administration had already granted America’s intelligence agencies sweeping power to secretly detain and interrogate terrorism suspects in overseas prisons and to conduct warrantless eavesdropping on telephone and electronic communications. Even with the order, each specific mission requires high-level government approval. Targets in Somalia, for instance, need at least the approval of the defense secretary, the administration official said, while targets in a handful of countries, including Pakistan and Syria, require presidential approval. The Pentagon has exercised its authority frequently, dispatching commandos to countries including Pakistan and Somalia. For example, shortly after Ethiopian troops crossed into Somalia in late 2006 to dislodge an Islamist regime in Mogadishu, the Pentagon’s Joint Special Operations Command quietly sent operatives and AC-130 gunships to an airstrip near the Ethiopian town of Dire Dawa. From there, members of a classified unit called Task Force 88 crossed repeatedly into Somalia to hunt senior members of a Qaeda cell believed to be responsible for the 1998 American Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. At the time, American officials said Special Operations troops were operating under a classified directive authorizing the military to kill or capture Qaeda operatives if failure to act quickly would mean the United States had lost a "fleeting opportunity" to neutralize the enemy. Occasionally, the officials said, Special Operations troops would land in Somalia to assess the strikes’ results. On Jan. 7, 2007, an AC-130 struck an isolated village near the Kenyan border, and within hours, American commandos and Ethiopian troops were examining the rubble to determine whether any Qaeda operatives had been killed. One prominent member of the U.S. Congress had criticized the U.S. military moves. The chairman of the House of Representatives Africa Subcommittee, Democrat Donald Payne, told VOA he believes U.S. policy in the region is based on wrong information. "Most of those Islamic Courts Union leaders were moderates, in my opinion," he said. Ras Kiamboni, Dhoble, Afmadow, a village near Baidoa, Dusa Mareb and other locations all suffered from these secret air strikes over the last years with little achievement. The only one who claimed that Hassan Turki, a senior ICU commander, was killed in the Dhoble attack, was none other than Oliver North, the convicted serial liar, who was a useful tool of evil back in the days of the Iran/Contra Scandal. While Hassan Turki continues to lead his people in Southern Somalia, the killing in such a strike of prominent Somali Islamist Adan Hashi Ceyrow has led to today's indiscriminate situation where all foreigners, even friends of Somalia and aid-workers are targeted in hi-jackings. U.S. President elect Barack Obama wants to find now ways to make his mark quickly in the opening days of his presidency and reverse the legacy of George W. Bush. Obama will focus his efforts on the list of executive orders that shaped White House policy, reversing them quickly.
That does not require legislative approval, but it could bring the most contentious issues to the forefront immediately. Members of the team Barack Obama has put together confirmed over the weekend that the incoming president will immediately overturn executive orders President Bush put in place as soon as possible after he takes office in around 10 weeks. Observers expect quite a number of U.S. atrocities to take place in the remaining time of the George W. Bush executive-order-ship and many people wonder, if Obama could not take over immediately to avert such.
Other news from abducted ships -----
The captors of STOLT VALOR have agreed to allow medicine, food and drinking water for the crew to come on board and have consented to a final and decisive round of negotiations concerning the release of crew and ship.
Like in many cases the crew-lists are confusing. The actual crew-list (8 Russians, 4 Estonians, 1 Georgian) with the International Transfort Workers Federation (ITF) concerning the small dry-cargo vessel MV CEC FUTURE - with a gross tonnage of 4980 and sea-jacked Friday - was obviously more or less correct (as reported here). After that publication, the sip-owner had made statements to the press that the crew would consist of 11 Russians, 1 Georgian and 1 Lithuanian, which obviously is not correct.
The Estonian government clarified: "Four persons with Russian citizenship who are permanently residing in Estonia and one person also residing permanently in Estonia but without citizenship of any state are on board", Kersti Luha, spokeswoman of the Estonian foreign ministry said. The Estonian foreign ministry contacted the Russian embassy in Tallinn last weekend and discussed the case with the Russian foreign ministry. "The Estonian embassy in Copenhagen met with Clipper Group representatives to coordinate our activities. Five crew members have their homes in Estonia and we do our best to help them", Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated on Sunday. Humanitarian work in these hostage cases is often hampered by incorrect crew-lists, illegal passengers allowed on board by the master and stowaways.
The abduction of the ship was finally also confirmed by a coalition aircraft, though neither the NATO naval forces nor Russia’s frigate Neustrashimy had prevented hijackers from their audacious attack. According to a short statement from the Master, the 13 crew members are unharmed and the vessel is being directed towards the northern shore of Somalia. In a statement, ship manager Clipper Projects said there had been no contact with the hijackers.
Other news "The escalation continues!" ------
The European Union is to send a fleet of frigates and spotter aircraft to the seas off Somalia in order to combat piracy there. The European Union formally launched Monday an anti-piracy security operation off the coast of Somalia - its first ever naval mission - the EU's French presidency said. The mission, dubbed "Operation Atalanta", was endorsed today by the bloc's defence ministers at regular talks in Brussels. EU ships will also help protect UN and other vulnerable vessels seeking to transport aid into strife-torn Somalia. The so-called EUNAVOR mission will be made up of at least seven ships, including three frigates and a supply vessel. It will also be backed by surveillance aircraft. The mission will be run from a headquarters at Northwood, north of London, with contributions from France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Spain, with Portugal, Sweden and non-EU nation Norway also likely to take part. The decision gives the green light to deploy to the Horn of Africa around mid-December, officials said. The force, commanded from the British naval base of Northwood by British Rear-Admiral Philip Jones, is tasked with protecting merchant ships and aid vessels bound for the Somalia port of Mogadishu.
In its second meeting, the Arab Peace and Security Council, affiliated with the Arab League, failed to reach a decisive agreement over a united Arab approach to fight piracy off Somalia coasts. The failure of the meeting in this respect has bothered Yemen which fears the increased deployment of warships to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Deploying an Arab force was in the agenda of President Saleh who paid recent visits to the concerned countries including Egypt and Saudi Arabia. It is worth-mentioning that both Yemen and Egypt called on Arab countries to shoulder the responsibility of protecting the Arab Sea and the Gulf of Aden, especially when there has been increased activity for warships of world powers and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the area. Diplomatic sources added that Yemen and Egypt have previous experience in protecting the Red Sea security during the 1973 October War when Egypt showed a strong will to safeguard the Red Sea waters against any Israeli assaults. However, the statement issued at the end of the meeting called on Arab countries overlooking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to work together for the establishment of powerful forces to protect these waterways against the constant attacks of Somali pirates.
After the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) had deployed seven warships to face the increased activities of Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean observers hint that NATO's act was meant for protecting ships passing the strait of Bab Al-Mandab and this gestures mean that countries overlooking the Arab Sea and Gulf of Aden are incapable of preventing the terrorist activities of pirates, especially the troubled Somalia. Such moves have alarmed the countries overlooking the Red and Arab Seas as well as the Indian Ocean, particularly Yemen, which expressed its fears over the western presence in the area and considered the operations to be threatening to the Arab national security, since several observers stress that protecting the commercial interests of the NATO countries is not the only reason, as they seek to reinforce their presence in the region, particularly in the vital routes of world trade and oil supplies.
The intensive multinational military presence in the southern outlet of the Red Sea is worrying," said Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Kurbi, quoted by Saba state news agency. Kurbi warned that such a heavy foreign presence endangers "Arab national security" and could lead to an "internationalisation" of the Red Sea that he said "was proposed in the past by Israel but faced an Arab rejection". In return, Somali pirates always accuse European firms of illegal fishing and dumping of toxic waste off the Somali coast. Though their allegations are somewhat true, money remains the main objective of the pirates. According to coastguard officers, Yemen has sought to fight piracy and the illegal activities of pirates in its regional and international waters; however, its efforts have limited success because the country has limited resources and was incapable of building a well-trained coastguard force and purchasing developed equipments and hardware that make this task easy. Yemen will soon host a regional center for fighting piracy through the collaboration with 20 countries and the International Maritime Organization. The center will work for restricting piracy activities targeting ships off Yemen's coasts, especially in the international waters between Yemen and Somalia. Coastguard officers revealed that plans for upgrading and developing coastguard forces were presented to the concerned authorities. In this regard, Sana'a University Professor Abdullah Al-Faqih enquired about what the government has done with the surplus of oil revenues over the last two years, especially when oil prices increased markedly and hit record level this year, and he demanded from the Yemen government to allocate YR 2 billion for upgrading and equipping the coastguard forces.
The commander of a multinational naval force off Somalia's coast says a shipping corridor patrolled by warships is helping protect merchant vessels from a surge in pirate attacks. Danish Commodore Per Bigum Christensen says 90 percent of ships transiting the perilous Gulf of Aden are using the corridor and there have been no attacks inside the zone since it was established in August. Christensen said in a phone interview on Monday from his East African base in Djibouti that coalition naval forces were also having success using planes, helicopters and drones to search for suspect vessels.
Official sources revealed that President Ali Abdullah Saleh is expected to visit Russia next Wednesday to sign large weapons deals. The visit marks the 80th anniversary of Yemeni-Russian bilateral relations. Yemeni-Russian bilateral relations have recently developed at all levels and Yemen is considered among the biggest importers of Russian weapons in the Middle East. Some sources stress that it just follows Syria as for the volume of weapons sales from Russia in the Middle East.
Two female foreign aid workers have been kidnapped this morning from Kenya and taken into Somalia, an elder from the area said on Monday. Both employees, were seized from Elwaq village where they were visiting drought-hit areas, said Shaban Mohamud Ismael an elder in the town. "Two expatriate workers on mission in Elwaq were taken Monday by armed gunmen with three cars", Shaban relayed. The agency the hostages are working for is not yet known.
The 4 ACF aid-workers and two pilots abducted from Dusa Mareb have allegedly been brought to the northern outskirts of Mogadishu.
Unidentified gunmen shot and killed the local head of U.S.-based aid group Mercy Corps Saturday night in Jamame, a farming town in southern Somalia, Radio Garowe reported. Mohamed Mohamud "Sakow" died at the scene moments after he walked out of a mosque and was heading home after night-time prayers, said local Ali Farah. "He was shot in the head and relatives picked up his body minutes later," he said, adding that "the merciless killers" escaped.
India and Oman have agreed to step up defence cooperation by upgrading their joint naval exercises. India also appreciated the Omani gesture of providing berthing facilities for its warship which is patrolling the piracy-hit waters off the shores of Somalia where 18 Indians are currently being held hostage by pirates. After concluding his engagements in Oman, the Prime Minister later left for Qatar where he is expected to sign two agreements in the defence sphere.
47th Update 2008-11-11 15:05:23 UTC
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.
We also can make sea-piracy in Somalia an issue of the past - with empathy and strength and through coastal and marine development as well as protection!
New EA Seafarers Assistance Programme Emergency Helpline: +254-738-497979
East African Seafarers Assistance Programme - Media Officer: +254-733-385868
Day 48 - 1129 h into the FAINA crisis - Update Summary
Increased efforts for a peaceful release continued, but the now one and a half month long 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.
The health of the crew aboard a Ukrainian cargo ship seized by pirates off the Somali coast more than a month ago is "satisfactory," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. The U.S. Navy had confirmed this with another line-up and close watch of the crew on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008 from the USS Vella Gulf. "The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has daily contacts with the Ukrainian sailors' family members and informs them of the situation," the ministry's statement said. "The representatives of the mediator company are carrying out the talks with pirates on releasing the crew members and the ship," the statement said. The Foreign Ministry said that food and drinking water were recently delivered to the ship.
Meanwhile the Russian Neustrashimy (Fearless) frigate is providing protection for a Danish vessel carrying Russian crew members off the Somali coast, a Russian navy spokesman said on Tuesday. "The Danish side has asked through diplomatic channels for a Russian warship to escort its vessel in the Gulf of Aden," Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said, adding that the crew included 15 Russian seamen.
Other news from abducted ships ----------
MV STOLT STRENGTH, a 2005-built chemical tanker under Philippine flag with a gross tonnage of 20,059 (33,209 dwt) and 21 Filipino crew members, was sea-jacked late yesterday in the Gulf of Aden. The company serving as a front for SAGANA SHIPPING (President Victoriano Miranda), the Manila-based owner of the vessel, is listed as SAFEMARINE CORP SA, Panama and the management of the ship on long term lease to shipping group STOLT-NIELSEN is VICTORIA SHIP MANAGEMENT INC, Manila, Philippines. All crew is well and Sagana Shipping has been contacted. "All of the crew’s relatives have been notified; and the owners and managers offer their deepest sympathy to the families and relatives of the crew at this stressful time," the spokesman of Sagana said. He added: "The owners and managers are making every effort to maintain the safety of the crew and families. And relatives of the crew will be kept briefed on the welfare of the crew at regular intervals".
While Lloyd's List claimed MV STOLT STRENGTH had loaded in Aden and was going to Asia, the owner stated that it came from Dakar (Senegal) en route to Kandla (India) with a load of phosphoric acid. The Sagana Shipping spokesman insisted the Stolt Strength was sailing within the designated corridor in the Gulf of Aden at the time of the hijacking. Officials with the international task force said the vessel was heading along the coast of East Africa towards Somalia. The spokesman of the company said the all-Philippine crew took evasive action to avoid the pirates but this proved unsuccessful. In Manila, Foreign Ministry spokesman Claro Cristobal said the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi and the ship's operator identified the chemical tanker as the MT Stolt Strength. All 23 seamen on board are Filipino and are "reportedly unharmed," he confirmed, adding that Philippine authorities are coordinating with the ship's operator to secure the early safe release of the vessel and crew.
Earlier a Saudi-Arabia-flagged refrigerated cargo vessel came under attacked from presumed pirated along the Indian Ocean Coast of Somalia. The master of the Refer ship, which is operated out of Britain, could manage to escape with evasive manoeuvres.
In the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Navy averted an attack against an Indian vessel. In a swift action, warship INS Tabar intervened to thwart two near-simultaneous attacks on Tuesday by pirates on an Indian cargo vessel MV Jag Arnav and a Saudi flag carrier MV NCC Thihama within 25 nautical miles of each other. In a daring operation, the Indian Navy, having received the SOS first from the Saudi vessel, repulsed the hijack attempt on Indian merchant ship MV Jag Arnav, a 38,265 tonnes bulk carrier owned by Mumbai based Great Eastern Shipping Co Ltd. The ship had transited the Suez Canal a few days ago and was eastward bound in the Gulf of Aden when she came under attack from pirates in the Gulf of Aden region 60 nautical miles east of Aden. The incident took when pirates tried to board the ship in an attempt to hijack it in place at around 10.30 am IST. The Indian Navy got into action in response to the alarm raised by the ship’s crew. Armed helicopters with marine commandos on-board were dispatched from warship INS Gomti that was on patrol duty in the region.
A naval helicopter fired on the pirates, who then fled from the scene. As of now Jag Arnav is being escorted to safe waters by another Indian warship, INS Sabar. The successful operation marks a first for the Indian Navy as it was specifically deployed in the region in the wake of continued hijack attempts on Indian ships and crew – notably the hijack of MV Stolt Valor. Commenting on the rescue mission, Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said: ‘Piracy is a crime which all men of war are required to combat at all times. ‘Indian Naval Ships operating in piracy infected areas are always in a high state of alert and have the capability to intervene by air or ship borne weapons. Their mandate is to ensure that the safety of our sovereign assets is maintained,’ Mehta added.
The latest Indian seafarer-victims, aboard the chemical tanker "M/T Stolt Strength," were reported by the Philippine embassy in Nairobi as unharmed, DFA spokesman Claro Cristobal said today.
Sea-jacked MV CEC FUTURE has arrived in Eyl on the Somali coast.
Other news "The escalation continues!" -------------
Somali sea-bandits have already shifted their tactics in response to the naval patrols, positioning attack teams on the northern and southern ends of the shipping zone to stretch the already thin naval forces, Christensen said. Aboard stolen fishing trawlers and other "mother ships" loaded with food, diesel and water, pirates can loiter several hundred miles offshore for days. Hiding among clusters of fishing boats, the bandits launch armed skiffs with powerful outboard engines as attack craft when a target is spotted, often clambering aboard a ship by ladder or grappling equipment in a matter of minutes. The naval forces have captured six pirate attack teams — around 60 people — since October, Danish Commodore Per Bigum Christensen said. But after seizing their weapons and equipment, the sailors must release the bandits at sea to sail back to Somalia because no country has been willing to bring them to trial. Questions still surround also the mission's rules of engagement for EUNAVOR's "Operation Atalanta". Under European human rights laws any pirates captured by the force cannot be handed over to states, including Somalia, where suspects could face the death penalty, torture or degrading treatment.
