Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Somali pirates

People Web March 3 (Xinhua) Somali pirates in Gulf of Aden 1, hijacked a tanker crossing the Saudi Arabian, and the 14 sailors on board hostage. The EU naval anti-piracy fleet said the incident occurred, the ship had a cargo of fuel oil on the main carrying empty, and did not contain any valuable goods. It is reported that the hijacked tanker displacement of only 5136 tons, the accident site in the country outside of the Navy convoy routes.

Currently, a total of six ships and 132 sailors were seized in the hands of Somali pirates, “up for grabs.” Statistics show that, although in 2009 the number of pirate attacks increased significantly over 2008, but the success of pirates hijacked the ship is roughly equal to the number in 2008. Situation due to the formation of the States Navy stepped up patrols in the Gulf of Aden, while crossing the sailor’s anti-piracy technology the vessel has improved greatly.

In general, each of the three, four, and May is the peak time for Somali piracy. In the meantime, Yinsuomali smaller waves near the sea, is very conducive to driving the boat to the sea pirates who commit crimes. The Somali civil war has lasted 19 years, the United Nations to support the local “legitimate government” shaky, seeking only to Muslims with a strong domestic anti-government armed factions battle day and night, can not afford to send troops to deal with rampant piracy.

now, Somali pirates seems to have satisfied the “pure” and robberies at sea activities, and began to “land thief” in transition. Their new goal is not only cargo crossing, but the UN to transport food and other relief supplies to the local big truck. Among them, a pirate gang walk dozens of kilometers from the coast further land, hijacked three trucks and drivers. Then, there are five and transportation trucks hijacked by pirates.

It is reported that the “pirate Corps’ activities are focused on called” Pirate Paradise “in the northern Somali semi-autonomous region of Puntland area. As the activities in the local Somali pirates a ransom in recent years been receiving hundreds of millions of dollars, so the local forces of various types of popular favor and protection. Somali officials said the pirates want to use these and transportation trucks and drivers for the pirates were arrested were released.

aid operation in Somalia is the world’s one of the largest aid operations, but are constantly barraged with obstruction. In January, a variety of threats facing the World Food Programme, a few Muslims from the south of Somalia’s unstable regions the withdrawal of armed rampant. Previously, the local Islamic organization “Youth Party” threat to their suicide attacks. Another militant group, “Islamic Party” is to prevent and transportation trucks to enter, requiring aid workers to leave Somalia.

NATO anti-piracy fleet belonging to the Danish Navy, “Absalon” missile destroyer in the Indian Ocean recently discovered containing a pirate “mother ship.” Transferred to the command of many pirate boat trailer mother ship, the ship opened fire towards the mother ship and sunk. The Pirates eventually allowed to return to Somalia. NATO countries are deployed in the waters near Somalia, with three ships, the other two were from the United States and Britain.

defense minister said the EU Member States, will strengthen the port frequented by pirates in Somalia to monitor and focus on the survival of anti-piracy “mother ship” in order to weaken the activity of sea pirates. The so-called mother ship that pirates disguised as fishing boats out to sea when committing the crime of “activities bunker.”

Currently, there are a number of countries to send convoys to the coast of Somalia. Among them, the Chinese naval fleet will be the fifth convoy March 4, set sail from Sanya, Hainan Province, went to the Gulf of Aden perform escort missions. Fifth Fleet escort destroyer Guangzhou, South China Sea Fleet ships, large ships Weishan Lake comprehensive depot ship, and are participating in the task of escorting ships lake, and two ship-borne helicopters, dozens of Marines who formed part of the entire fleet consists of eight more than a hundred people.

the three warships are designed and built by China’s new warships. Since December 26, 2008 since the Navy has sent four batches of the fleet went to the Gulf of Aden off the Somali coast perform escort missions, has successfully completed 172 so far approved 1,643 foreign ships of escort missions, rescue attacked by pirates and foreign vessels 23, the success take care five released Chinese and foreign ships, anti-piracy for the international community made a positive contribution. (H Yi Jun)