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Can Somaliland prisons handle 400 pirates?
March 5, 2011 · 30 Comments
COPENHAGEN — AN INTERNATIONAL anti-piracy meeting in Denmark this week hammered out a judicial framework for how to handle captured pirates, paving the way for the building of special pirate prisons, the organiser said.
The international working group’s ‘mandate was … to find a solution to the (pirate) incarceration problem”, explained Thomas Winkler, who heads up the working group and of the Danish foreign ministry’s judicial service.
The international community is facing a large challenge of prosecuting the growing number of pirates off Somalia, a lawless, war-torn country that sits alongside one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
Norwigian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide visits Hargeisa Prison
‘You have to be able to prove that a person is a pirate for him to be prosecuted,’ Mr Winkler told AFP late on Friday, pointing out that many captured pirates were released due to lacking evidence.
Nonetheless, new numbers showed that a total of ’820 Somali pirates are behind bars in 16 different countries at the moment”, he said, adding that his working group had been drawing up an international framework to help clarify how the pirates could be imprisoned.
‘No country wants two-three-four hundred pirates sitting in their prisons for 15 to 20 years. That’s why the system is clogged,’ he said, adding ‘they simply cannot have (pirates) lounging in the prisons. It is a big burden for their systems.’
Source: AFP | 5 March 2011 — Meeting in Denmark paves way for pirate prisons
Note: Somaliland is taking part in the Copenhagen conference on pirates. It is expected to sign a number of agreements with EU nations including Norway and Denmark. Is Somaliland ready to house two-three-four hundred pirates?
Related: Somaliland opens “pirate prison”
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Tags: Denmark, pirates, Prison, Somalia, Somaliland
Readers Comments (30)
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Somaliland should not become a dumbing ground for the developed world. They should talk to Somalia about the pirates. We have secured our borders and waters, the pirate issue is Somalia's problem. We should not welcome any criminal pirate. Our prisons should house our citizens.
Let them remain in those 16 countries for the rest of their lives.
Layla
I agree with you Zak. why do we need to do this? it is not our problems, our issues are different from these. I believe either we do not recognise it or we do not care. we should be clever to know our prioritise, if those countries are helping us what matters most,they are welcome otherwise we should know better.
I agree 100% with the two gentlemen who commented on the issue that Somaliland should not accept to become a dumping ground for the Somalia pirates. Of course Somaliland should take part in that conference and for that matter any other conference concerning the security of the region. But they should do so officially representing the Somaliland government. Any notion of getting financial assistance to build a prison in Somaliland for the pirates must be categorically rebuffed.
Dear All,
Somaliland is part of the International community and the pirate problem is a international issue – so please let the goverment play its role in the international efforts for anti piracy.
Hassan
Hassan..No problem if the Somaliland Govt. participates in any such International issues about anti-piracy
or else but I fully agree with ZAK,Layla and Mohamoud. Somaliland must soberly remain a civil society
like Switzerland free from foreign military bases and stay free from being pawns to foreign exploitations
and/or manipulations. Somaliland must depend mainly on the country's national GDP resources
and welcome any international joint development projects benefiting both the developer and the developed
based on mutual bilateral genuine friendly relations. The Somaliland Armed forces and other law
enforcement agencies must be well cared for to ensure that general peace and security is properly
taken care of so that the country's stability is well protected in the highest standards. The closest
ally is the UK.and the current ruling Party is biased towards London..let's see what that special
political twist will make a difference between Somaliland and the UK.
Cheers.
The issue is far deeper than simply being a pawn to foreign governments. Working along side foreign governments to arrest and imprison pirates has the potential to destabilize Somaliland by angering forces that are supportive of the pirates. I don't Somaliland is in a position right now to take such a risk.
edit: 'I don't think Somaliland is in a position right now to take such a risk.
So in reality you all agree with one another, so therefore from the comments, it's safe to say that the Somalilanders are generally uninterested or dissatisfied.
Can't you see whatever the Somalis in Puntland and Somalia do is nothing but mayhem crisis.
Good reason for Somaliland to stay clear out of such crisis of African mafia orientated monkey
businesses. Somaliland peace loving civil society have every right to disassociate and reject to be
part thereof for any new anti-piracy prisons in Somaliland Soil. Let the Somaliland Republic stay away from
the dirty crisis of Puntland and Somalia.
Cheers.
BETTER in some region of Somalia than in some European jail where they might even be abused because of their religion. I say Somaliland should hand these pirates to the RELIGIOUS leaders of Puntland rather than the administration.
Idea:
Why doesn't Somaliland and Puntland religious leaders agree to hold a joint court hearing in Hargeisa 1) ensure families of the pirates don't blame any negative ruling on tribalism and 2) to demonstrate goodwill to the people of Puntland. If they are guilty then their prison sentence will be carryed out in Somaliland to satisfy the UN. If they are found innocent then they will be photographed and IDed. This information will be handed over to both puntland and the international community. Therefore, if these individuals are found in illegal waters a second time they will not have an excuse and it's jail for 20 years. WIN for the world, Justice for the families and peace in our waters.
omer
I agree with all good thinking Somalinaders Zak, layla, Hassan, Mohamoud etc. Somaliland is not a dummping
ground for Somalia parites, he who cares to satisfy UN and the rest of world has to find out a new Guantinamo.
Moreover Somaliland is a independent nation and it is not part of Somalia at all.
Warya when will you understand sir..maybe you belong to those all religions say are devoid of hearing, seeing
and/or perceiving..Sir again, all those top mentalities self elected warlords and religious leaders of Puntland
and Somalia are of the same colours in their dealings with any crisis. Soory Sir but I reject many of your
ideas because I know perfectly well what's happening in both Puntland Somalia..bad bad bad.
Cheers.
In some way or the other we don't need headache. As the saying says a friend in need is a friend indeed, we need the help of the world-wide for that sake we suppose to convince them to give them the green light to construct the so-called pirate prison in one of our nearby islands and to arrange the management and the control including the hiring, training and mobilizing staff and blue cup Somaliland soldiers hired for sake.
This is a question that should be dressed to Puntland that is under federal gov. SL could handle war criminals but pirates a big NOOO!
I think that this is another grave fault by the unrealistic and novice diaspora led SL government.
We have nothing to do with Somalia pirate's activities outside our territorial waters. Somalis are clans and think of how much lost the extradion of ONLF just for the interest of Ethiopa.This is a national security matter which will impact everyone of us.We don't need to create more Somali enemies for us.Enough is Enough!
Somaliland should only handle pirates that are citizens of the region. The reason why the international community is rejecting to have prisons build in their own countries is it comes with a big package. There are international laws that won't allow it, cause you can not just hold people and mainly it is too costly to manage such record numbers of prisoners.
Let alone this, a lot of this first world countries are having hard time dealing with their own criminals. In this day and age it is just too costly. Moreover, somalia issues is out of the hand, too many crimes committed against humanity. Who can tell whose criminal and from whose not?
Everybody here is missing the picture: We are earning monies and recognition from the West, while at the same time allowing our brothers serve their prison time close to home and away from the foreign abuse. This partly humanitarian and partly Somaliland interest, got it now? Somalilanders know what they are doing!!
cheers
Forget it Yusuf. Better stay away from the Piracy prisons in Somaliland soil is right course of action.
Let big countries handle the International piracy problems not Somaliland.
Cheers.
The political arena is basically like a market a trading ground, bargaining and negotiating. When i first heard that the UN or other foreign countries where investing in developing Hargeisa prison my initial reaction was 'what do they want? What’s in it for them?' and now we know! It’s basically we will invest all these funds in your country to develop your prison systems but in return you will house in these prison pirates from somalia! Each country will weigh out the cost and benefits of this offer and come to a decision. To me the benefits was an injection of funds and development of the prison which was well needed and frankly as Somaliland is still developing could not afford to develop themselves, however the cost could be potential instability, meddling in the affairs of Somalia which Somaliland promised they would stay way clear of unless it reaches their borders but this should not be something they go and out and seek. To me it seems Somaliland choose money over peace and this is a risky choice which could come back to haunt them. I pray this is not the case.