The Netherlands is prepared to take command of the new European Union mission which will fight piracy off the Somali coast, reports Tuesday's Volkskrant. Mission Atlanta is due to start next month and the Dutch have offered to take over leadership in August next year. The offer was made at a meeting of EU foreign and defence ministers on Monday in Brussels but the Dutch government still has to agree to the move, defence minister
Eimert van Middelkoop told the paper.
Mohamed Noor Moalim, the regional education officer in Beletweyn, Hiraan region of Somalia, was freed yesterday late afternoon by al-Shabaab troops operating in Hiraan region, who arrested the kidnappers and handed them over to the authorities of Beletweyn. Mohamed Noor was yesterday kidnapped by 9 well-armed gunmen of a militia from the Galjeel clan. Beletweyn is said to be now under the control of the al-Shabaab movement.
The two Italian nuns were taken yesterday during a pre-dawn raid in the border town of El Wak, about 400 miles (645km) north-east of the capital. The Kenyan Red Cross said the gunmen escaped in three hijacked vehicles. A local aid worker was quoted as saying the nuns had been taken in the midst of a shoot-out at a church, while the Kenyan Red Cross said the women had been taken hostage at their home. Kenyan police said they were collaborating with Somali elders over the incident, AFP news agency reported. The Italian foreign ministry said it was also working to secure the release of the Catholic nuns, adding that the papal nuncio in Kenya was involved.
Special feature ----------
US Troops Reportedly Hunting Wildlife in Central Somalia
Xaradheere, 10th November 2008
People living along the pirate-infested coastline of central Somalia have been scared by helicopters bearing U.S. flags. The helicopters have not attacked people so far, but are hunting wildlife in the area, residents say.
It is not the first time residents of central Somalia have complained about the troops, who are believed to be US Americans stationed inside Somalia or on warships to fight pirates, who have engaged in illegal hunting of wildlife and even captured several wild animals and transported them to their warships off the Somali coast.
Yusuf Hirsi, who resides in a location near the coastline said in the most recent incident three U.S. helicopters were searching and hunting down wild animals. He said he would invite journalists to demonstrate the problems inflicted on them by the troops.
"The US troops in Somalia are now hunting the country's wildlife under the guise of fighting pirates or protecting the Somali coastline", Yusuf Hirsi said.
The environmentalists have especially pointed their finger of blame also at the local administrations. Some Somali regions are exporting illegally wildlife and local businessmen have gone into private contracts with foreign agencies to sell the legally protected Somali national property.
Environmental groups have stated that every such illegal act is now being recorded and one day those responsible and those giving them the facilitation for the poaching and illegal export will be brought to justice.
Mogadishu, despite the lack of a strong central authority, still saw independent organizations marking the World Environment Day with celebrations. This year the global theme is "Give Eearth a Chance".
Luckily the second Commander in Chief of the U.S. will not be one Sarah Palin, since "her world" is the backwoods of Alaska, which has among the nation's highest per capita incidence of alcoholism, incest, and teenage pregnancy a situation where people unwind on weekends by hunting wildlife from helicopters with semi-automatic machine guns. Somalia must not be turned into another U.S. backwood.
Lt. Nathan Christensen, a deputy spokesman for the U.S. navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, when asked about the reported incidents, stated that the U.S. would not be permitted any of their troops to engage in any hunting of wild species, but was not able to provide a standing order or code of conduct to that extent. U.S. navy's Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, commander of Combined Maritime Forces, was not reachable for comment, since he was said to be traveling.
The issue is being followed up now by Ecoterra Intl. with U.S. CENTCOM and AFRICOM, since similar incidences were already observed and documented during UNISOM days.
As I intend to expand further, and publish a recapitulative record of the insightful press releases of the leading NGO Ecoterra, I present here a list of my earlier articles (21 in total) on the subject (titles and links); the list is in ascending order with the latest article being mentioned first.
Waiting for the tempest aboard MV FAINA – Ecoterra 41st and 42nd Updates
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/waiting-for-the-tempest-aboard-mv-faina-ecoterra-41st-and-42nd-updates.html
An Abyss Under Preparation: MV FAINA Piracy Crisis off the Somali Coast
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/an-abyss-under-preparation-mv-faina-piracy-crisis-off-the-somali-coast.html
38 Days off the Somali Coast: MV FAINA Crisis – Ecoterra 36th and 37th Updates
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/38-days-off-the-somali-coast-mv-faina-crisis-ecoterra-36th-and-37th-updates.html
As Neustrashimy sails in the Gulf of Aden, MV FAINA Crisis Remains Unresolved
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/as-neustrashimy-sails-in-the-gulf-of-aden-mv-faina-crisis-remains-unresolved.html
MV FAINA Negotiations: Hostage-freeing Process Approaching Culmination
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/mv-faina-negotiations-hostage-freeing-process-approaching-culmination.html
Israel Involved in the Somali Piracy of MV FAINA? Revelations from Yemen
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/israel-involved-in-the-somali-piracy-of-mv-faina-revelations-from-yemen.html
MV FAINA Piracy Crisis – The Naval & Military Build-up – An Analysis by Ecoterra
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/mv-faina-piracy-crisis-the-naval-military-build-up-an-analysis-by-ecoterra.html
MV FAINA Piracy Crisis – The Weapons Saga – An Insightful by Ecoterra
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/mv-faina-piracy-crisis-the-weapons-saga-an-insightful-by-ecoterra.html
30 Days MV FAINA Piracy Crisis – Background by Ecoterra
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/30-days-mv-faina-piracy-crisis-background-by-ecoterra.html
30 Days MV FAINA Piracy Crisis – Ecoterra 29th and 30th Updates
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/30-days-mv-faina-piracy-crisis-ecoterra-29th-and-30th-updates.html
MV FAINA Countdown Moment May Be Nigh - Ecoterra 28th Update
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/mv-faina-countdown-moment-may-be-nigh-ecoterra-28th-update.html
Yemenite Connection and Viewpoints on the MV FAINA Piracy Crisis off the Somali Coast
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/yemenite-connection-and-viewpoints-on-the-mv-faina-piracy-crisis-off-the-somali-coast.html
Waiting for the Neustrashimy, off the Somali Coast at Hobyo – Ecoterra 27th Update
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/waiting-for-the-neustrashimy-off-the-somali-coast-at-hobyo-ecoterra-27th-update.html
MV FAINA Cargo for Yemen? Ecoterra 26th Update on the Piracy Crisis off the Somali Coast
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/mv-faina-cargo-for-yemen-ecoterra-26th-update-on-the-piracy-crisis-off-the-somali-coast.html
Latest Updates from Ecoterra on the MV FAINA Piracy Crisis off the Somali Coast
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/latest-updates-from-ecoterra-on-the-mv-faina-piracy-crisis-off-the-somali-coast.html
UN Resolution Heralding Depleted Uranium Contamination of East Africa and the Indian Ocean?
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/un-resolution-heralding-depleted-uranium-contamination-of-east-africa-and-the-indian-ocean.html
Military Solution in the MV FAINA Piracy Crisis Heralds Overall Aggravation
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/military-solution-in-the-mv-faina-piracy-crisis-heralds-overall-aggravation.html
Ecoterra Updates on the MV FAINA Piracy Crisis off the Somali Coast
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ecoterra-updates-on-the-mv-faina-piracy-crisis-off-the-somali-coast.html
Down with the Kenyan Paramilitary – Freedom for Andrew Mwangura – Light on Illegal Arms Deals
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/down-with-the-kenyan-paramilitary-freedom-for-andrew-mwangura-light-on-illegal-arms-deals.html
Horn of Africa Region About to Explode, following Somali Piracy of the Ukrainian MV FAINA
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/horn-of-africa-region-about-to-explode-following-somali-piracy-of-the-ukrainian-mv-faina.html
Ecoterra Press Release on the Global Stand-off with Somali Pirates of the Ukrainian MV FAINA
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ecoterra-press-release-on-the-global-stand-off-with-somali-pirates-of-the-ukrainian-mv-faina.html
In the present article, I will publish the Ecoterra Press Release updates no 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47. The order of publication is descending with the oldest being republished first. In forthcoming articles, I will complete the record.
