By Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi

Congratulations to both the strong crew of US cargo ship ‘Maersk Alabama’ and US Solider who rescued the kidnapped Capt. Richard Phillips. The soldiers killed three pirates and captured the fourth one, and rescued the captain unharmed. This is the first time that pirates kidnapped human being off the Somali Coast particularly “Puntland” Water, which is very serious development.

I underlined in my earlier articles about possible danger from the growing influence of pirates in “Puntland” and its widening operations. The pirates receive support from the newly appointed administration of “Puntland” led by Abdirahman Farole and his Minister of Interior Affairs Colonel\ ilka Jiir. The pirates receive both moral and political support from the current regime in “Puntland”, where they organize their illegal operations freely, and even have offices of translation in “Puntland”. The pirates are highly organized and even manufacture wooden speedboats in the major cities of “Puntland”.

“The pirates received $125 million in 2008.” Michael Lee of McRobert Maritime Security said the pirates at Eyl city of “Puntland” are getting richer and driving Mercedes-Benzes and their wives have gold from toe to top. Today, the pirates are the richest between the Somalis including the government, and they constructed very big villas. Today, majority of the poor people in “Puntland” are heading to Eyl City – the strong hold of pirates – in order to get financial support from them.

The modern piracy off Somali water is byproduct of illegal activities in “Puntland” like human trafficking and dumping nuclear toxic chemicals in Somali water, and counterfeit. These activities stayed strong and booming in last 20 years in “Puntland”. The human traffickers upgraded their business to piracy, and ride the high seas to triple their income. Also, human traffickers kill thousands of poor Somalis and Ethiopians in the sea.

The Gulf of Aden:

The Gulf of Aden is an extension of the Indian Ocean. Located between Africa and Asia, it forms the natural separation between the countries of Somalia and Somaliland in one side and Yemen in other side.

Gulf of Aden waters flow into the Red Sea through the Bab el Mandep (strait), and because it provides an outlet to the west for Arabian Gulf Oil, it’s now one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. The world sea transport cannot survive without having save Gulf of Aden, because the alternate solution is passing over Southern Africa in order to link between the East and West.

Egypt will be first to feel the heat of piracy in Gulf of Aden because 30% of Egyptian National Income is revenue from Suez Channel, which will shrink and drop if Gulf of Aden is not safe.

This is very vital route for the world, and every country has benefits in securing the lane. This forced the superpower nations like USA, Russia, China, Britain, France, German and even India to send their Navy Ships to the region against the growing piracy. Unfortunately, the world failed to stop the pirates until today.

Terrorism is also a problem. It was here in 2000 that the USS Cole, a U.S. guided missile destroyer, as involved in a suicide bombing attack while harboring in the port of Aden, Yemen. Seventeen US sailors died, with dozens injured. Moreover, Al-Qaeda is establishing base in lawless Somalia, and the armed religious group called Al-Shabab – who are fighting the interim government in Mogadishu – is Al-Qaeda’s right wing in Africa. There is high possibility that Al-Qaeda will sponsor similar pirates and kill the western citizens and disturb the Gulf of Aden lane.

The Ideal Solution:

1.      The US Forces should attack and destroy pirate bases at Eyl City.

2.      The leaders of “Puntland” should be arrested – those involve in piracy.

3.      All suspected members who associate with pirates should be also arrested.

4.      The speedboats and other equipments of pirates should be destroyed in the operation.

5.      The world should pressure “Puntland” administration and pirates to refund the $125 million.

6.      The new Prime Minister of Somali Interim Government Omar Abdulrashid Sharmake should be in-charge of leading the operation against the pirates. Because, he is from “Puntland” and was former candidate to “Puntland” leadership. Mr. Sharmake has western passport.

7.      All pirates and involved “Puntland” leaders should be sued in US court.

The world should be careful and accurate in every effort to dismantle the pirates, and seek assistance of the peaceful and democratic areas of former Somalia like Somaliland, which is very familiar with pirates and their movements.

The world should impose sanctions including weapons embargo on “Puntland” until it acts against the pirates. The world should consider piracy as terrorism, and blacklist the leaders of pirates including new President of “Puntland” Abdirahman Farole and his Minister of Interior Affairs ilka Jiir.

Email: az.almutairi@hotmail.com

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