One day after the Somali Government gave foreign powers the green light to use force against bandits on board ‘Faina’, Somali pirates have said they were ready to fight any rescue attempt.
“Anyone who tries to attack us or deceive us will face bad repercussions,” the pirates’ spokesman Sugule Ail told the Associated Pres via satellite telephone. “We have nothing to do with insurgents or terrorist organisations. We only need money,” he continued. “We would never reduce the ransom.” The Associated Press said that even though the Ukrainian military cargo-carrying vessel was surrounded by US Navy vessels and helicopters, the pirate sounded “calm and relaxed”. The US is particularly worried that the pirates are after the military loot, including 33 Soviet designed T-72 tanks and an assortment of weapons, and would use them in an al-Qaida-linked movement that is battling the government in Somalia. According to The Associated Press, Ali warned against the types of raids that were carried out this year by French commandos when rescuing hostages on board hijacked vessels. Russia has likewise used commando tactics to rescue hostages, however in those cases, hostages have died in the efforts. Meanwhile The Associated Press said that a Danish intelligence company which specialises in maritime security said that Somali pirates make an average of US$1 million per hijacked ship. The news agency reported that Roger Middleton, who published a report on Somali piracy for London-based Chatham House, predicted that the current situation would only meet its resolution in the payment of the ransom.
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