43th Update 2008-11-06 14:38:26 UTC
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.
We also can make sea-piracy in Somalia an issue of the past - with empathy and strength and through coastal and marine development as well as protection !
New EA Seafarers Assistance Programme Emergency Helpline: +254-738-497979
East African Seafarers Assistance Programme - Media Officer: +254-733-385868
Day 43 - 1008 h into the FAINA Crisis – Update Summary
Increased efforts for a peaceful release continued, but the now one and a half month long 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.
NATO in a press-conference in Mombasa stated today clearly that a military interference with the stand-off concerning MV FAINA is ruled out so far.
Negotiators have moved closer to the scene in order to finalize with the key-person on the side of the captors, whereby is seems to be difficult to determine the person from the captors who also can responsibly negotiate the modalities of a release satisfactory for both sides.
Other news -----
The counsel of Yasa Maritime, the company owners of M/V YASA NESLIHAN, which was sea-jacked off Somalia, said on Wednesday that talks continued with the pirates adding that they were trying to agree on the amount of the ransom. Lawyer M. Fehmi Uelgener, the Counsel, said talks may last for nearly 2 months, and noted that the crew of the ship was in good condition. The families of seafarers in Turkey, however, wonder why it necessarily would have to be two month until the ship could be released, as predicted by the companies negotiator. Release negotiations in several cases were concluded in a time of less than a month, some even in days.
Four humanitarian staff, who have been working for Action Against Hunger (ACF) - a French non-governmental organization (NGO) - and two pilots of a European Commission chartered aircraft were abducted in Central Somalia. EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel and UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon in separate statements have strongly condemned the abduction of four aid workers (two French ladies, a Bulgarian lady and a Belgian man) and two Kenyan pilots from an airstrip near the central Somali town of Dusamareb, and demanded that they be released immediately. Ban Ki-moon called upon all parties to respect the neutral and impartial status of humanitarian staff, and to allow them to do their work bringing vital life-saving assistance to millions of Somalis, nearly half of the population, who are counting on this support for their survival," his statement reads. "It was a flight under contract to the EU Commission and it was an Action Contre la Faim operation," the European Commission spokesman confirmed. Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin said that the ministry would do everything possible to free the woman. The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, however, said no one was hurt and there had been no contact with the kidnappers so far. Aid workers have been increasingly targeted this year for assassination and kidnap in Somalia, where Islamist insurgents are fighting the transitional government and its Ethiopian military allies. Suspicion generally falls on clan militia and the insurgents. But the Islamists accuse President Abdullahi Yusuf’s government of staging such attacks to blacken their name.
"Rescue" gone bad: One of a group of 10 mostly French hostages seized off Cameroon last week by gunmen in speedboats, which abducted the hostages from an oil vessel, has been killed in a rescue attempt, a militia leader has said. A group opposing Nigeria's recent secession of Bakassi to Cameroon, the Bakassi Freedom Fighters, had claimed responsibility for the abduction. Militia commander Ebi Dari said the hostage had died during a raid by security forces in the country's Bakassi Peninsula. There was no immediate official confirmation of the rescue attempt or the hostage killing, and there were conflicting reports about whether the security forces involved were from Cameroon or Nigeria.
Ecoterra Press Statement: (updated) Stay Calm and Solve it Peaceful but Fast
Ecoterra Intl. welcomes the statement by Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council: "The priority should be to resolve the problem only through negotiations with the pirates without the use of force," as well as the statement by Russia: "The Russian Navy rejects the use of force!" as stated by Capt.1st Rank Igor Dygalo to RIA Novosti concerning the FAINA case and lately the statement by the US-American Government: "The United States is seeking a peaceful resolution to the hijacking, while preventing the cargo from falling into the hands of anyone who would use it to further destabilize the region."
Ecoterra International still urges all sides in the case of the hi-jacked Ukrainian ship MV FAINA to further de-escalate the extremely dangerous situation. "If the falcons from Kenya or Sudan, from Russia or Ukraine, from the U.S., NATO or the EU and last but not least some ill-advised regional politicians or religious leaders not to mention some suicidal captors or fanatic volunteers would get their way and drive the case to an end by destroying the vessel and its cargo, a major humanitarian and environmental disaster would be created in the case of the weapons transporter MV FAINA!", Ecoterra Intl. spokesman Dr. Hans-Juergen Duwe stated and expressed his specific trust in Ukrainian Prime Minister Lady Yulia Tymoshenko to care for the lives of her seafarers.
The cargo of the ill-fated ship comprises not only of the 1,500 mt of refurbished battle tanks (33 units), it also consists at least of 1,000 mt other military hardware, including 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition with a substantial amount of 125mm 3BM32, which contain a depleted uranium (DU) penetrator. It can not be ruled out that among other loaded munitions also tank rounds encased in a DU liner for ‘enhanced killing power’ can be found, which Russia has marketed for export and which have an even a higher DU load.
In case Kenya - as announced by its Foreign Minister together with China and India (though India refuted that and stated clearly that it even will not enter Somali territorial waters) - would really get its way and the Ukraine, Russia, France, the United States of America, the EU parties, NATO or any other power are willing to stand by and to do nothing against a military solution, while the FAINA has been prepared by the pirates or commandos in the meantime to be blown up, a grave humanitarian and a major environmental disaster would be created only around 8 miles off coastal villages and 11 km from the town of Obiyo (Hobyo). The whole coastal stretch with other nearby towns like Xarardheere (Haradheere) to the South or Iidaan to the North would be affected.
Depleted uranium (DU) munitions are at least controversial because of unanswered questions about potential long-term health effects and they are classified as a toxic heavy metal. Cellular and animal studies have shown that uranium is a kidney toxin, neurotoxin, immunotoxin, mutagen (agent which changes the genetic information of an organism), carcinogen and teratogen (agent causing malformations of the embryo or foetus), which is why not only the vast majority of countries - including Kenya - have signed a resolution to ban its proliferation, but also the UN and the EU work on its global ban.
"The acutely pending humanitarian and environmental crisis and disaster situation still can be averted by thorough negotiations", Dr. Duwe is convinced, "because the pirates are only interested in the money and a quick, safe get-away".
"This crisis is of such magnitude that it can not be left to diplomats in Nairobi or to the arms-exporters to drag on, while the military hard-liners, referring to ill-advised demands by some biased Somali politicians, who this time might not benefit, get ready or "allow" others to blow this case into a real problem", the Ecoterra spokesman concluded with the advise that the stand-off must be solved peacefully by a payment coming from those who left this dangerous shipment unprotected into Somali waters. Ecoterra Intl. demands that the UN agencies tasked with peacekeeping and arms-embargoes in the region as well as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the IAEA concerned with nuclear hazards as well as other relevant organizations are called in to inspect the cargo after the pirates release it.
Since 26. Sept. 2008 Ecoterra Intl. has daily urged the Somali group, which hi-jacked FV FAINA, to treat the ship's crew with all human respect, to allow medical personnel as well as supplies for the people to come on board, to not tamper with the cargo and to agree to an unproblematic quick and directly negotiated solution to the crisis. Likewise Ecoterra called on the governments involved to live up to their responsibilities. The recent developments, however, characterized by calling in the guns to bring the stand-off to an end would cause a real disaster and must be averted by all means.
It must be avoided too that the now re-enforced pirate-gang becomes so paranoid and desperate that they would blow up the ship or start killing members of the crew. Even though some war-mongers might see Ukrainian seafarers only as collateral damage, the world community has to recognize and safeguard their human rights - to life at least and not to be sacrificed for the smooth running of legal or illegal business as usual. Under the present situation the pirates might even abandon the ship and leave the crew unharmed, if the Navy ships would open for them an escape possibility. Not doing so means either paying or having to sacrifice the crew, the ship and the cargo as well as creating an environmental disaster at the seashore of impoverished Somalia.
Ecoterra Intl. together with Madam Nyna Karpachyova, the Ukrainian parliament's human rights ombudsman, and the Ukrainian as well as Russian families and in accordance with many national and international Human Rights Organizations and several embassies in the region plead not to sacrifice the crew but to come now to a quick solution and a peaceful release of the vessel.
Ecoterra Intl. in addition urges the NATO fleet and other navy ships involved in securing the waters off Somalia to also assist in fighting illegal fishing by foreign vessels, even or especially if they have links to their home countries and to arrest any case of toxic waste dumping in a way that it can be prosecuted under UNCLOS and other relevant legislation by the International Maritime Court in Hamburg and its International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) or even by the ICC as far as the international humanitarian law and human rights are affected in cases of toxic or nuclear waste dumping having genocidal impacts on the coastal people of Somalia. "Also self-discipline is what is asked for from the nations, who send now their navies into Somalia's waters," concluded the Ecoterra spokesman.
Ecoterra Intl. and ECOP-marine on 2nd November declared Captain Andres Breijo, the Spanish head of the new anti-piracy mission of the European Union - dubbed EU NAVCO - unfit to hold this high office. The Spanish captain made the following statement in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph: "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, "Now they have human rights."
While some frustrations felt by Europe's admiralty due to their restrictive rules of engagement could be understood due to the complex and tricky legal situation in the waters of Somalia, "the obvious wish of Capt. Breijo to tackle situations the old way, is an indication that he would not necessarily like to follow the rule of law and his obvious disregard for today's set of human rights is appalling," a spokesman for the organizations said and added: "We request that Capt. Breijo is relieved from his duties with immediate effect and be replaced with a commander, who is experienced in critical situations, educated to the highest standards, respectful to the laws and human rights and does not hail from a country, whose illegal fishing activities in Somalia have been recorded since many years, whereby conflict of interest is given."
By stating further: "What can you do?" said Capt. Breijo, "They don't belong to any nation." - the present commander of NAVCO showed without any doubt that he is not even aware that Somalia is a nation and Somalia's citizens belong to that nation. Capt. Breijo thereby demonstrated total disrespect for the territory and the people he would have to assist in safeguarding the Somali waters from criminal activities and he also disqualified himself from being able to trustworthy represent the states and peoples of the European Union in this important mission at the Horn of Africa.
Note
Reading Ecoterra's demand to relieve the Spanish head of the new anti-piracy mission of the European Union, Capt. Andres Breijo for given reason from his duties with immediate effect, many supporting statements for this necessary step were received. One such statement reads in excerpt: I read your reporting of what Spanish Captain BREIGO, as head of EU NAVCO, said regarding Pirates. I, as a EU Citizen and former captive of Somali pirates, am horrified at his reported utterances. If the CAPITANO was on board a highjacked vessel and had a Kalashnikov assault gun with two clips full of ammunition and one round up the breech put to his head as he went to the toilet, he would sing a different tune. Clear off and leave the work of dealing and negotiating with pirates to the professionals, who have the experience, character and qualification. Patience, understanding and a love of fellow man is needed in these circumstances, and a modicum of psychology. The Pirates themselves have a code of behaviour and punish their own, Capt. BREIGO.
Ecoterra Intl. supports this statement and can make the contacts of that professional seafarer as well as the contacts of a Captain of an abducted and released ship available to interested parties, since both agreed to be available to be addressed "with questions, and we will try and answer truthfully".
44th Update 2008-11-07 15:25:17 UTC
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.
We also can make sea-piracy in Somalia an issue of the past - with empathy and strength and through coastal and marine development as well as protection!
New EA Seafarers Assistance Programme Emergency Helpline: +254-738-497979
East African Seafarers Assistance Programme - Media Officer: +254-733-385868
Day 44 - 1033 h into the FAINA Crisis – Update Summary
Increased efforts for a peaceful release continued, but the now one and a half month long 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.
It is expected that around the weekend further important details for the release will be elaborated.
Other news -----
It has transpired and reports from Somalia indicate that the abduction of the 4 European aid-workers and two Kenyan pilots would have a background related to the killing of a prominent Somali Islamist Adan Hashi Ceyrow (Eyrow, Ayrow) near Dusamareb. The Dhusamareb airstrike took place on May 1, 2008, at around 3:00 am local time when - after four United States aircraft were overflying the area since 2 o'clock a.m. and allegedly also dropped bombs - admittedly a U.S. naval ship from the Navy's 5th Fleet based in Bahrain launched a missile attack from an off-shore location with five Tomahawk cruise missiles against a village in the Dhuusamarreeb (Dusamareb) area in central Somalia. The attack was targeted against the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab. More than twenty people were killed in the strike, among them two leading militants and numerous civilians. The insurgency spokesman named the dead Islamist leaders as Aden Hashi Ayro and Sheikh Muhyadin Omar. Many civilians were injured. Some analysts close to the Washington Post stated back then that the United States has exaggerated the Somali insurgents' ties to al-Qaeda and were taking sides in a messy civil war at the cost of rising anti-American sentiment in a moderate Muslim country. Immediately after the killings Islamist fighters in Somalia threatened to avenge the death of Eyrow, their leader of Hizbul Shabaab, and warned Americans to stay out of the Horn of Africa nation. The warning also applies to citizens of countries friendly to the United States and to neighboring Ethiopia, which has sent troops to fight Somalia's Islamist insurgency, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow (or Abu Mansur) had stated at that time. Now it seems that the six hostages are held by the very militia, who sees Eyrow as a martyr and vowed to pay back. Frantic efforts by human rights defenders have been made for the abducted aid-workers and pilots in order to avert a senseless killing in revenge.
The deployment of warships from European Union states against pirates off the coast of Somalia is to begin in December, EU diplomats said Friday. The final decisions on the matter are to be taken on Monday at a EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. The operation, to be called Atalanta, is to be led by an admiral from Britain's Northwood naval command, and tasked with protecting freighters against pirate attacks either off the Somali coast or on their way into Mogadishu ports. The defence against pirates is to include the use of force if necessary, diplomats said. Pirates are not only to be combated but detained if possible and brought before courts in the countries deploying the war ships. Details of the deployment are to be decided later.
With a new round of negotiations resuming for MT STOLT VALOR, fresh hope comes for the families of the seafarers.
Lloyd's List reports that SVITZER has become the first major shipping company openly to confirm that it is rerouting all vessels around the Cape of Good Hope at all times, in preference to transiting the Suez Canal, seeking to avoid the risk of pirate attack in waters close to Somalia. The decision comes after the towage and salvage contractor earlier this year became the victim of a vicious vessel hijack, which saw Somali pirates seize its tug Svitzer Korsakov on a voyage from St Petersburg to Sakhalin in February. The unit and its crew of six was released the following month, reportedly on payment of a ransom widely reported at $700,000. A representative of the company added that the proscription applied in all circumstances but did not wish to discuss costs, beyond saying that the company had decided to absorb the impact, because it believes the safety of personnel is paramount. Other companies are known to have adopted a similar policy.
45th Update 2008-11-08 14:01:53 UTC
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.
We also can make sea-piracy in Somalia an issue of the past - with empathy and strength and through coastal and marine development as well as protection!
New EA Seafarers Assistance Programme Emergency Helpline: +254-738-497979
East African Seafarers Assistance Programme - Media Officer: +254-733-385868
Day 45 - 1056 h into the FAINA Crisis - Update Summary
Increased efforts for a peaceful release continued, but the now one and a half month long 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.
Numerous attempts to have Somali members of parliament contributing to a faster and peaceful solution have been so far fruitless, since still too much interference from solely profit-oriented sides disturb a meaningful way forward.
