Today, piracy is on the rise as pirates ply the waters off Indonesia, Yemen and Somalia from the Gulf of Aden into the Indian Ocean.
Hidden coves and weak governments make the Strait of Malacca the most dangerous place in the world with over 50,000 ships passing between Malaysia and Sumatra, tempting pirate attacks.
Pirates engage in terrorism, robbery, hijacking, murder, rape, and mutilation. Armed with automatic weapons supplied by terrorists and warlords, today’s pirates use sophisticated technology to track everything from large merchant ships and tankers to yachts and small boats. When they spot a likely target, they dart out on small, high-speed boats.
In 2000, piracy increased by 57%. Wealthy environmentalist Sir Peter Blake was murdered by pirates in 2001. In 2005, Somali pirates robbed food aid bound for their starving countrymen. In 2008, Somali pirates captured their largest prize, the tanker Sirius Star (See chart below).
In a unanimously adopted resolution last November, the United Nations Security Council reauthorized measures to combat piracy off Somalia's coast, expressing concern that escalating ransom payments and lack of enforcement of the 1992 arms embargo are contributing to the growth of piracy.
The resolution called on states to deploy naval vessels, arms and military aircraft to fight piracy off the Somalian coast.
According to US Ambassador Susan Rice, the measure is timely due to increased attacks. "It creates greater impetus for more effective domestic prosecution of pirates of various countries around the world."
The Security Council called on all states to cooperate in determining jurisdiction, and in investigating and prosecuting piracy and armed robbery off Somalia. |