Somaliland should just be weary of all this interest in the country, for offers of development, injection of funds and possible recognition all are good offers but they must consider what they are giving up and at what price and risk they achieve these goals and not sell their soul to the devil. I’m sure everyone is well aware that noting is for free in this world, and it’s more a matter of you starch my back all starch yours. Somaliland should be weary not to starch too hard as to lead to bloodshed as that’s the last thing anyone wants. Somaliland is currently at peace and stability and developing on its own to me this is priceless and more important than anything as well as the every much desired international recognition.
Somaliland Hannolato!
There is no profit in this kind of business for Somaliland. It should take few just to tell the world its doing its bit but it should not see as a lucrative business. I suggest Somaliland asks for the international community to help build its navy and coast guard rather than taking prisoners. We can go into pirate bases and blow them up. Thats more lucrative and in the long time beneficial.
Fast boats, military aid and arms. Otherwise go home.
Next offer will be we will build your military and give you arms but you must help us combat global terrorism and the spread of Al- shabab! Is that really a benefit for Somaliland?
Yes thats more lucrative than pirates from Puntland. Al qaeda and al shabab is huge business, are you aware how much is EU paying AMISOM (Uganda and Burundi)? Each year they spend $150 million on AMISOM troops. Look in this case Denmark wants to spend $2million for life long prisons, thats all.
I rather prison al shabab than puntland pirates, thats like handling dypiers.
Somaliland is been too kind because it needs recognition but it doesnt have to go so low as handling hundreds of Puntland thugs. Let the whites take them and dump them in the open sea if they want like the Russians.
Al qaeda is worth $1 trillion.
I support your motion.
Cheers.
there is no recognition coming guys,and your so called government knows that.
Sanaag Bhai who says that…Somaliland Rep. was recognized in 1959 and gained Independence in
1960. There's no need for another recognition. Sooner or later you will salute me to this fact.
Cheers.
if it is recognized why cant i find it on the map.The world knows Somalia my friend.
It's in the books of the UK and UN which's more than a map. Sanaag bhai.
Cheers.
Somaliland can agree on one condition; that only those pirates who are detained in Somaliland waters are incarcerated in the prisons being funded by the EU. Puntland has to shoulder the headache of Somali pirates In Somalia.
This might pave the way for Somaliland to request for assistance in developing the Somaliland Navy.
Although, it is better for the Somali pirates to be housed close to their homeland and in a Muslim country because it is not safe for them be in an all white prison. They will be abused, raped, or killed by hostile white prisoners who hate pirates in general and Muslims in particular. And instead of thanking us other Somalis will see us as their enemies. Thus, we stay away housing these prisoners. The only prisoners in our country should be our own and those who violates our law.
This is a bad idea by Silaanyo Adminstration.
Our government did not negotiate well I believe. If I were responsible for signing such deals, I would:
1. Demand that more modern prisons are built and more Somalilanders employed to run them. All expenses paid by the UN and others.
2. Demand and increased funding and training of our military personel. And the supply of a lot of modern and powerful weapons, vessels, and vehicles to our army and navy to protect Somaliland against any potentially adverse consequences of housing the pirates.
3. Demand the building of more courts in Somaliland, the training of more Somalilander lawyers and judges at Western institutions to carry out justice in Somaliland, and assistance to build capacity, transparency, and efficiency of our judicial system.
4. Make clear to the Somalis that its the UN and not Somaliland which is holding the pirates.
5. Demand more economic and diplomatic assistance from the international community.
If all the above mentioned demanded were granted to us, we would benefit the most.