Other news -----
Somali pirates stormed yesterday at 12h40 GMT a ship off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, using rocket launchers and Kalashnikov assault rifles. News of the attack were first relayed by the captain of an Italian ship, the 'PB Tankers Green Point', from the sailing company Pietro Barbaro. The Danish operated cargo CEC FUTURE under Bahamas flag has according to the latest crew-list 13 seafarers on board (8 Russians, 4 Estonians, 1 Georgian), who were recruited by Baltic Crew International Ltd and are supported by the Latvian Seafarers Union. The ship is owned by CEC Future Shipping and was sailing from the Middle East to Asia while being managed by CLIPPER PROJECT SHIP MGMT AS from Copenhagen, Denmark. The sea-jacking was today confirmed by the piracy reporting centre Kuala-Lumpur and the company as well as Kjeld Fredriksen, duty commander at the Danish Admiral Fleet. The Danish maritime official said that the shipping company would be responsible for any negotiations with the pirates or ransom payments. The crew members are unharmed, the Danish company Clipper Group said. "Clipper is in close communication with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of crew and to establish contact with the hijackers," the company said. The new attacks come despite increased international cooperation to crack down on pirates near Somalia.
Unconfirmed reports from the Gulf of Aden speak of a recent incident involving a British naval ship and a Somali skiff.
While the aircraft of the abducted four aid-workers from Dhuusa Mareeb (Dusamareb) was quickly picked up by another company pilot and brought back to Nairobi, the European ACF staff and the two Kenyan pilots were taken by their around 20 well organized and heavily armed kidnappers further inland passed Ceel Qooxle (Elkoole) near Ceel Buur - 250 kilometres (155 miles) northeast of Mogadishu. Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, a top Islamist leader exiled in the Eritrean capital Asmara, condemned the abductions. "I am condemning the kidnapping of aid workers that are helping Somalia, they deserve respect and protection," he told AFP. "The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally, there is no religious explanation for such acts," the cleric added. "The few elements who did that in Dhusa Mareb are a disgrace and I am appealing to them to release the hostages and fully refrain from such acts of violence," Sheikh Aweys said.
Meanwhile, a Somali armed group that kidnapped a Japanese woman and a Dutch man working for a French medical charity in the Ogaden , the so called Somali Region 5, occupied by Ethiopia, demanded USD 3 million (EUR 2.32 million) to release their hostages on Wednesday, since their earlier demands to have political and religious prisoners released from Ethiopian jails were not met. Ethiopian government forces have carried out devastating military operations in the Ogaden, a large south-eastern region populated by ethnic Somalis where groups have been fighting for independence.
A group of more than 200 Somali MPs are stranded in the Kenyan capital a week after attending a regional summit. The MPs say the organisers of the summit have refused to cover their travel expenses back to Somalia. One of the MPs told the BBC's Network Africa programme that the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) was supposed to pay their expenses and arrange their flights back to Somalia. One of the MPs told the BBC's Network Africa programme that the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) was supposed to pay their expenses and arrange their flights back to Somalia. The MPs were now trying to pay for their expenses themselves and go back to Somalia, Mr Iro said.
46th Update 2008-11-10 15:45:12 UTC
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.
We also can make sea-piracy in Somalia an issue of the past - with empathy and strength and through coastal and marine development as well as protection!
New EA Seafarers Assistance Programme Emergency Helpline: +254-738-497979
East African Seafarers Assistance Programme - Media Officer: +254-733-385868
Day 47 - 1105 h into the FAINA crisis - Update Summary
Increased efforts for a peaceful release continued, but the now one and a half month long 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.
Russian and Ukrainian families get impatient and start to speak out again in order to speed up the release process though they had received gagging orders.
Russian sources claimed today that MV CAPT. STEFANOS, which is anchored close to MV FAINA and has one Ukrainian on board, had been released, but this information was quickly dismissed from the ground and later also the Greek owner denied the rumour.
Military raids into foreign countries, typically carried out by U.S. Special Operations (forces, were authorized by a classified order that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld had signed in spring of 2004 with the approval of President George W. Bush, the officials said. The secret order gave the U.S. military new authority to attack terrorist networks anywhere in the world, and a more sweeping mandate to conduct operations in countries not at war with the United States. the New York Times reported. Some of the military missions have been conducted in close coordination with the C.I.A., according to senior American officials describing nearly a dozen previously undisclosed attacks. Some were conducted in coordination with the CIA and one was broadcast live to CIA headquarters in Virginia, via cameras mounted on aircraft. Whereas in the past the Pentagon needed to get approval for missions on a case-by-case basis, which could take days when there were only hours to act, the new order specified a way for Pentagon planners to get the green light for a mission far more quickly, the official said. The secret executive order was issued after the Bush administration had already granted America’s intelligence agencies sweeping power to secretly detain and interrogate terrorism suspects in overseas prisons and to conduct warrantless eavesdropping on telephone and electronic communications. Even with the order, each specific mission requires high-level government approval. Targets in Somalia, for instance, need at least the approval of the defense secretary, the administration official said, while targets in a handful of countries, including Pakistan and Syria, require presidential approval. The Pentagon has exercised its authority frequently, dispatching commandos to countries including Pakistan and Somalia. For example, shortly after Ethiopian troops crossed into Somalia in late 2006 to dislodge an Islamist regime in Mogadishu, the Pentagon’s Joint Special Operations Command quietly sent operatives and AC-130 gunships to an airstrip near the Ethiopian town of Dire Dawa. From there, members of a classified unit called Task Force 88 crossed repeatedly into Somalia to hunt senior members of a Qaeda cell believed to be responsible for the 1998 American Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. At the time, American officials said Special Operations troops were operating under a classified directive authorizing the military to kill or capture Qaeda operatives if failure to act quickly would mean the United States had lost a "fleeting opportunity" to neutralize the enemy. Occasionally, the officials said, Special Operations troops would land in Somalia to assess the strikes’ results. On Jan. 7, 2007, an AC-130 struck an isolated village near the Kenyan border, and within hours, American commandos and Ethiopian troops were examining the rubble to determine whether any Qaeda operatives had been killed. One prominent member of the U.S. Congress had criticized the U.S. military moves. The chairman of the House of Representatives Africa Subcommittee, Democrat Donald Payne, told VOA he believes U.S. policy in the region is based on wrong information. "Most of those Islamic Courts Union leaders were moderates, in my opinion," he said. Ras Kiamboni, Dhoble, Afmadow, a village near Baidoa, Dusa Mareb and other locations all suffered from these secret air strikes over the last years with little achievement. The only one who claimed that Hassan Turki, a senior ICU commander, was killed in the Dhoble attack, was none other than Oliver North, the convicted serial liar, who was a useful tool of evil back in the days of the Iran/Contra Scandal. While Hassan Turki continues to lead his people in Southern Somalia, the killing in such a strike of prominent Somali Islamist Adan Hashi Ceyrow has led to today's indiscriminate situation where all foreigners, even friends of Somalia and aid-workers are targeted in hi-jackings. U.S. President elect Barack Obama wants to find now ways to make his mark quickly in the opening days of his presidency and reverse the legacy of George W. Bush. Obama will focus his efforts on the list of executive orders that shaped White House policy, reversing them quickly.
That does not require legislative approval, but it could bring the most contentious issues to the forefront immediately. Members of the team Barack Obama has put together confirmed over the weekend that the incoming president will immediately overturn executive orders President Bush put in place as soon as possible after he takes office in around 10 weeks. Observers expect quite a number of U.S. atrocities to take place in the remaining time of the George W. Bush executive-order-ship and many people wonder, if Obama could not take over immediately to avert such.
Other news from abducted ships -----
The captors of STOLT VALOR have agreed to allow medicine, food and drinking water for the crew to come on board and have consented to a final and decisive round of negotiations concerning the release of crew and ship.
Like in many cases the crew-lists are confusing. The actual crew-list (8 Russians, 4 Estonians, 1 Georgian) with the International Transfort Workers Federation (ITF) concerning the small dry-cargo vessel MV CEC FUTURE - with a gross tonnage of 4980 and sea-jacked Friday - was obviously more or less correct (as reported here). After that publication, the sip-owner had made statements to the press that the crew would consist of 11 Russians, 1 Georgian and 1 Lithuanian, which obviously is not correct.
The Estonian government clarified: "Four persons with Russian citizenship who are permanently residing in Estonia and one person also residing permanently in Estonia but without citizenship of any state are on board", Kersti Luha, spokeswoman of the Estonian foreign ministry said. The Estonian foreign ministry contacted the Russian embassy in Tallinn last weekend and discussed the case with the Russian foreign ministry. "The Estonian embassy in Copenhagen met with Clipper Group representatives to coordinate our activities. Five crew members have their homes in Estonia and we do our best to help them", Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated on Sunday. Humanitarian work in these hostage cases is often hampered by incorrect crew-lists, illegal passengers allowed on board by the master and stowaways.
