The Somali Piracy Epiphenomenon about to End. III – Vast Rejection of the New Colonial ‘President’

The great efforts of the "FAINA -- S.O.S." committee contributed to the successful termination of the FAINA piracy crisis; on the other hand, the prevalence of the Shebab in the Somali South ensured that the Somali piracy epiphenomenon would – one way or another – soon be uprooted.

The parody of elections held at Djibouti was in fact rejected by the outright majority of the Somalis, who side with the the Asmara-based part of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) and the Shebab for the ultimate elimination of the colonial involvement and the piracy epiphenomenon from Somalia.

The French-promoted president represents a further stage of the colonial involvement in Somalia, as he is totally rejected by the Asmara-based part of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) and the Shebab.

In fact, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is the president of Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the UN's special envoy for Somalia, and the French diplomacy that got involved in the replacement of the earlier English-promoted president Abdullahi Yusuf.

In the same way the previous bogus-president did not represent but the interests of the local warlords, the Abyssinian government, and the UK – USA colonial involvement, the new president destroyed his political career by alienating his former allies in an effort that will lead him to nowhere.

The reason is simple; his supporters do not target the Asmara-based part of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) and the Shebab only, but the entire Somali Nation.

For Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, politics was simple and short; to save his country, he betrayed it.

Details on the efforts of the "FAINA -- S.O.S." committee are to be found in the Ecoterra 124th Press Release Update that I herewith publish integrally.

124th update 2009-01-31 23h15:46 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 and related news.

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
EA Illegal Fishing and Dumping Hot line: +254-714-747090 (confidentiality guaranteed)

Day 129 - 3081 long hours into the MV FAINA Crisis - Update Summary

Efforts for a peaceful release continued, but the four months long stand-off concerning Ukrainian MV FAINA is not yet solved. Contacts and direct negotiations had been arranged and commenced, but the talks are said to have not been forthcoming, though the decision maker on the side of the owner is desperate to conclude the issue.

Committee Set Up To Rescue Ukrainian Sailors From Pirates. Somali pirates have been holding MV FAINA since September last year. Relatives of the crew aboard the Ukrainian cargo ship have now established a committee to rescue the sailors, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reports. The "FAINA -- S.O.S." committee has issued an open letter asking for assistance to return the sailors back home. The letter says, "We are tired of listening to the government's promises to solve the crisis. We want our loved ones to be rescued immediately". There are 17 Ukrainians among the crew members.

In a widely televised live debate members of the Ukrainian parliament and 5 members the families of the FAINA crew spoke to the 2nd officer on FAINA and for the first time promised serious steps, involving also a parliamentarian debate next week. Likewise they tried to get the owner on the phone during the debate, but he was unreachable. The parliamentarians, including a minister promised to bring the crew home now by all means, safely and as soon as possible. see: http://shuster.kanalukraina.tv/video/30-1-2009/

There is no limit to what a person can do or how far one can go to help - if one doesn't mind who gets the credit!

The Somali as well as the Ukrainian / Russian / Israeli sides must come to terms now and set the innocent seafarers free with first priority! And in order to avoid the destruction of the vessel and its cargo by anybody as well as to avert the subsequent humanitarian, health and environmental horror-scenario, such can only be achieved together with the release of the ship, where also the body of deceased Capt. Vladimir Kolobkov is still kept.

If the stand-off can not be resolved within the next days Ecoterra Intl. demands immediate humanitarian assistance to be allowed, facilitated and dispatched to the vessel and the body of deceased Capt. Vladimir Kolobkov transferred to his family with respect. Ecotera Intl. also calls for human rights protection to be provided for all crew members, their families in Russia, the Ukraine and Latvia as well as for all well-meaning people assisting in solving the case, many of whom have been subjected already to serious threats, acts of intimidation and persecution.

Ecoterra Intl. repeats its call to solve the FAINA case now with absolute top priority and peaceful in order to avert a human and environmental disasters at the Somali coast. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed by the captors and facilitated by the owners. Anybody encouraging hot-headed and concerning such difficult situations inexperienced and untrained gunmen or those, who believe they would be capable to try an attempt of a military solution, must be held fully responsible for the surely resulting disaster. The saga and secrecy surrounding MV FAINA must not - like in the MS ESTONIA case, which is the worst naval disaster in Europe since WWII - become the shroud for its 20 seafarers.

The FAINA is one of at least 49 ships that pirates seized last year off the Horn of Africa during a surge in piracy driven in part by Somalia's growing poverty and instability. The multimillion dollar ransoms are believed by many to be one of the only ways to "make money" in the impoverished nation. But while the many cases of sea-jacked merchant vessels on innocent passage (sailing even outside the EEZ e.g. in the Indian Ocean) constitutes clear piracy, Somali actions against illegal fishing or against any transport of illegitimate or clandestine goods has a legal standing. Ecoterra advocates to end all destructive, detrimental, criminal and illegal activities in Somali waters.

