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Originally Posted by thomas
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Sorry Tomas but after reading the article....i still say Bollox
....
In the early nineties, i underwent an "anti-piracy" training course where i learned how to protect/defend our ships (I worked on large crude oil tankers back then) The threat wasnt percieved to be Somali waters but various parts of Malaysia, Indonesia and the South China Sea. West Africa was also becoming a hotspot to watch for back then.
The course never focused on the fact that we would be dealing with disgruntled fishermen but clearly identified them as simple water-based thugs (toting AK47's)
Incidentally, the course was run by the RN so the information did carry a certain amout of credibility.
Various nationality fishing vessels have fished pretty much all of the African coastline for years yet many other coastal African nations havn't resorted to piracy?
I think its more likely that, after the Somali government was overturned in the early 90's, a lawless state was born and prevailed thereafter.
What we dont hear about is the pilageing and rapeing that goes on on the mainland of Somali as a direct relut of the this lawless state.
We hear about the water based version termed "Piracy" because it effects us directly through attacks on our ships but the same sort of behaviour takes place on land yet it goes largely unspoken about.
I believe the fishermen have just followed the rest of the Somali poulation only they have carried it over to the domain they know best... the sea.
Simon
Imogen
