26 May 2009
State Department Official Discusses Naval Piracy
CO.NX webchat transcript, May 26
Donna Hopkins, an official with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, answered questions in a May 26 CO.NX webchat on combating piracy.
Following is the transcript:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
CO.NX Webchat Transcript
Combating Naval Piracy
Guest: Donna Hopkins
Date: May 26, 2009
Time: 9:00 a.m. EDT (13:00 GMT)
Question [IRC Abidjan 1]: Why are Governments unable to end with this practice which threatens our world?
Answer [Donna Hopkins]: The problem is that there is no functioning government in Somalia that can control the activities of pirates operating from its land and territorial waters. Governments respect the territorial integrity of Somalia and are working together to contain the activities of pirates. This is not a simple problem, because the money brought into Somalia by the pirates' illegal activities is very attractive to many Somalis.
Q: [IRC Abidjan - Assanvoh]: don't you believe that to put an end to naval piracy, we should seek the source, which coumtry or organization arm this pirates?
A [Donna Hopkins]: Yes, indeed, and the United States and other countries are looking very closely at how funding support flows to the pirates. We believe this activity is criminal behavior, but it is not easy to track and identify the sources of illicit funding support to pirates.
Q: [IRC Abidjan 5]: to what extent piracy harm the world?
A [Donna Hopkins]: Piracy has a terrible effect on international trade. It raises the cost of shipping and discourages regional development. This is a problem everywhere piracy exists, but it is particularly damaging to the countries on the eastern coast of Africa because pirates delay, disrupt, and often steal humanitarian aid intended for some of the poorest and most distressed people on Earth. Piracy off the Horn of Africa also negatively affects development and trade in Yemen and threatens energy supply routes critical to many countries around the world.
Q: [IRC Abidjan 6]: Vanessa: don't you think that their poor living conditions is the basis of piracy?
A [Donna Hopkins]: Very definitely. Piracy offers quick money to young Somalis who have few alternatives that pay as well as piracy. Unfortunately for both these young men and their victims, piracy is a serious crime that damages their country's chances of recovering from civil war and building a sustainable future. International investors are unlikely to invest in a country where criminal gangs could threaten their investments. Piracy is organized crime, which makes Somalia less attractive as a place in which to invest to provide employment.
Q: [Nyagiro]: Many captured pirates are being tried in the Kenyan territory. How long should it take to try them and once convicted, can they serve their jail-terms outside Kenya given the fact that Kenya doesn't have sufficient facilities to heap all of them?
A [Donna Hopkins]: This is a good question. The Government of Kenya is rising to the challenge of helping to counter piracy by agreeing to try suspected pirates in their courts. The length of time for trials and prison terms is a function of prosecutorial capacity and prison facilities. Several countries, and most recently the European Union, are providing support and assistance to Kenya to help them build additional capacity to prosecute pirates.
Q: [irc Antananarivo]: I'm MICHEL from Madagascar and I'm a student on the base ivato: what made them decide to became pirate what do you do to fight against piracy?.
A [Donna Hopkins]: Hi Michel. Pirates are criminals motivated by a desire for quick money. They attack ships and hold them for ransom, which is often paid by companies simply to get their ships and crew back. The international community is fighting piracy in several ways - by sending naval ships to interdict pirate attacks; by helping commercial ships to protect themselves against pirate attacks; by adopting legal procedures to prosecute pirates; by helping the Somali government to develop its own capacity to control its territory and bring security to its people; and to discourage concessions to pirates.
Q: [IRC Abidjan 1]: An American Captain said in an interview that the pirates were very well trained and that it would be really difficult to stop them. Does this assertion prove that it will never take end. Or that Governments are weak enough?