Raising public awareness through legitimate criticism of government actions is a fundamental part of human rights work. We know the Ukrainian authorities don’t welcome facts or information about allegations, but governments trying to prevent torture or other internationally outlawed human rights violations or crimes should encourage reporting of complaints, but not retaliate against human rights defenders. Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantees the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs.

The UN Human Rights Committee has stated that, "Citizens also take part in the conduct of public affairs by exerting influence through public debate". States also have obligations specifically relating to protecting and ensuring the right of human rights defenders to do their work. The United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders states that everyone has the right to promote the protection and realization of human rights and that individuals or groups have the right to articulate criticism and make proposals for improving the work of government bodies, among other rights. Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee free speech. Government officials are expected to be more receptive to criticism than private citizens, especially when it concerns the carrying out of their official duties.

Clearing-house:

News from other abducted or newly attacked ships --------

Games Crazy People Play: Kidnapping, Pirating, and War & Naval War-games to protect Fish-piracy and to cover the real agenda

A Yemeni Dhow (motorized sailing vessel) with its 7 crew has been released today by her captors after a business dispute could be solved. It was held for more than three weeks in Bargaal (Puntland).

MT LONGCHAMP is now anchored off the coast of Danaane 8 nm from Eyl nearby the Chemstar Venus, MV Bosphorus Prodigy, the tug Masindara 7 and its barge as well as MV Bluestar and MT Stolt Strength. Local observers questioned the captain and the captors of the vessel and they all insist that it was an Indian Navy vessel which attacked and fired on the LPG tanker as well as on the pirates, though official sources so far have not confirmed the incident. Photos of the damage on the tanker have been taken. When questioned if it could not have been a Chinese naval vessel, which attacked, the answers reportedly were all stating that even the radio communication from the navy ship to the captain on the bridge of MT Longchamp was coming from voices with Indian accent. Apparently the naval vessel was deck to deck with the tanker. Since it was reported that a U.S. aircraft interfered and stopped the shooting it should be easy to find the truth. The crew aboard the German tanker are in good health, the German shipping company said after receiving a telephone call from the pirates Saturday. Company officials were able to speak with the hijacked ship's master, who reported that all 13 crew members on the MV Longchamp were doing well under the circumstances, Bernhard Schulte Ship management spokesman Cor Radings said, without elaborating. "This news is a big relief for us", the company said in a statement, adding that it was working with international organizations to secure the safe release of the crew and ship.

Negotiations concerning Masindara 7 have hit another snag from the side of the Malaysian owner of the tug. The Indonesian captain of the tug, who cares for his crew of 10 Indonesian seafarers as well as the attached Indonesian barge urged his government to be more active in liaising with the Malaysian government and help to stop the Malaysian owner from playing dangerous games under which the crew has to suffer.

With the latest captures and releases now still at least 15 foreign vessels with a total of 254 crew members accounted for (of which 56 are Filipinos) are held in Somali waters and are monitored on our actual case-list, while several other cases of ships, which were observed off the coast of Somalia and have been reported or had reportedly disappeared without trace or information, are still being followed. Over 134 incidences (including attempted attacks, averted attacks and successful sea-jackings) have been recorded for 2008 with 49 fully documented, factual sea-jacking cases (for Somalia, incl. the presently held) and the mistaken sinking of one vessel by a naval force. For 2009 the account stands at 15 averted or abandoned attacks and 6 sea-jackings on the Somali/Yemeni pirate side as well as one wrongful attack by friendly fire on the side of the naval forces. Mystery pirate mother-vessels Athena/Arena and Burum Ocean as well as not fully documented cases of absconded vessels are not listed in the sea-jack count until clarification. Several other vessels with unclear fate (also not in the actual count), who were reported missing over the last ten years in this area, are still kept on our watch-list, though in some cases it is presumed that they sunk due to bad weather or being unfit to sail. In the last four years, 22 missing ships have been traced back with different names, flags and superstructures.

Directly related news ------

Moderate Islamist Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was sworn in as Somalia's new president on Saturday just hours after his election during an all-night parliamentary session held in neighbouring Djibouti. Observers said they believe Sheikh Sharif is the best candidate to unite warring Islamic factions in the Horn of Africa country, which has been plagued by chaos since the 1991 ouster of former president Mohamed Siyad Barre. Sheikh Sharif, 44, took the oath of office in time to fly to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, for an African Union summit. Local media reported that many Somalis stayed up all night to hear the result, and when it became clear that Sheikh Sharif would win, fired celebratory shots in the air in Mogadishu. Sheikh Sharif received 293 votes out of 420 ballots cast with Barre's son Maslah Mohamed Siyad receiving 126 votes. Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein, one of the early favourites, withdrew after receiving only 59 votes in the first round.

