Are Somali Pirates Sea Patrol or Criminals?
Group Responsible for Hijackings Once Aimed to Stop Illegal Activity
Dec 2, 2008
In 2008 alone, Somali pirates have hijacked 25 ships in a well organized, ransom driven business. In an interview with The New York Times, "Mr. Sugule", a spokesperson for the group, claimed that they are unafraid to die and want millions of dollars to release the seized ships and passengers ("Somali pirates tell their side: the want only money." Jeffrey Gettleman, September 30, 2008). Ransoms as high as $2 million have been demanded. Big money has attracted many and it is estimated that there are now thousands of Somali pirates sailing the seas.
But is money the only issue? Is it possible that the current state of Somalian piracy was born out a need to regain control of a crumbling nation?
Pirates in History
Thanks to Hollywood, the word "pirate" conjures images of a handsome, ruthless, charming swashbuckler played by Johnny Depp. But what is the real history of pirates? "Piracy" is defined as robbery committed at sea without the support of a nation. Piracy dates back to 13 BC when a group known as The Sea Peoples sailed into the Eastern shores of the Mediterranean and caused political unrest. In addition to attempting to overthrow governments, pirates regularly kidnapped people and sold them as slaves. As time went on, pirates became more violent. Perhaps the most well known pirates in the Middle Ages were the Vikings, a group that used many weapons in their conquests. Vikings took their violence and robbery inland also.
Other pirates between the Middle Ages and the 19th Century included Muslim pirates, Arabs and the Naretines, members of a Slavic tribe that settled on land bordering Croatia.
Somali Pirates
In modern times, the African country of Somalia has dominated piracy in the waters off the Somali Coast, the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as in the Strait of Malacca and Singapore. There was a major surge in piracy at the start of the Somalian Civil War in the 1990's ("Tackling Piracy in Somali Waters: Rising attacks impede delivery of humanitarian assistance" by Sana Aftan Khan. UN Chronicle, 2007). Piracy has been seen as a major threat to the delivery of food and goods to various countries.
When Somalia's civil war began, boats from other nations often used their waters for illegal fishing and dumping, something the Somali people saw as taking advantage of a nation in turmoil. Pirates were initially trying to secure the waters; Somali fisherman say that illegal fishing is a threat to their way of life. To make their point, pirates generally held ships and their passengers and crew for ransom. As it became a lucrative business, warlords got involved. Hostages are generally treated very well; pirates have no intention of killing or harming passengers, they simply want the pay off. Somalia remains one of the world's poorest nations, with an average yearly income of $600. It's not difficult to understand why some turn to criminal activity.
2008 Pirate Activity
In the article "No way to stop us, pirate leader says" published on CNN.com, it is estimated that Somali pirates have been paid nearly $1.5 million this year alone. In response to the delays in the delivery of goods, some nations have sent military ships to try and combat the pirates. What makes the situation even more complex is that government leaders are often receiving a cut of the ransoms. After they receive their money, those involved simply disappear in Somalia, a country so ravaged by war and poverty (as well as a corrupt government accepting bribes) that pirates are extremely difficult to locate.
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