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We Can’t Stop Arms Supply to Pirates – U.S
- By Williams Ekanem
- Published March 22nd, 2010
- Washington File
- Unrated
PRINCIPAL deputy assistant secretary, Bureau of political-military affairs in the United States Department, Mr. Thomas Countryman says efforts to stop arms supply to pirates in Somalia have been fraught with limited success.
Addressing the press on United States efforts to check piracy at the State Department last weekend, Countryman said there have been efforts over the years to enforce flows of weapons to the pirates but it has not always succeeded.
The United States, he pointed out, is out to support transitional government in Somalia to bring peace and stability to the country.
According to Countryman, “its been over a year the United States joined with partners across the international community to establish the Contact Group on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS), which has honored secretary Clinton’s call for a 21st century solution to a 17th century crime of pirate attacks in the waters off the Horn of Africa.”
In the year since this voluntary effort was founded following the United Nations call for such an effort, Countryman said it has grown from 24 countries to more than 50 countries and a several international organizations, including the African Union, the European Union, the league of Arab States, the International Maritime Organisation, Interpol and NATO.
The Contact Group, he pointed out, has made progress in security, legal prosecutions, public outreach and in the shipping industry.
In security, he stated that everyday, ships from more than 20 countries jointly patrol the Gulf of den, creating an internationally recognized transit corridor to provide safe passage for the 30,000 cargo ships that pass through the area every year.
Since Naval vessels cannot be everywhere all the time, the deputy secretary said employment of relatively simple means of deterring pirates, such as briefing crews and increasing watch in high-risk waters, upgrading lighting and preparing to take evasive action or positioning fire hoses to repel would-be boarders has proven to be the most important factor in the declining rate o successful pirate attacks in the region.
In legal prosecutions, he indicated that every country has right to prosecute pirates with international agreement for overseas prosecution.
Addressing the press on United States efforts to check piracy at the State Department last weekend, Countryman said there have been efforts over the years to enforce flows of weapons to the pirates but it has not always succeeded.
The United States, he pointed out, is out to support transitional government in Somalia to bring peace and stability to the country.
According to Countryman, “its been over a year the United States joined with partners across the international community to establish the Contact Group on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS), which has honored secretary Clinton’s call for a 21st century solution to a 17th century crime of pirate attacks in the waters off the Horn of Africa.”
In the year since this voluntary effort was founded following the United Nations call for such an effort, Countryman said it has grown from 24 countries to more than 50 countries and a several international organizations, including the African Union, the European Union, the league of Arab States, the International Maritime Organisation, Interpol and NATO.
The Contact Group, he pointed out, has made progress in security, legal prosecutions, public outreach and in the shipping industry.
In security, he stated that everyday, ships from more than 20 countries jointly patrol the Gulf of den, creating an internationally recognized transit corridor to provide safe passage for the 30,000 cargo ships that pass through the area every year.
Since Naval vessels cannot be everywhere all the time, the deputy secretary said employment of relatively simple means of deterring pirates, such as briefing crews and increasing watch in high-risk waters, upgrading lighting and preparing to take evasive action or positioning fire hoses to repel would-be boarders has proven to be the most important factor in the declining rate o successful pirate attacks in the region.
In legal prosecutions, he indicated that every country has right to prosecute pirates with international agreement for overseas prosecution.
