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PIRACY ON SEA
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On counterpiracy, Clingendael Institute in cooperation with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, organised 17 November 2010 the expert seminar 'RESPONDING TO SOMALI PIRACY: EFFECTIVENESS AND FOLLOW-UP'. The aim of the seminar was to discuss recent developments relevant to piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali basin both within Somalia and at the international level. Questions that were addressed include: What is the impact of current counterpiracy initiatives? And which opportunities exist to increase their effectiveness?
A big mixed audience participated the seminar: maritime representatives, shipping companies, government representatives and ngo's. Except views of the side of western countries, also Somalia perspectives got a chance. All with the aim to minimize the damage. Piracy is not a group of heroic outlaws from a folklore, but hard reality of 1.000 armed men (mostly from Puntland), captured ships and crew (November 2010: 21, respectively 500). Acting and operating against piracy should be done careful. Protecting security in the Gulf and the basin is the goal, otherwise Somali could see it as a crime against society. It should be clear that it is about fighting piracy, not against fishermen. Otherwise young people (fishermen) can choose for piracy.  

The Clingendael Institute and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized an expert-seminar on counterpiracy. The aim of the seminar was to discuss recent developments relevant to piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali basin both within Somalia and at international level. 
Piracy does not occur only in the Gulf of Aden and Somali basin. In the world are still other territories, where piracy operates. Malacca Street, the Suez Canal and Panama Canal are examples. Somali piracy, however, is of very large and awkward scale (NATO Shipping Center Alerts).

 The book The International Response to Somali Piracy: Challenges and Opportunities was handed over to the Dutch vice admiral

The recent surge in piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia has triggered an international response which is unprecedented in terms of the number of actors involved. The book 'The International Response to Somali Piracy' presents a comprehensive treatment of the international response to Somali piracy, exploring current initiatives to counter the piracy threat, both operationally and legally. Moreover, the book analyzes the regional and broader international context within which these initiatives are taken, and identifies the challenges and opportunities for international cooperation on fighting piracy at sea.

Several important steps have been taken, but there are still prospects, opportunities and challenges left. Piracy is not going to disappear. Besides it could become a ground for aQ. From the 90ties there is a long wait for Somali society concerning social needs and now, given the combats against them, the pirates are claiming they protect the society. There must be done something about circumstances in life, otherwise the combat won’t help.

  
In the country itself, which has no central government, we can for example strengthen the government and restaurate the state, build schools and give attention to other aspects. We have to look what is going on in Somalia and do something on youth and addressing the social and humanitarian needs. But, that has to be said, foreign countries dump toxic and nuclear waste and are fishing in illegal waters. Coordination and cooperation is of eminent interest to find and to bring solutions (Djibouti Code of Conduct January 2009, Best Management Practices - BPM, the presence of a citadel and International Marine Organization - IMO).
International cooperation between EU, NATO, US, African Union, Russia, India and other countries is present. However, there is no clear leader that agglomorates. It is important to convert academic circles in real operation. Through that, governments, shipping industries/companies and private organisations can break through the present kind of open ended situation. Till now, nobody knows how many countries are operating.
 

First half year of 2010, there were 400 incidents. For the pirates the weather is of large influence. Identifying piracy ships is difficult. In most situations a chopper is send fist. A new phenomen since weeks is active firing and attacking a ship with escort. There are still black holes.

There should be taken measures to make prosecution easier, level of evidence is needed and many nation states has still to embed law in national legislation. Payments are feeding the problem. Focus on the financial streams and insurance industry is for that reason of great intrest. Not known is where the money goes.

Seminar Piracy on sea
 SEMINAR Wednesday 25 February 2009 on piracy on sea.

'Hostis Humani Generis' (or the enemy against all mankind). Piracy on sea, an actual, violent but also dangerous situation. Present measures to combat the pirates are symptom fight. Piracy is crime of seizing property through violence or intimidation, but also robbery committed at sea, on a river or sometimes on shore, without permission from a nation.

Due to dilemma's such as assurance, burden management shipping companies, sailing by a roundabout way and arming and the hijacking of the Sirius Star did accelerate intervene. Although there is an multinational coalition task force concerning Somalia coast situation (Maritime Security Patrol Area - MSPA) and the Maritime Security Centre, by which co-ordination has improved, more close co-ordination remains needed. The area is as half the USA, the coastline about 10.000 kilometre.

Hooks and eyes enough. Think about maritime law versus piracy combat and the situations in which people lookes like fishermen and trial of pirates remains still a problem. Some countries extradites pirates to Yemen and Kenia.
Maritime law does'nt measure up fully to tackle the hughe problem. Politics should put the issue higher on the agenda. Desirability, feasibility and willingness to work with other states and regional organizations must be present will international appearence succeed.

December 2008 UN Security Council adopted in October Resolution 1838 (apply military force) and in December Resolution 1851 and was possibility created to run after the pirates who find themselves in territorial waters. The EU adopted Council joint action 2008_851 CFSP .

States must be selfsupporting to secure. Now EU, NATO, US coalition, individual countries and coastal regions are in front.

In the meanwhile several measures of prevention have been taken. Barbed wire along ships, instructions for crews and coast guard officers on board are examples. Another measure is the possibility to arrange escort for a group of ships.

EUNAVFOR ATALANTA

COMBINED TASK FORCE (CTF)

Somalia and the pirates (CEPS, Dec 2009)

Sea piracy Gulf of Aden