Canadian ship helps thwart pirate attack

The captain of the ship that chased Somali pirates over the weekend explains how his ship first came in contact with, and pursued the group. Baines says even though they can't detain pirates, the exercise is still productive in disrupting the attacks.

CTV News: Roger Smith on the terrorized gulf

It was a Canadian warship's turn this weekend to hunt down pirates in a tense nighttime encounter off the coast of Somalia. After a seven-hour pursuit and firing warning shots, the HMCS Winnipeg captured a pirate boat that had tried to hijack a Norwegian tanker.

CTV Newsnet: PM praises Canadian crew's efforts

We use force when necessary, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said after a Canadian ship helped thwart a pirate attack off the coast of Africa.

CTV Newsnet: HMCS Winnipeg helped disrupt attack

The HMCS Winnipeg, along with other NATO ships, came to the aid of a Norwegian tanker that was being borded by pirates. The Canadian warship pursued the pirates for several hours, and after capturing, interrogating and disarming them, the pirates were freed.

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Legal challenges to fighting pirates, says rear admiral

CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Sun. Apr. 19 2009 9:44 PM ET

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is praising the crew of a Canadian warship after they helped chase and detain Somali pirates who tried to attack a Norwegian tanker in the Gulf of Aden.

Speaking to reporters at the Summt of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, Harper said the crew had done "tremendous work" in the operation.

He also noted that Canada had "acted within our legal authority and also within our capacities."

HMCS Winnipeg, patrolling with other NATO vessels off the Horn of Africa, responded to a mayday call issued by the Norwegian-flagged vessel Front Ardenne after a band of pirates approached the vessel late Saturday, officials said.

The pirates fled after the Front Ardenne alerted nearby warships.

The Winnipeg gave chase, along with U.S. and British ships, and warning shots were fired to get the pirates to stop, Canadian military officials said. After several hours of pursuit, Canadian sailors boarded the small skiff and detained the group.

They found a rocket-propelled grenade, said HMCS spokesperson Michael McWhinnie. But after further interrogation, the pirates were released.

"We obviously act within our legal capacities, and also within our capacities," said Harper. "In this case we briefly detained the pirates and disarmed them, and I think those were the appropriate measures under those circumstances.

"Obviously, Canada always uses force when necessary, but only when necessary."

Canadian forces had to release the pirates because they cannot be prosecuted under Canadian law as they did not attack Canadian citizens or interests and no crime was committed in Canadian territory, NATO officials said.

Pirates have attacked more than 80 boats this year, about four times than in 2003, according to the International Maritime Bureau.

Pirates currently control at least 18 ships and hold more than 300 crew hostage.

HMCS Winnipeg and the American ship USS Halyburton, which also took part in this weekend's operation, are part of an anti-piracy NATO force patrolling the Gulf of Aden, a busy transport short cut between Europe and Asia.

With files from The Associated Press

Comments are now closed for this story

Jason Toronto
said

Rick in NB a water cannon is what the UN mandates? Well if that be the case lets put out the tenders for the design of 10,000psi water cannon that could peel the paint and a few bad haircuts quite nicely on these pirate skiffs!
Better yet lets try out the US Navy's testbed electromagnetic rail gun we could load it up with 50lbs water balloons and launch those suckers from 300kms away! It would keep within that UN water only mandate!
Cheers Jason Toronto

Joel
said

I used to have a harsh view of Somali pirates. Then I read some reports on why they started doing this whole thing. They're trying to make a living. Somalia isn't exactly a growth economy, and there aren't many opportunities for people there.

What they are doing is wrong. There isn't a justification for hostage taking, but it's intriguing that a thousand or two men can wreak so much havoc, even with warships lurking around.

I'd do the same thing in their situation. It's a no brainer. You can either basically sub-exist, or risk your live and have one chance in four of pulling in a small share of one or two million. I bet these guys are role models to other Somalis. There must be an incredible Us vs. Them mentality in the coastal regions of Somalia right now.

Good on the NATO navies for preventing the taking of hostages and ships. Good on you for being professionals too.

Shame on the other nations of the world - including Canada for not stepping up in Somalia. Countries need to determine their own destinies, but it's our duty as a wealthy nation to offer some form of no strings assistance. It doesn't need to be strictly financial.

viv
said

Why not to trade the captured pirates to release the hostages ??

DJ
said

Since we cannot detain them or arrest them then I say the warning shots become "oops we meant to fire a warning shot I guessed we miscalculated and hit them."

There problem solved.

