Officials: Naval action alone can't crush pirates

[May 19, 2009]  KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Delegates at a two-day international conference on piracy in Kuala Lumpur said a lasting solution must involve eliminating the root causes of piracy and empowering Somali people to make piracy a less attractive option.

Embroiled in a series of civil wars, Somalia has been without a functioning government since 1991 -- a situation that has spawned pirate gangs along the country's 1,900-mile-long (3,100-kilometer) coastline. Somalia's Western-backed government, which got a new president in January, wields little control outside the capital of Mogadishu.

Capt. Christophe Pipolo, a security adviser in France's foreign affairs ministry, called for a comprehensive approach that includes restructuring Somalia's fishing sector to improve the livelihoods of poor fishermen to prevent them from joining the pirates.

He said the international community should help train and equip the Somali coast guard and strengthen law enforcement in the region, as well as stop illegal fishing by foreign countries in Somali waters -- one of the catalysts for piracy.

Many Somali pirates began their careers guarding their shores against foreign trawlers taking advantage of the civil war to illegally fish its waters, devastating the livelihoods of countless fishermen. When the international community did nothing, they became pirates after discovering that taking hostages was so fruitful.

"The answer is neither at sea or military but on land," he told the conference.

The pirates have become increasingly brazen over the past two years, hijacking dozens of merchant ships for ransom worth millions of dollars. This year pirates have hijacked 29 ships, and are still holding 14 ships with 214 crew.

"The solution to piracy is a stable Somalia. As long as there is no rule of law, we can only try to mitigate the problem but not eliminate it," said Capt. Chris Chambers, director of the 23-nation Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain that is in charge of an international anti-piracy naval force.

Abdul Wahid Mohamad, who directs a regional Somali fisheries ministry, expressed concern that wealthier pirates may become new warlords and form extremist organizations, further destabilizing the country.

"We need to establish a well equipped, trained coast guard to prevent pirate boats before they go into deep sea. Pirates can be apprehended best while they are still on ground and preparing for expedition," he said.

International donors at a recent U.N.-sponsored conference pledged more than $250 million to help Somalia in buying military equipment and material as well as development aid to try end two decades of anarchy.

U.N. bodies will oversee funding earmarked for Somalia's government, which wants to build a police force of 10,000 along with a separate security force of 6,000 members.

[Associated Press; By EILEEN NG]

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