Sheikh Sharif is the head of the moderate branch of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) and headed up the Islamic Courts' Union (ICU) when it controlled Mogadishu for six months in 2006. The ICU installed strict Islamic law and helped bring stability to Somalia during its reign, tackling warlords and curbing the piracy that once again exploded after it was ousted. Ethiopian forces invaded in late 2006 to help kick out the ICU, sparking a bloody insurgency that has killed an estimated 16,000 civilians and displaced around 1 million. The election came after President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, a former warlord, resigned in December when parliament thwarted his attempt to sack Hussein. He failed to bring peace to Somalia during his four years in charge. Parliament was enlarged to 550 MPs Monday to accommodate 200 members of the ARS as part of a UN-backed peace process to create a unity government and end the instability.

Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the UN's special envoy for Somalia, praised the vote. "We are finally seeing progress from the hard work by all sides to create an inclusive parliament", Ould-Abdallah said in a statement. African leaders, gathering at the AU summit congratulated the new Somali president. The new government and president now face a major challenge in governing. The main insurgent group, al-Shabaab, a militant offshoot of the ICU, controls much of Somalia, including the seat of parliament in Baidoa. Al-Shabaab, which has been waging a bloody insurgency since early 2007, seized Baidoa on Monday, hours after the Ethiopian troops who had been propping up the central government for two years left the country. The group has vowed to continue fighting to ensure that strict Islamic law is imposed in all of Somalia. Sharif, speaking to lawmakers after being elected, said he would serve with no regard to colour or clan to try to finally bring some stability to Somalia. "I call on other Somalis who are not part of this peace process to join us", he said. He also promised to work closely with regional governments and to tackle the humanitarian crisis gripping his country. The insurgency, combined with drought and rising food prices, has created a humanitarian catastrophe. About 3.25 million people in Somalia, almost half the population, are dependent on food aid. With the departure of Ethiopia, only an undermanned African Union force of around 3,000 troops from Uganda and Burundi remained to back government forces although the two countries have put two extra battalions on standby. The AU is trying to scrape up more troops, but the United Nations has ruled out sending in a peacekeeping force. However, al-Shabaab faces opposition from the government-aligned Islamist group Ahlu Sunnah Waljamaca, which recently seized control of two towns from al-Shabaab.

Impacting news from the global village ------

Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula has praised President Barack Obama for his decision to close down the US detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Mr Obama gave the order to halt cases involving the Guantanamo detainees hours after he was sworn in as president.

"I want to take the opportunity to congratulate President Obama because the Guantanamo Bay saga has brought blood on the image of his country", said Mr. Wetangula in an interview with the BBC. "I think he should do the same with Abu Ghraib (prison in Iraq). The images from Abu Ghraib were horrendous and so we hope that the fresh air that is being felt all around and the feel good factor that President Obama has brought to the world stage will be sustainable so that we get a better world to live in", added the minister. A Kenyan, Abdulmalik Mohamed, is among the detainees held at the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison. According the US State Defence website, he was captured in Kenya in Feb 2007 and has been held at Guantanamo Bay for the last 10 months. He admitted to participating in the 2002 attack at the Mombassa Paradise Hotel, in which a vehicle filled with explosives crashed into the hotel lobby, killing 13 people and injuring 80. He is also said to have admitted to involvement in the attempted shoot down of an Israeli Boeing 757 civilian airliner carrying 271 passengers in 2002. "The next step is for the United States to determine his combatant status. As with all the detainees in Guantanamo, Malik will undergo a combatant status review tribunal, where he will be given the opportunity to review an unclassified summary of the evidence against him and contest his enemy combatant status", reads the State Defence website.

Mr. Wetangula said the United States should take the lead in world development by reducing armed conflicts around the world. "America must take the lead to reduce international armed conflicts so the trillions of dollars that are spent on a daily basis on armament and armed conflicts can be diverted to human development". He argues that this way the world will be able to wipe out poverty overnight. "And I hope President Obama will take the lead in not only ending the war in Iraq and Afghanistan but showing the way that conflicts anywhere in the world are unacceptable because they don’t help the cause of humanity". Wetangula said Kenya, which has played host to a number of negotiations aimed at forming a government in Somalia, was still committed to bringing about peace in the war-torn state. "Kenya like all other members of IGAD states is committed to bringing normalcy and peace and security to Somalia. It’s not easy. since it is a failed state", he added. Al-Shabaab has taken control of the country and although they pledge loyalty to Al Qaeda, international analysts believe that the terror group’s influence is waning.

End of Ecoterra 124th Press Release Update