Disgusted
said

Why can't these vulnerable ships be formed into a convoy and escorted out of the danger zone by navy vessels for a fee to be paid by the ship's owners?

Prof. Pye Chartt
said

@ JCinCalgary:

Its very easy for the far right to ignore the social factors that cause lawlessness.

Its not like they have schools to go to, so they can study business or learn a trade. Its not like they have a wallstreet work on, making money on derivatives..."
________________________

TRANSLATION: These "fishermen" (pirates) don't actually have a choice. They have to engage in dangerous criminal activity using lethal weapons. It's the fault of every person and country who has made money by capitalist means.

Thanks for the standard left-wing, socialist gobbledygook.

You can rock yourself to sleep with it. (Be mindful that your bleeding heart doesn't stain your baby blanket.) I'll add it to my file entitled: "GUILT-TRIPPING LIBERAL HOGWASH."

Mark W
said

I am going to ask this question and I would like to have an answer, a real answer. If we do the catch and release with these pirates how will this help stop high seas piracy?

JB in Ontario
said

Have some fun and dance the night away! After work is finished for the day!

G
said

A couple thoughts....When did they decide that pirates were the new enemy? Did they lose track of which cave Osama was in?

John R Mac Intyre
said

Johnny In Kitchener

Why Release Them...So They Can Pirate Another Ship

Sink Their Boat & Let Them Swim As In Days Of Old !

(No Ones Watching)

fitzz
said

Catch and release: how shameful!

It is completely ridiculous that Canada should maintain an ocean-capable navy at considerable taxpayer expense; sail its ships half-way around the world; catch the bad guys - and then let them go! Am I really reading this?

Shake your head, Mr. Harper! Wake your friend McKay up and get him to shake his too! This is NOT a moment to be proud of.

Chris in Toronto
said

People are asking why not arming commercial ships, train sail men to properly operate an automatic machine gun or let armed sea marshals be on those ships, why not possible this, easy answer: national and international gun control laws, plain and simple! In Canada you are not allowed even to carry a pepper spray for self-defense, forget about a (concealed or not) handgun, why this, you have no right to personally defend yourself, criminals have rights as well so they can and will always use a gun to commit the crime when you, the ordinary citizen have to pray that he, the criminal, will spare your life AFTER you have given him all the money you have on you or in the house! Who make this laws, either is Canada or Gulf of Eden, people like Toronto Mayor who are strongly driven by ideology instead of common sense, for them (left wing) ideology always comes above the protection of its citizens, they say only law enforcement people should operate a firearm, well, until a police team shows up you're already dead, you think that criminals are waiting for the cops to show up???
But about Canadian military ships arresting these Somali criminals and then releasing them due to Canadian laws, that's an easy way to make their effort really pay off: calling on the nearest military ship that belongs to the very same country the seized commercial ship belongs to, Norway in this case, and transfer the criminals into their own judicial jurisdiction, the problem is most of the NATO countries have drastically reduced their military budgets (as part of the anti-war, liberal, left wing policies) and don't have the money, and the guts, to send their own military force into those dangerous areas, so, who wins out of this: the criminals of course, how many bandits, in cities or sea, go after properties with upfront signs like 'watch out, proud gun owner inside!', none or very very few!

Ted
said

Time to stop playing games. Start sinking these smaller boats and their mother ships as well. That's the only thing these people understand. They must shake their heads at our stupidity. Holding up signs to stop and giving warnings. What a joke.

koop
said

there's nothing like the smell of recruiting in the morning

koop
said

where does a good pirate (culture) come in handy? In newly open and unclaimed waters. hmmm, who feels the urgent need to protect new open and "unclaimed" water...eh?

Mark Kraft
said

Why not call this what it is... a major policy screw-up by the Harper government.

The pirates weren't going anywhere, and NATO had time on its hands as far as boarding the ship... so why did the Canadians board, rather than the US or Norwegians, so that these pirates could be arrested and tried for their crimes?

This is a deadly serious issue, as there are over 100 hostages of these pirates. Chances are good that if these pirates were arrested, they would eventually have been traded for hostages, so Harper's folks really screwed this up.

It looks like good press, but it's horrible, possibly lethal policy, completely disrespectful for the families who have had their loved ones taken hostage by these criminals!

Balgonie Bob
said

Where on earth is Lord Nelson or Horatio Hornblower when you need them?

Dean
said

Why waste time disarming the pirates? Use their boats for target practice. These types should not be tolerated in the least.

Steve in Manotick
said

Congratulations to the crew of the HMCS Winnipeg. Too bad Harper iss trying to steal the show one more time..

Dunny from Manotick
said

Typical Liberal Canadian response, "You criminals are very bad boys, now give me your guns and be on your way. Don't do it again or I will tell your mommy." I say typical because that is essentially how our courts treat armed bank robbers and armed gang bangers. Canadian justice is a joke. I wonder what stories are playing in the Norwegian press regarding our letting go the thugs that were attempting to kidnap their crew and steal their ship.

JCinCalgary
said

Pye Chart
Its very easy for the far right to ignore the social factors that cause lawlessness. I doubt very much. Addressing it and dealing with it would certainly effect your bottom line.
How can anyone possible people of one of the poorest nations, with an incredibly violent history of "enriching themselves"?
Its not like they have schools to go to, so they can study business or learn a trade. Its not like they have a wallstreet work on, making money on derivatives, only to be bailed out by their government when they fail.
Yes, piracy is wrong, but lets not all pretend there aren't social factors involved here. You'll notice there's not much piracy going on in the rich nations of the world. Except on wall street of course...but stealing from investors retirement funds and ruining lives is just capitalism right?

Bill Mac
said

The Canadian government has not given a rational explanation why it is not prosecuting pirates in Canada.

Section 74 of the Criminal Code says that anyone commits piracy when they do any act that, by the law of nations, is piracy. There is no jurisdictional limitation. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, of which Canada is a signatory, defines piracy and states that any state can take jurisdiction for any act of piracy.

On Question Period today, Craig Oliver interviewed Rear Admiral Bob Davidson about the matter. Mr. Oliver was apparently uninformed about the issue. He did didn't question the admiral's vague responses about why the navy is not arresting pirates. Mr. Oliver incorrectly suggested that Canada did not have legal authority to try them in Canada.

The navy has legal authority to arrest people for piracy. Canada has legal authority to try anyone for any act of piracy.

Are Canadian authorities imagining legal difficulties to avoid the political consequences or cost of prosecuting pirates in Canada? Is the government concerned about the costs involved? Are navy personnel lacking legal training to deal with the matter (for example, to lawfully collect evidence that can be admitted in a Canadian court)? Has Canada signed on to agreements with other governments in the region, as the United States and the United Kingdom have done, to have the pirates tried in those countries? If not, why not? Is the Canadian government concerned about the political consequences of trying Somalian pirates in Canada?

Those are some of the questions Mr. Oliver could have asked Rear Admiral Davidson.

Garry in NS
said

I am amazed at the number of respondents who think we should "blow them out of the water"! THINK people - give your heads a shake! If we start killing pirates don't you think that they will start killing hostages? Also, if we were to hold/imprison the pirates, where would you suggest we hold them? Warships are not equiped to hold prisoners. Like I said, give your heads a shake.

BrianD
said

I can see disarming these no minds, I can also hope Nato is sinking their boats they catch. If they are taken prisoner and you as a Nato country dont have the balls including Canada shooting them, then put them over the side of the ship and let them swim back to land. At least you took their weapons and transportation. Swimming is not a crime for both sides, so either sink or swim and if they make it back to play again, then they should should rest up in case they have to do another swim.

FH - Vancouver
said

Nicely done. For what it's worth, I belive that pirates have NO rights and should be executed at sea and their boats sunk. They don't operate in the same civilized arena that NATO does - we need to work with them on "their" terms - this at least, they will understand. Further, arm all ships in this part of the world so that they can immediately defend themselves.

Johnny Depp
said

Pirates Of The Atlantic, Somalia

Melanie Fox
said

Wow...go Canadian army! Those service people are awesome!
M Fox

Paul
said

Wade... You are a funny man!

Iggy would give us a tough military. HA! I think you've forgotten that he's a Liberal.

jean (Quebec)
said

To eddy in toronto,

Dont forget tat unnamed countries have umpe radioactive waste on their shores too.

ticked off..
said

What a joke...we confiscated an RPG after seven hours chasing them down...and then let them go??? when they obviously violated international maritime law....was not our maritime fleet during WWII armed???

Greg
said

We probably spent thousands of dollars in fuel chasing these pirates for what. If you can't arrest them why bother. Nato should just issue orders to blow them out of the water and it would stop it from happening. If they do not stop when told to, blow them out of the water. this is a joke.