The abduction of the ship was finally also confirmed by a coalition aircraft, though neither the NATO naval forces nor Russia’s frigate Neustrashimy had prevented hijackers from their audacious attack. According to a short statement from the Master, the 13 crew members are unharmed and the vessel is being directed towards the northern shore of Somalia. In a statement, ship manager Clipper Projects said there had been no contact with the hijackers.
Other news "The escalation continues!" ------
The European Union is to send a fleet of frigates and spotter aircraft to the seas off Somalia in order to combat piracy there. The European Union formally launched Monday an anti-piracy security operation off the coast of Somalia - its first ever naval mission - the EU's French presidency said. The mission, dubbed "Operation Atalanta", was endorsed today by the bloc's defence ministers at regular talks in Brussels. EU ships will also help protect UN and other vulnerable vessels seeking to transport aid into strife-torn Somalia. The so-called EUNAVOR mission will be made up of at least seven ships, including three frigates and a supply vessel. It will also be backed by surveillance aircraft. The mission will be run from a headquarters at Northwood, north of London, with contributions from France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Spain, with Portugal, Sweden and non-EU nation Norway also likely to take part. The decision gives the green light to deploy to the Horn of Africa around mid-December, officials said. The force, commanded from the British naval base of Northwood by British Rear-Admiral Philip Jones, is tasked with protecting merchant ships and aid vessels bound for the Somalia port of Mogadishu.
In its second meeting, the Arab Peace and Security Council, affiliated with the Arab League, failed to reach a decisive agreement over a united Arab approach to fight piracy off Somalia coasts. The failure of the meeting in this respect has bothered Yemen which fears the increased deployment of warships to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Deploying an Arab force was in the agenda of President Saleh who paid recent visits to the concerned countries including Egypt and Saudi Arabia. It is worth-mentioning that both Yemen and Egypt called on Arab countries to shoulder the responsibility of protecting the Arab Sea and the Gulf of Aden, especially when there has been increased activity for warships of world powers and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the area. Diplomatic sources added that Yemen and Egypt have previous experience in protecting the Red Sea security during the 1973 October War when Egypt showed a strong will to safeguard the Red Sea waters against any Israeli assaults. However, the statement issued at the end of the meeting called on Arab countries overlooking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to work together for the establishment of powerful forces to protect these waterways against the constant attacks of Somali pirates.
After the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) had deployed seven warships to face the increased activities of Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean observers hint that NATO's act was meant for protecting ships passing the strait of Bab Al-Mandab and this gestures mean that countries overlooking the Arab Sea and Gulf of Aden are incapable of preventing the terrorist activities of pirates, especially the troubled Somalia. Such moves have alarmed the countries overlooking the Red and Arab Seas as well as the Indian Ocean, particularly Yemen, which expressed its fears over the western presence in the area and considered the operations to be threatening to the Arab national security, since several observers stress that protecting the commercial interests of the NATO countries is not the only reason, as they seek to reinforce their presence in the region, particularly in the vital routes of world trade and oil supplies.
The intensive multinational military presence in the southern outlet of the Red Sea is worrying," said Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Kurbi, quoted by Saba state news agency. Kurbi warned that such a heavy foreign presence endangers "Arab national security" and could lead to an "internationalisation" of the Red Sea that he said "was proposed in the past by Israel but faced an Arab rejection". In return, Somali pirates always accuse European firms of illegal fishing and dumping of toxic waste off the Somali coast. Though their allegations are somewhat true, money remains the main objective of the pirates. According to coastguard officers, Yemen has sought to fight piracy and the illegal activities of pirates in its regional and international waters; however, its efforts have limited success because the country has limited resources and was incapable of building a well-trained coastguard force and purchasing developed equipments and hardware that make this task easy. Yemen will soon host a regional center for fighting piracy through the collaboration with 20 countries and the International Maritime Organization. The center will work for restricting piracy activities targeting ships off Yemen's coasts, especially in the international waters between Yemen and Somalia. Coastguard officers revealed that plans for upgrading and developing coastguard forces were presented to the concerned authorities. In this regard, Sana'a University Professor Abdullah Al-Faqih enquired about what the government has done with the surplus of oil revenues over the last two years, especially when oil prices increased markedly and hit record level this year, and he demanded from the Yemen government to allocate YR 2 billion for upgrading and equipping the coastguard forces.
The commander of a multinational naval force off Somalia's coast says a shipping corridor patrolled by warships is helping protect merchant vessels from a surge in pirate attacks. Danish Commodore Per Bigum Christensen says 90 percent of ships transiting the perilous Gulf of Aden are using the corridor and there have been no attacks inside the zone since it was established in August. Christensen said in a phone interview on Monday from his East African base in Djibouti that coalition naval forces were also having success using planes, helicopters and drones to search for suspect vessels.
Official sources revealed that President Ali Abdullah Saleh is expected to visit Russia next Wednesday to sign large weapons deals. The visit marks the 80th anniversary of Yemeni-Russian bilateral relations. Yemeni-Russian bilateral relations have recently developed at all levels and Yemen is considered among the biggest importers of Russian weapons in the Middle East. Some sources stress that it just follows Syria as for the volume of weapons sales from Russia in the Middle East.
Two female foreign aid workers have been kidnapped this morning from Kenya and taken into Somalia, an elder from the area said on Monday. Both employees, were seized from Elwaq village where they were visiting drought-hit areas, said Shaban Mohamud Ismael an elder in the town. "Two expatriate workers on mission in Elwaq were taken Monday by armed gunmen with three cars", Shaban relayed. The agency the hostages are working for is not yet known.
The 4 ACF aid-workers and two pilots abducted from Dusa Mareb have allegedly been brought to the northern outskirts of Mogadishu.
Unidentified gunmen shot and killed the local head of U.S.-based aid group Mercy Corps Saturday night in Jamame, a farming town in southern Somalia, Radio Garowe reported. Mohamed Mohamud "Sakow" died at the scene moments after he walked out of a mosque and was heading home after night-time prayers, said local Ali Farah. "He was shot in the head and relatives picked up his body minutes later," he said, adding that "the merciless killers" escaped.
India and Oman have agreed to step up defence cooperation by upgrading their joint naval exercises. India also appreciated the Omani gesture of providing berthing facilities for its warship which is patrolling the piracy-hit waters off the shores of Somalia where 18 Indians are currently being held hostage by pirates. After concluding his engagements in Oman, the Prime Minister later left for Qatar where he is expected to sign two agreements in the defence sphere.
47th Update 2008-11-11 15:05:23 UTC
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.
We also can make sea-piracy in Somalia an issue of the past - with empathy and strength and through coastal and marine development as well as protection!
New EA Seafarers Assistance Programme Emergency Helpline: +254-738-497979
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Day 48 - 1129 h into the FAINA crisis - Update Summary
Increased efforts for a peaceful release continued, but the now one and a half month long 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.
The health of the crew aboard a Ukrainian cargo ship seized by pirates off the Somali coast more than a month ago is "satisfactory," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. The U.S. Navy had confirmed this with another line-up and close watch of the crew on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008 from the USS Vella Gulf. "The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has daily contacts with the Ukrainian sailors' family members and informs them of the situation," the ministry's statement said. "The representatives of the mediator company are carrying out the talks with pirates on releasing the crew members and the ship," the statement said. The Foreign Ministry said that food and drinking water were recently delivered to the ship.
Meanwhile the Russian Neustrashimy (Fearless) frigate is providing protection for a Danish vessel carrying Russian crew members off the Somali coast, a Russian navy spokesman said on Tuesday. "The Danish side has asked through diplomatic channels for a Russian warship to escort its vessel in the Gulf of Aden," Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said, adding that the crew included 15 Russian seamen.
