[IslamCity] Somalia starving under heavy pressure of American anti Islamic Court

Relatives of 10 alleged Somali pirates have said that the suspects were innocent fishermen.

The men in question were captured by US naval soldiers who came to rescue MV Safinat Al-Basarat, an Indian boat, which together with its 16 crew members, was allegedly being highjacked by the Somalis.

"Our sons and brothers were not hooded men committing sinfu! l acts. They were on a fishing trip in Somalia's territorial waters," claimed a man interviewed by a local FM Radio station.

"Foreigners have no right to apprehend people who venture into the ocean to feed their families through humble fishing activities," added another relative.

The 10 Somalis were reportedly captured while on board MV Safinat Al-Basarat. They were airlifted to Mombasa harbour and held in custody by the Kenyan police.

The legality of how to try them in court has been causing acrimony. The prosecutors in Kenya say that the pirates can be tried anywhere in the world, including Kenya, because of the international nature of the charges against them. The defence, however, insist that Kenya is not equipped to try suspects of piracy.

Somalia: Thousands Displaced As Mogadishu Clashes Continue


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UN Integrated Regional Information Networks

February 21, 2006
Posted to the web February 21, 2006

Nairobi

Thousands of people have fled the northern and northeastern suburbs of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, since clashes between militia groups started over the weekend, a to! p city official said.

An estimated 1,500 families had been displaced by the continuing clashes, Mogadishu Mayor, Ibrahim Omar Shaaweye, told IRIN on Tuesday.

Some 25 people had been killed and 150 wounded, he added.

"There was a flood of people pouring out of the Dayniile and Gubta areas [in north and northeastern Mogadishu and the epicenter of the fighting] this morning [Tuesday], looking for safety," the mayor said.

"Almost all the dead and wounded were civilians," said a hospital worker.

"Many of them, women and children," he added. "The casualty figures are expected to go higher once the fighting stops, yet we still have no figures of the dead for the fighting groups."

The conflict, which started on Saturday, pits armed militias who are reportedly loyal to a new alliance of faction leaders against those of! the Islamic courts.

The newly created coalition - the Alliance for Peace and Fight Against International Terrorism - comprises several Mogadishu-based faction leaders. Its members include, among others, Muhammad Qanyare Afrah, Muse Sudi Yalahow, Omar Finnish, Bashir Raghe and Abdirashid Shire Ilqeyte.

Shaaweye told IRIN by telephone that the fighting on Tuesday was "less intense" than the previous day, but "shells were landing in a number of places".

A few businesses had reopened, and there were some buses on the road. Schools had not reopened due to the uncertainty of the situation, he said.

He added elders and civil society groups were speaking with both sides and trying to reach a ceasefire. "I am hopeful that within the next few hours we will have a permanent truce," the Mayor said.

However, Hassan Ade, a local resident, said city ! dwellers were bracing themselves for a continuation of the fighting. "Both sides are reportedly receiving reinforcements and have been buying ammunition in the market, so everyone expects the fighting to intensify."

The violence erupted when armed militias reportedly loyal to Mogadishu militia leader, Abdi Nure Siyad, also known as "Abdi Wal", attacked those loyal to Islamic courts located in a former military academy south of city. Siyad denied starting the violence.

Witnesses said militiamen had used rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machineguns, small caliber guns and mortar shells.

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]

There is an overwhelming consensus tha! t the Somalis could be tried in Kenya, the country nearest the crime scene or in India where the ship and crew belong. Others suggest that the suspected pirates could be tried at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba by the American legal system because US soldiers reportedly apprehended them.

Somalis have been following the events with keen interest.

"I have never heard of an operation as swift as this with pirates captured within hours of a distress signal being sent out, then quickly airlifted to Kenya with a quick arrangement of a trial," Hassan Hussein Weli, a resident of Karan district in Mogadishu observed.

But many Somalis wonder why there are so few details released about the boat. Who owned it? Where was it registered? What was the nature of its cargo? What was the port of origin and its destination?

The response to these and other questions are important because there w! ere reports that some of the pirates jumped out before being captured by the American sailors. If that is true, then either the Americans had faulty boats or the crime scene was closer to Somalia's coast than the alleged 200 nautical miles offshore.

There could be an argument that Somalis are best placed to solve their problems. People over here, however, have known all along that strong foreign influence hampered the citizens of this country from reinstating their government. A very clear evidence is that even the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), which was approved by all the countries surrounding Somalia from Yemen to Kenya and endorsed by the African Union with offers of peacekeepers was prevented from implementing its plans.

Why is there sudden change of heart and tactics? Look at USS Winston S. Churchill, a navy destroyer, picking signals from Kuala Lumpur to come to the rescue of an Indian boat and airlift th! e pirates to Kenya. Besides, the United States stated that it makes no difference for it whether criminals are pirates or terrorists.

It is clear that pirates have finally touched a US nerve centre. Many people at Somalia's informal debate centres locally known as Fadhi ku dirir believe that the recent attack on MV Seaburn Spirit caused a crucial turning point in US policy towards Somalia.

"God knows what the scenario would have been if the pirates managed to get hold of the cruise liner with over 300 passengers, mostly American tourists," said Ali Bile Noor, a regular at one of Mogadishu's Fadhi ku dirir.

In reaction to the escalating piracy not only affecting trading routes in Eastern Africa, but also challenging the war on terror, the US had to boost its presence in the region. Apart from the allied forces in the Gulf of Aden, the US appears to have deployed navy frigates, destroyers; reconnaiss! ance planes and sophisticated communication systems to combat the pirates. It is good news for all coastal states, the business community and consumers in the entire region.

On the diplomatic front, the US could not sit aloof and simply observe Somali politicians in the TFG bickering while the nation remained stateless.

Recent developments in Somalia's political arena makes one wonder why things have suddenly taken a positive turn. First, the Aden Agreement followed by the announcement on January 30 that the Transitional Federal Parliament would hold its first session at Baidoa town, 260 km west of Mogadishu.

Last week's development was the most remarkable. The President, the Speaker of Parliament and the Prime Minister issued statements at Galka'yo town, 75 km north of Mogadishu on February 5. They assured the nation that they will work together amicably for the benefit of the nation.

Everyone is now waiting for the outcome of the unfolding events. The Somali shilling, the local currency, was the first to react to the developments. It has strengthened against the dollar remarkably.

The next to smile are property developers in Somalia who are already talking about expected rebuilding contracts.

[IslamCity] Somalia starving under heavy pressure of American anti Islamic Court

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