Post
by rick » January 28, 2010, 6:50 am
Well texpat, not interested in getting off subject about Iraq here. But part of the problem started when international fishing boats moved into Somalian waters (as there is no effective government to stop them) and indiscriminately harvested the fish. So the local fishermen could catch very little. In response, some fishermen started 'detaining' these illegal fishermen - who promptly paid others too protect them. With few fish to catch, but guns to dispute who has the right to fish, the fishermen were only one step away from becoming pirates - which some of then did.
The only way you will get the fishermen back to catching fish is if it is a viable alternative. But until MONEY is spent by someone it will not happen. As has been said, currently cheaper and easier just to pay them off. Sinking fishing boats because they MIGHT be pirates is a sure way to make things worse - you may clear the seas of pirates for a while but you will further alienate the inhabitants of this region, and it will take a long time for that to be forgotten. It either needs more naval patrols, enforced convoys or armed ships/guards, or a way to make the local inhabitants realise that hijacking ships is counter-productive. One way would be to forcibly recapture all ships - some lives would be lost, but piracy would become uneconomic. You could locate known pirates houses and give them a few missiles from a drone - hopefully they will get the message; not even necessary to kill anyone deliberately. Could try a bit of gunboat diplomacy - anchor close inshore, next to where pirates operate, ask for the money back, if not, 24 hours later we will shell a few buildings.
It requires firm action, not necessarily blood. Remember it is a business, not ideology you are fighting here - you just need to make piracy uneconomic. So far, pirates have never executed a hostage, only ones who have died have been during recaptures; they know if they kill anyone it will be bad for business. But you also need to provide an alternative way of making a living.
Finally one other idea - in the 1st world war to combat submarines the british built 'Q' ships - disguised armed boats. That would be a further element of surprise that might work.
This has been going on for a few years, now. Last year, they received ransoms totaling over $50m. They successfully hijacked 68 ships and are still holding 11. 1st question comes to mind is, why don't the companies get together and travel in convoys. The navy would probably be happy to send along an escort ship or 2. 2nd question is, why don't they hire some security personnel and put some guns on the ships. A 25mm M242 chain gun would comes as a bit of a surprise to the pirates. (Blackwater personnel would probably be happy to have the opertunity to shoot something.)
