| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Seized Filipino seafarers released but kidnapping may happen again |
| 2006-02-08 |
| By Karsten von Hoesslin THE 12 Filipino crewmembers aboard the Taiwanese registered FV Feng Long No. 16, Chung-yi No. 218 and Hsin-lienfa No. 36 have set sail for familiar waters and back to their homeland. The Filipinos had spent over five months detained by Somali pirates on an island off southern Somalia. The three vessels were intercepted by the self-proclaimed National Volunteer Coast Guard (NVCG), a vigilante-style organization aimed to seize foreign vessels for fishing “illegally” in Somali waters. The three vessels were en route to the southern city of Kismayo to collect their annual fishing licenses when the NVCG boarded and commandeered them and set sail for their base on the island of Koyema, approximately 60 kilometers to the south of Kismayo. The NVCG is one of three major factions responsible for the upsurge in piracy along the Horn of Africa, but, unlike its competitors, the centrally located Somali Marines and the Northern-based Puntland Militia, it claims to be a response to the decade-long conduct of illegal maritime activities in Somali waters rather than a cause. Somalia has issued self-proclaimed (and not internationally recognized) 200- nautical-mile territorial waters in the wake of the civil war, leaving the country regimeless and its maritime domain transformed into a sea of anarchy because there is no enforcement. From within, piracy, drug, and arms smuggling increased while foreign commercial vessels committed illegal dumping and illegal fishing from abroad. The NVCG is an attempt to regulate illegal fishing from foreign vessels for the sake of securing Somalia’s resources for its own people. Many foreign vessels purchase annual fishing permits from local warlords or from the brass-plated Somali Department of Fisheries, allowing them to fish within loosely defined areas. However, the annual proceeds, which are earned from the permits and can total up to US$70,000 a vessel, are not distributed among the Somali population. Thus the NVCG aims to spread the wealth by commandeering foreign fishing vessels and collecting US$5,000 from a crewman as a “fine,” yet there is no evidence that the NVCG distributes its revenues. Instead, income is reinvested into acquiring arms and new boats thereby defeating the purpose of wealth spreading among the people. Upon extended negotiations, the captives were set free and on February 1, the Feng Long arrived in the port of Mombassa for replenishment and questioning before returning to the Asia Pacific. The crewmembers told their stories to the Kenyan Marine Police and the Mombassa-based Seafarers’ Assistance Program (SAP)2 of the malnourishment and the torture which ensued for nearly half a year. The Filipino seafarers often acted as translators, furthering the negotiation process between the NVCG, the ships owner, and Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs due to their superior grasp of the English language. The timing of their release was ideal because human intelligence reports indicate that fighting was about to break out between the Kismayo faction and a Mogadishu-based faction, which could have spilt over onto Koyema, compromising the seamen’s safety. The recent capture of 10 Somalis currently being charged with piracy in a Mombassa court of law has angered Somali faction leaders who are demanding that America and other foreign powers keep out. The commandeered Indian dhow, the Al Safina Bisarat, was intercepted by the USS Winston Churchill and the 10 Somalis were detained and sent to Mombassa for questioning. NVCG Commander Garaad Mohamed is now demanding that unless the Somalis are released, future hostages will be executed. It is not known how much was paid to release the vessels but any funds transferred would have likely occurred via Mombassa given that the NVCG, like many Somali militias, conduct their illegal banking activities and shipment transfers via East Africa’s largest port. It is a harsh reality that Filipinos are often placed in challenging situations that compromise their security at sea, especially given the fact that they are proportionately the largest nationality of sea-going workers and represent over a quarter of the world’s mariners. Filipino seafarers employed in the maritime commercial shipping industry have become a vital component of the overseas Filipino workers economy and therefore, the preservation, safety and security of Filipinos working on vessels in potentially dangerous areas are important. Though illegal maritime activities such as piracy and smuggling are an inevitable consequence in high-risk areas, such as South East Asia and East Africa, more measures must be implemented to aid seafarers when they become victims of maritime crimes. Measures should be put into practice in both prevention and response areas ensuring that the level of risk can be reduced and that there are no unnecessary delays incurred when securing the seafarers freedom. Regrettably, those employed on fishing or merchant vessels transiting Somali waters always face an increased risk in which the favorable outcome is survival, as indicated in the recent episode involving the 12 Filipinos after enduring half a year in prison-like conditions, unable to earn a wage, and away from their families. The maritime Horn of Africa has become a very dangerous place for all nationalities, particularly Filipino seafarers, given their dominance in the marine labor market. To the relief of the 12 families, the hostages are coming home. However, the question must be asked as to how long it will be before the next vessel with Filipino seafarers on board is attacked and seized. Karsten von Hoesslin is a research fellow with a Canadian think tank specialing in maritime security I wonder if the NVCG has a ground or infantry component. We could contract them to provide detention and border security in Arizona and Texas. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |