Piracy off the cost of Somalia is a complex situation. However, many people around the world advocate for the simple solution of military intervention, with the idea that sooner or later with enough pirates dead, the situation will be solved. At first glance, and with no other prior knowledge of this region of the world, this proposal might be somewhat plausible. But, it's not. The current Somali government is in pitiful shape and holds little influence over Somali territory, especially Puntland, where the majority of pirates are based. The area of Puntland is plagued by an inhuman level of poverty, disease, illiteracy, and corruption. The future is literally hopeless for Somalis in this region. People will resort to drastic measures to feed their families. With little agricultural infrastructure, Somalis in this region have historically relied on fishing to provide a meager income and food for their families.
Beginning in the 1990's and throughout the Somali civil war, because of the lack of any enforced restrictions or guidelines on maritime issues, fishing fleets from around the world flocked to this region to take advantage of the lack of enforcement on the amount of fish a fleet could catch. Thus over time drastically reducing the local fish populations, the last reliable source of food for people on the coast of Somalia. Also beginning in the early 1990's, the cost for disposal of both toxic and nuclear waste in Europe was around $1000 per ton. However in the anarchist environment of Somalia in the 1990's, corrupt politicians looking for foreign support and to fill the power vacuum in Somalia offered to turn a blind eye on the disposal of this waste for only $2.50 per ton. Somali waters soon turned into an international illegal fishing and toxic and nuclear waste disposal site without any regulations.
The toxic and nuclear waste eventually found its way to shore and has been causing the outbreaks of many diseases and helping to devastate an already devastated ocean ecosystem.
Without much choice, a number of Somali's have turned their fishing boats into pirate ships and have begun to hijack vessels in the lawless seas off the coast of Somalia. Leaders of different pirate groups are seen as heroes on shore in their villages, they claim to be vigilantes taking law into their own hands and demanding ransoms to help pay for the environmental damage their region has suffered from the outside world. In their minds they are completely justified, they are only guilty of trying to survive in this region of the world. If anyone else was in their position, they would do the same.
The solution to this problem will take increased regulation of international maritime laws in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, for now this is where the military involvement should be until an international policing effort is created or the Somali government has the ability to govern its own waters. The overall focus of solving the piracy situation in Somalia should be on the root causes of conflict; poverty, education, disrespect of human rights, and corruption. Until these problems are addressed, and yes they can be addressed with enough political will, there will always be conflict.
Eric Pate
CPO 2001
T TH 8:30
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5 comments:
Very nicely put, a very quick look at what happened to Somolia that led it to where it is now. Though there is not much we can do there besides keep our hands out of it, the government that is, we have a tendancy lately to not be doing so good on stabaliing areas.
Very nicely put, a very quick look at what happened to Somolia that led it to where it is now. Though there is not much we can do there besides keep our hands out of it, the government that is, we have a tendancy lately to not be doing so good on stabaliing areas.
Michael Desilets
CPO 2001
T/R 8:35
You say "...the environmental damage their region has suffered from the outside world." But didn't you say earlier that corrupt politicians invited Europeans in to dump their waste for cheap? And no, I completely disagree with your statement "If anyone else was in their position, they would do the same." I'm sorry but regardless of my place in the world or my economical & environmental situation in the region where i lived, I would NEVER fire grenades and guns at innocent people or take hostages with AK's pointed at their heads just to get some bread money. Ugh just more of that leftist victim mentality. THAT'S what is wrong with OUR nation today!
Robbie Schmalfuss
CPO 2001
TR 1:06
Thanks for pointing out the kinks, I mispoke in the first point you bring up; In 1992, the Swiss and Italian shipping firms Achair Partners and Progresso began dumping toxic waste without any deal, until they were discovered and then a deal was made between rebel leaders and the companies. You know you cant just blame the somalis for attempting to make money. Both the corrupt officials and corporations are equally to blame.
And neither would I throw grenades, however, i would be more sympathetic with their cause had i had a family member with lesions caused by radiation poisoning.
Eric Pate
CPO 2001
T TH 8:30
And leftist victim mentality? I guess that can be a way for you to disregard any information you disagree with, you cant just say that and blow off the other side to an argument. You have to take their side into consideration to come to a reasonable conclusion. From their point of view, we are using the "leftist victim mentality".
And I can think of several other things that are wrong with our country that are more damaging than a "leftist victim mentality" and I'm sure you could too.
Eric Pate
CPO 2001
T TH 8:30
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