Pirates should be shot on sight: Jakarta navy chief

The Straits Times ^ | June 18,2004 | AFP, AP

[bunkerhill7]

Pirates should be shot on sight: Jakarta navy chief June 18, 2004 JAKARTA - Pirates who launch armed attacks in Indonesian waters should be shot on sight without mercy, Indonesia's navy chief said yesterday.

'There is a legal basis for this. We are merely defending ourselves if they attack first,' Antara news agency quoted Admiral Bernard Kent Sondakh as saying. Advertisement

'If they are caught alive, they would only get, at the most, three months in jail. After that, they go pirating again,' he told reporters after presenting special citations to 24 crew members of a Navy ship.

The 24 were commended for thwarting pirates who hijacked and took hostage 36 people on board a tanker in waters off Berhala Island in North Sumatra province last Saturday.

Indonesia has the world's worst piracy record, with 21 reported attacks in the first three months of this year, according to the International Maritime Bureau.

Spurning suggestions by the United States that its forces could be used to guard the Malacca Straits, Admiral Sondakh also proposed a joint task force to guard the busy waterway.

The task force would involve Singaporean and Malaysian forces to guard the 900km waterway, one of the world's busiest shipping channels, the navy chief said.

'All this time we have had good cooperation with Malaysia and Singapore.

'If the task force is established, automatically security in the Malacca Straits will be strengthened,' said Admiral Sondakh.

He also said Indonesian officials will meet their Malaysian counterparts on June 27 to discuss increasing security in the narrow straits. A date has yet to be set for talks with Singapore's officials.

Admiral Sondakh said outside forces could help by providing intelligence, equipment or expertise.

About a third of the world's trade and 80 per cent of Japan's crude oil from the Middle East ply the 900km narrow corridor between ports in East Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

In March, a top US admiral sparked a controversy when he suggested that US Marines' special forces personnel in high-speed vessels could be deployed to help patrol the waterway.

Indonesia and Malaysia - who are wary of infringements on their territorial sovereignty - have repeatedly rebuffed US offers to deploy troops to the region.

On the other hand, Singapore says it is open to American involvement in security in the straits. -- AFP, AP

[bunkerhill7]

Shoot first, ask questions later

[Keith in Iowa]

>>Pirates who launch armed attacks in Indonesian waters should be shot on sight without mercy, Indonesia's navy chief said yesterday.

Amen. Any terrorist should suffer the same fate. Do it to them before they do it to us.

[jwalsh07]

Pirates should be shot on sight:

Hell yeah.

[dr_who_2]

I understand that piracy is a big problem in that part of the world. If it works, do it.

[seastay]

the way things are going it would be better to shoot than arrest them, since being a prisoner , kept warm and fed free meals 3 times a day now days amounts to abuse not accepted by international law.

[mlmr]

makes sense to me/

[SnuffaBolshevik]

Indonesia has the world's worst piracy record, with 21 reported attacks in the first three months of this year, according to the International Maritime Bureau..

Would someone explain how a 40,000 ton tanker can be robbed by rag tag pirates in dinky scows? Why don't they get everyone below decks and go at flank speed?

[Paleo Conservative]

I might even shoot before I see them.

[mrsmith]

"A pirate, an outlaw, or a common enemy to all mankind, may be put to death at any time. It is justified by the laws of nature and nations."

Patrick Henry

[sport]

Would because the pirates had guns and the tanker crew did not be a reason?

[toddst]

Would someone explain how a 40,000 ton tanker can be robbed by rag tag pirates in dinky scows? Why don't they get everyone below decks and go at flank speed?

Why aren't tankers armed and crews trained to repel boarders?

[Rebelbase]

The majority of pirate attacks occur while a ship is at anchor in a harbor.

[mountaineer]

Yikes, an extreme response to a nine-game losing streak (especially now that they've snapped it)!

[Strategerist]

Why aren't tankers armed and crews trained to repel boarders?

Most of the companies instruct the crews not to resist figuring it's safer. Seems dumb. There's quite a lot on modern-day piracy on the web, I haven't read any of the articles recently.

[hollywood]

ping

[July 4th]

I understand that piracy is a big problem in that part of the world

Yes...it's very bad. Teams of less than 10 are taking whole cargo ships and tankers, killing the crew, and disappearing.

[July 4th]

Pirate reports from this month alone:

06 June 2004 at 0200 LT in posn 03:55.1N - 098:47.1E, Belawan anchorage, Indonesia -- 4 pirates armed with guns & knives boarded tanker at forecastle. 2/O raised alarm. Robbers stole ship's stores & escaped. (Fri. June 11 2004)

04 June 2004 at 2115 LT at Salaverry anchorage, Peru. -- 4 pirates attempted to board general cargo ship via anchor chain. Alert crew spotted them & raised alarm. Pirates aborted attempt-- fled in boat. Port control informed. (Fri. June 11 2004)

04 June 2004 at 0340 UTC in posn 04:58.5N - 098:41.2E, Malacca Straits. Pirates in small boat fired upon an offshore support vessel underway. Alert crew mustered & activated fire hoses. Pirates aborted attempt & fled. Ship's bridge windows were damaged. No injuries to crew. (Fri. June 11 2004)

01 June 2004 at 2325 LT in posn 01:12N - 104:50E, east of Bintan island, Indonesia -- 7 pirates in black rubber boat approached livestock carrier ship underway & came very close near stern. Alert A/B raised alarm, crew mustered, switched on deck lights & directed searchlights. Boat aborted attempt & fled. (Fri. June 11 2004)

[joe_broadway]

Wouldn't it be tempting to apply the same attitude in dealing with those who have PIRATED the law and the constitution?

Let's apply this to the ACLU while we're at it.

[Tax-chick]

pirates