A [Donna Hopkins]: It will be difficult to stop piracy off the coast of Somalia, but it is not impossible. The international community is working very hard to develop the ability to remove pirates from circulation. A very important aspect of ending piracy will be to help the Somali people to develop their own institutions to control criminal activity by Somalis, and to develop economic alternatives to piracy. Unfortunately, piracy damages the Somalis' own efforts to help themselves, because investors who might otherwise want to help build factories or trade with Somalis are discouraged from doing so because they cannot be assured of protection from pirates and other criminals.
Q: [irc Antananarivo]: COLONEL RANDRIAMASY WILLIAM head of the air force English teaching center of MADAGASCAR: when did the struggle against the naval piracy in the world begin? ;is a world political reason involved in the existence of piracy and why if there are some reasons?
A [Donna Hopkins]: Piracy is as old as civilization - it has been going on since people first began to trade by sea. History shows that Phoenician and Roman Empires fought against pirates. The sea is very difficult to police, so piracy will be with us for a long while yet, I'm afraid.
Q: [IRC Abidjan 3]: Do you think that poverty is one the main reason that lead people to piracy?
A [Donna Hopkins]: No, I think greed is the main source of piracy. There are very many very poor people in the world who do not steal from others. Poverty is an excuse for crime, not a cause of it.
Q: [IRC Abidjan]: The thing is many ships have been subject to attack, why don't the prospect companies undertake disposals like arming their ships in order to avoid this piracy attacks?
A [Donna Hopkins]: Some companies do arm their ships; others think it is unsafe or unwise to carry weapons on merchant ships, especially those carrying flammable or hazardous materials.
Q: [IRC]: What are the resolutions of the contract group for piracy off the coast of Somalia?
A [Donna Hopkins]: The Contact Group for Piracy off the Coast of Somalia focuses on several issues: Operational coordination and information sharing among counter-piracy forces; the facilitation of prosecution of suspected pirates; strengthening commercial shipping to protect against piracy; and public information about the destructive effects of piracy. The Contact Group also serves as an informal venue in which governments can share information on their policies and programs that aim to reduce the impact of piracy in the region.
Q: [Thomas Le Guen]:"Piracy is old as civilization[S]" YES! I agree. But, don't forget that Prostitution is also as old as civilisations!
A [Donna Hopkins]: That's true - but it doesn't make it right!
Q: [tolo]: since so many pirates come from the lawless lands like somalia, is not the solution to rebuild and stabilise somalia?
A [Donna Hopkins]: Indeed, helping Somalia to stabilize and rebuild is very important, and many countries and organizations are trying to do that very thing. It will take time, much money, and ultimately, only the Somalis can stabilize and rebuild Somalia.
CO.NX Administrator (Tim):Is this event useful? What topics would you like to discuss in the future. Feel free to send us feedback at conx@state.gov.
Q: [Guest123]: Is it illegal according to International Law for merchant ships to carry guns and ammunition?
A [Donna Hopkins]: No, it is not illegal for merchant ships to carry guns and ammunition. It may difficult, however for merchant ships to enter ports around the world if they are carrying arms. Each country has its own laws and policies on arms entering seaports.
CO.NX Administrator (Tim): The U.S. Department of State also has an online community to discuss international affairs at http://co-nx.state.gov.
Q: [IRC Abidjan]: Don't you think that diplomacy has failed and will still fail in this fight?
A [Donna Hopkins]: On the contrary, I think diplomacy is very important in building a shared understanding of the challenges presented by piracy. It is through diplomacy that countries agree to come together to take important steps, like agreeing that affected countries should prosecute suspected pirates in their domestic courts.
Comment [Tchello KASSE]: Good morning every body. I just arrived
Q: [Edith]: Has the US government approached the government of India on safeguarding the Indian Ocean? Is there any discussion on preventive measures so that issues of piracy affecting eastern Africa do not affect India?
A [Donna Hopkins]: The Government of India is actively engaged in counter-piracy operations and participates in the Contact Group for Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.
Q: [IRC Abidjan 1]: Isn't naval piracy another form of terrorism?
