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This week
has been something of a bonanza for Somali pirates. On Aug.8, pirates
freed the German ship Hansa Stavanger and its 24 crew after holding them
hostage for four months. The pirates were paid $2.7 million ransom. The
German government neither confirmed nor denied that ransom was paid. But
while talking to the press, the captain of the German navy's Brandenburg
frigate, Torsten Ites who miraculously arrived just 12 minutes after the
pirates had gotten their money and left, was most bothered by the fact
that the pirates had taken with them the tooth brushes of the crew. And
just in case the tooth brushes were not enough diversionary drama from
the ransom business, the captain added that “the pirates appeared to
have vanished into thin air despite the frigates' prompt arrival and a
helicopter search operation.” That is the German story.
Now let us turn to the Italian story. On Aug. 10, the Italians paid
Somali pirates $4 million for releasing a ship and its Italian crew
members who were being held close to Las Qoray. As expected, the Italian
government denied that ransom was paid, but there is evidence that
ransom was paid indeed. Reuters (Aug.10, 2009) wrote, “Somali pirates
received a $4 million ransom to free an Italian tugboat that was seized
four months ago with a crew of 16, a member of the gang that held it
captive said on Monday.” That ransom was paid was also confirmed by
Andrew Mwangura, coordinator of regional maritime group, East African
Seafarers' Assistance Programme, who gave a higher figure for the ransom
($5 million instead of $4 million). "They were counting the money last
evening," Mwangura told Reuters. The Italian Foreign Minister, Franco
Frattini, of course, denied that ransom was paid and insisted that the
release of the tugboat and its crew was due to collaboration of the
government of Somalia, Puntland administration and Italy, "who made the
pirates understand that the only solution was the liberation of the
hostages.”
Now it is the turn of the French. On August 11, Somali kidnappers
released six foreigners (two French, a Bulgarian, a Belgian, and two
Kenyans) after a ransom of $3 million was paid to them. Reuters wrote,
“‘I understand $3 million in ransom was paid to release the six aid
workers kidnapped from our region,’ local elder Farah Hussein told
Reuters by phone from Gurael in central Somalia.” The French government,
of course, did not admit that ransom was paid, but it did release a
statement in which “Sarkozy had reaffirmed his determination to fight
against such acts with international partners.”
The pattern is clear. Somali pirates or militias take hostages. Western
companies or governments pay ransom. Western governments deny that
ransom was paid. Occasionally things do not go as smoothly and blood is
spilled, but for the most part that is how it works. Somalis know this.
Western governments know this.
Piracy is not the only topic about which western governments lie
habitually. The very basis of western policy toward Somali affairs is
based on a big lie, namely, that Sheikh Sharif (a.k.a Sheikh Xariif or
the Shady Sheikh) is the “best hope” of Somalia.
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