Other news from abducted ships ----------
MV STOLT STRENGTH, a 2005-built chemical tanker under Philippine flag with a gross tonnage of 20,059 (33,209 dwt) and 21 Filipino crew members, was sea-jacked late yesterday in the Gulf of Aden. The company serving as a front for SAGANA SHIPPING (President Victoriano Miranda), the Manila-based owner of the vessel, is listed as SAFEMARINE CORP SA, Panama and the management of the ship on long term lease to shipping group STOLT-NIELSEN is VICTORIA SHIP MANAGEMENT INC, Manila, Philippines. All crew is well and Sagana Shipping has been contacted. "All of the crew’s relatives have been notified; and the owners and managers offer their deepest sympathy to the families and relatives of the crew at this stressful time," the spokesman of Sagana said. He added: "The owners and managers are making every effort to maintain the safety of the crew and families. And relatives of the crew will be kept briefed on the welfare of the crew at regular intervals".
While Lloyd's List claimed MV STOLT STRENGTH had loaded in Aden and was going to Asia, the owner stated that it came from Dakar (Senegal) en route to Kandla (India) with a load of phosphoric acid. The Sagana Shipping spokesman insisted the Stolt Strength was sailing within the designated corridor in the Gulf of Aden at the time of the hijacking. Officials with the international task force said the vessel was heading along the coast of East Africa towards Somalia. The spokesman of the company said the all-Philippine crew took evasive action to avoid the pirates but this proved unsuccessful. In Manila, Foreign Ministry spokesman Claro Cristobal said the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi and the ship's operator identified the chemical tanker as the MT Stolt Strength. All 23 seamen on board are Filipino and are "reportedly unharmed," he confirmed, adding that Philippine authorities are coordinating with the ship's operator to secure the early safe release of the vessel and crew.
Earlier a Saudi-Arabia-flagged refrigerated cargo vessel came under attacked from presumed pirated along the Indian Ocean Coast of Somalia. The master of the Refer ship, which is operated out of Britain, could manage to escape with evasive manoeuvres.
In the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Navy averted an attack against an Indian vessel. In a swift action, warship INS Tabar intervened to thwart two near-simultaneous attacks on Tuesday by pirates on an Indian cargo vessel MV Jag Arnav and a Saudi flag carrier MV NCC Thihama within 25 nautical miles of each other. In a daring operation, the Indian Navy, having received the SOS first from the Saudi vessel, repulsed the hijack attempt on Indian merchant ship MV Jag Arnav, a 38,265 tonnes bulk carrier owned by Mumbai based Great Eastern Shipping Co Ltd. The ship had transited the Suez Canal a few days ago and was eastward bound in the Gulf of Aden when she came under attack from pirates in the Gulf of Aden region 60 nautical miles east of Aden. The incident took when pirates tried to board the ship in an attempt to hijack it in place at around 10.30 am IST. The Indian Navy got into action in response to the alarm raised by the ship’s crew. Armed helicopters with marine commandos on-board were dispatched from warship INS Gomti that was on patrol duty in the region.
A naval helicopter fired on the pirates, who then fled from the scene. As of now Jag Arnav is being escorted to safe waters by another Indian warship, INS Sabar. The successful operation marks a first for the Indian Navy as it was specifically deployed in the region in the wake of continued hijack attempts on Indian ships and crew – notably the hijack of MV Stolt Valor. Commenting on the rescue mission, Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said: ‘Piracy is a crime which all men of war are required to combat at all times. ‘Indian Naval Ships operating in piracy infected areas are always in a high state of alert and have the capability to intervene by air or ship borne weapons. Their mandate is to ensure that the safety of our sovereign assets is maintained,’ Mehta added.
The latest Indian seafarer-victims, aboard the chemical tanker "M/T Stolt Strength," were reported by the Philippine embassy in Nairobi as unharmed, DFA spokesman Claro Cristobal said today.
Sea-jacked MV CEC FUTURE has arrived in Eyl on the Somali coast.
Other news "The escalation continues!" -------------
Somali sea-bandits have already shifted their tactics in response to the naval patrols, positioning attack teams on the northern and southern ends of the shipping zone to stretch the already thin naval forces, Christensen said. Aboard stolen fishing trawlers and other "mother ships" loaded with food, diesel and water, pirates can loiter several hundred miles offshore for days. Hiding among clusters of fishing boats, the bandits launch armed skiffs with powerful outboard engines as attack craft when a target is spotted, often clambering aboard a ship by ladder or grappling equipment in a matter of minutes. The naval forces have captured six pirate attack teams — around 60 people — since October, Danish Commodore Per Bigum Christensen said. But after seizing their weapons and equipment, the sailors must release the bandits at sea to sail back to Somalia because no country has been willing to bring them to trial. Questions still surround also the mission's rules of engagement for EUNAVOR's "Operation Atalanta". Under European human rights laws any pirates captured by the force cannot be handed over to states, including Somalia, where suspects could face the death penalty, torture or degrading treatment.
The Netherlands is prepared to take command of the new European Union mission which will fight piracy off the Somali coast, reports Tuesday's Volkskrant. Mission Atlanta is due to start next month and the Dutch have offered to take over leadership in August next year. The offer was made at a meeting of EU foreign and defence ministers on Monday in Brussels but the Dutch government still has to agree to the move, defence minister
Eimert van Middelkoop told the paper.
Mohamed Noor Moalim, the regional education officer in Beletweyn, Hiraan region of Somalia, was freed yesterday late afternoon by al-Shabaab troops operating in Hiraan region, who arrested the kidnappers and handed them over to the authorities of Beletweyn. Mohamed Noor was yesterday kidnapped by 9 well-armed gunmen of a militia from the Galjeel clan. Beletweyn is said to be now under the control of the al-Shabaab movement.
The two Italian nuns were taken yesterday during a pre-dawn raid in the border town of El Wak, about 400 miles (645km) north-east of the capital. The Kenyan Red Cross said the gunmen escaped in three hijacked vehicles. A local aid worker was quoted as saying the nuns had been taken in the midst of a shoot-out at a church, while the Kenyan Red Cross said the women had been taken hostage at their home. Kenyan police said they were collaborating with Somali elders over the incident, AFP news agency reported. The Italian foreign ministry said it was also working to secure the release of the Catholic nuns, adding that the papal nuncio in Kenya was involved.
Special feature ----------
US Troops Reportedly Hunting Wildlife in Central Somalia
Xaradheere, 10th November 2008
People living along the pirate-infested coastline of central Somalia have been scared by helicopters bearing U.S. flags. The helicopters have not attacked people so far, but are hunting wildlife in the area, residents say.
It is not the first time residents of central Somalia have complained about the troops, who are believed to be US Americans stationed inside Somalia or on warships to fight pirates, who have engaged in illegal hunting of wildlife and even captured several wild animals and transported them to their warships off the Somali coast.
Yusuf Hirsi, who resides in a location near the coastline said in the most recent incident three U.S. helicopters were searching and hunting down wild animals. He said he would invite journalists to demonstrate the problems inflicted on them by the troops.
"The US troops in Somalia are now hunting the country's wildlife under the guise of fighting pirates or protecting the Somali coastline", Yusuf Hirsi said.
The environmentalists have especially pointed their finger of blame also at the local administrations. Some Somali regions are exporting illegally wildlife and local businessmen have gone into private contracts with foreign agencies to sell the legally protected Somali national property.
Environmental groups have stated that every such illegal act is now being recorded and one day those responsible and those giving them the facilitation for the poaching and illegal export will be brought to justice.
Mogadishu, despite the lack of a strong central authority, still saw independent organizations marking the World Environment Day with celebrations. This year the global theme is "Give Eearth a Chance".
Luckily the second Commander in Chief of the U.S. will not be one Sarah Palin, since "her world" is the backwoods of Alaska, which has among the nation's highest per capita incidence of alcoholism, incest, and teenage pregnancy a situation where people unwind on weekends by hunting wildlife from helicopters with semi-automatic machine guns. Somalia must not be turned into another U.S. backwood.
Lt. Nathan Christensen, a deputy spokesman for the U.S. navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, when asked about the reported incidents, stated that the U.S. would not be permitted any of their troops to engage in any hunting of wild species, but was not able to provide a standing order or code of conduct to that extent. U.S. navy's Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, commander of Combined Maritime Forces, was not reachable for comment, since he was said to be traveling.
The issue is being followed up now by Ecoterra Intl. with U.S. CENTCOM and AFRICOM, since similar incidences were already observed and documented during UNISOM days.
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