A [Donna Hopkins]: Piracy is a criminal activity. Pirates from Somalia seem more interested in money than ideology, while terrorists are criminals who are more interested in ideology (although some terrorists are probably interested in money as well.)
Q: [IRC Abidjan]: i think force is what we need to put an end to such a flail when remembering the operation led by the french commando
A [Donna Hopkins]: Force will be used in some cases, certainly. It may not be the right answer in all cases.
Q: [Kulwant Singh]: Apart from each Nation's individual concrete efforts, there should be an International type of force always present in the troubled piracy area.
A [Donna Hopkins]: There may be in the future an international standing naval counter-piracy force. At present, naval forces are provided by countries who are serious about protecting maritime commerce in this region.
Q: [IRC]: My first question is to know if there is any relationship between Al Quida and these Somalian organisation?
A [Donna Hopkins]: I have not heard of a connection between Al Queda and Somali pirates.
Q: [IRC]: So far how many victims do we have?
A [Donna Hopkins]: There are about 200 hostages being held by Somali pirates, but we are all victims, in a sense, of this crime. It is hurting humanitarian relief efforts in eastern Africa, retarding development in the regions, and discouraging trade in a critical part of the world. Also, piracy is causing insurance rates to rise and increasing the costs of goods shipped through this region. So we are all paying a price for piracy.
Q: [La Nation – Djibouti]: Which country will lead the contact group on piracy? Djibouti has made tremendous efforts to resolve the Somalia crisis and the maritime piracy. What place or what role will be granted to Djibouti in the creation of this contact group?
A [Donna Hopkins]: No one country "leads" the Contact Group; it is a collaborative effort among many countries. Djibouti is already playing an important role in the Contact Group, and is working with the international community to help develop maritime security in the region.
Q: [Tchello KASSE]: Marina: how many group of pirates are there in that coast?
A [Donna Hopkins]: I don't know if all pirates are Somalis, but certainly many are.
Q: [Tchello KASSE]: So is Indian helping US government fighting this problem?
A [Donna Hopkins]: India is participating in the fight against piracy, are the United States and many other countries. I wouldn't say that anyone is "helping the United States" but that we are all working together to solve a common problem.
Q: [IRC Abidjan 3 – daria]: don't you think that the somali government is not able to face this problem?
A [Donna Hopkins]: The Somali government is not yet able to solve the problem of piracy, but we hope that with the aid of the international community, it will develop the ability to do so.
Q: [IRC Abidjan 4 – Dao]: why don't you punish them severly.
A [Donna Hopkins]: Punishment should be a matter of due process. The rule of law is an important principle in the fight against any kind of criminal activity.
Q: [IRC]: why don’t UN sensitize the world about that phenomenon in order to have support from all country and fight against that
A [Donna Hopkins]: The UN is very engaged and supportive of counter-piracy efforts. The UN Security Council has passed four resolutions on piracy and is a very helpful partner in this effort.
Q: [La Nation – Djibouti]: Also, what is the mandate of the contact group? What powers do they have in regards to the fight against pirates?
A [Donna Hopkins]: The Contact Group has no "powers" but is a forum for the exchange of information and ideas about how best to combat piracy off the Coast of Somalia. Thank you all for your questions, but I must sign off now.
Comment [La Nation – Djibouti]: thank you!
Comment [IRC Abidjan 7]: thank you bye
Comment [IRC Abidjan 5]: thank you see you
Comment [IRC Abidjan 3]: thank you bye
Comment [irc abidjan 2]: thank you, good bye
Comment [Tchello KASSE]: Thank you too. And see you soon on our next webchat...
Comment [IRC Abidjan 1]: thank you
Comment [IRC Abidjan]: Thank you for answering our questions
Comment [IRC]: thank you and good bye
CO.NX Moderator (Mark): This chat is now closed. A transcript of this chat will be available usually within one business day on www.America.gov, here, and on our Facebook page at http://co-nx.state.gov. Feel free to send any comments or questions to conx@state.gov or write on our Facebook wall.
(end transcript)