KClark Terrace
said

Why is there no international law developed for dealing with pirates? It ridiculous to catch these guys take away their weapons and send them on their way! We all know they will just rearm and carry on. Is it not possible to prosecute under an international law of the seas or something. There has to be some deterrent to stop these thugs, otherwise this whole effort is pointless.

In Ottawa
said

We are not at "war" with the pirates. There is a legal definition of what that means and it involves a state against a state. Since we are not at war our very capable navy can not willy nilly blast things out of the water. Accordingly, there are stricter rules of engagement and rules for the escalation of force in operations other than war, which include warning shots and asking firmly over loud speakers. Politians need to make the policies which can then be applied or enforced by the navy, if need be. blasting a suspected "pirate" out of the water would probably consitute a crime under current international law. As a military person I know that use of force only addresses part of the equation.

John from Ontario
said

"sandman
Good work HMCS Winnipeg! Well done!

Am I the only one here that thinks that if we don't stop the piracy then we as consumers will foot the bill for higher shipping costs?"
------------------------------
Sandman, Am I the only who thinks that if we continue to send out naval forces to Samalia to play catch and release with these pirates were soon gonna pay higher taxes as someone has to pay for these navy ships and other navy ships have to replace them to do their regular duties?

Greg inCambridge
said

Are you kidding? They caught them in the act and they let them go?
What's wrong with this picture?
Catch a bank robber robbing a bank..disarm them and then...let them go?
Are you nuts?
The Law just has to be changed.

James Hopkins
said

Time to change the laws. Pirates should be hung from the nearest mast with no trial. Otherwise, we should load a ship with explosives, let it get captured let it be taken into port and then detonate it. Enough with democratic actions in an uncivilized part of the world.

RG
said

I hate to burst the bubble of the "hang em from the yardarm" crowd, but there's a couple points that are being missed. Firstly, WINNIPEG's mission is the safe escort of vessels carrying food aid contracted by the UN World Food Program. They aren't there to randomly stalk the seas for pirates. Secondly, and I know CF members will be aware of this, ROE's are very clear on the use of deadly force versus non-deadly force. Think of the scenario of a detainee that gets loose and runs away. Not exactly the same things but I think the principal applies.

Captain Kangaroo
said

Basically, it appears as if there are no consequences for piracy. If so, why are we even bothering to take part in what is a useless effort. Even pirates have probably learned this lesson by now.

JB in Ontario
said

It is unfortunate the Pirates don't have to follow rules and laws like the warships. Nice to see HMCS Winnipeg helping.

In the long run, everyone will see that the Pirates will ultimately lose out to NATO and an International government body that forbids Piracy on the high seas.

Wade -> We need Iggy for Aggessive Military
said

If Iggy was Prime Minister he forget the legal stuff and blast em out of the water and ask questions later.
We need Iggy for a more aggressive military.

George - Vancouver
said

Our biggest mistake in battling piracy (and the larger problem of terrorism) is the application of our (NATO) democratic liberal western standards and laws. Our present "systems" and governments are originally based on white, anglo/franco, Christian european traditions. Only a bleeding heart liberal of the trudeaunian school of thought believes these pirates and terrorist types should have "rights" equal to your average westerner. It is simple, keep the media, who are the worst of the left wing nuts away from the theatre of operations, and sink and execute all. This is the only language these Somalis understand. By the way, these same pirates and terrorists view the liberals of the west with nothing but contempt, as weak, spineless, wimps.

MattL
said

such pathetic international laws allow this to happen. With no ability to anything about these thugs, some heavy handed actions should be taking place, but they are not.
I think that the skiffs should be sunk and with or without the Pirates onboard. Give them a small rubber raft and a pair of oars, drop them 100 miles from shore and let them go.
They don't need any food or water, or directions.
Might make them think about the next time they attempt these feats.

sandman
said

Good work HMCS Winnipeg! Well done!

Am I the only one here that thinks that if we don't stop the piracy then we as consumers will foot the bill for higher shipping costs?

brian
said

it must be catch and release fishing season!!!!!!

brian bitz
said

blow their boats out of the water, let them swim to shore, that way the sharks can have some fun. enough of this BULL S--T

Gord in Calgary
said

If the Americans and French can shoot the pirates without repercussion and be hailed as heros, why can't the rest of the NATO forces? Stop wasting time and get rid of these people!

Prof. Pye Chartt
said

@ eddytoronto:

"Somalias pirates are a motley crew: Fishermen defending their turf."
----------------

Though your templated left-wing diatribe blaming the rest of the world for the singular criminal activity of a bunch of organized maritime gang thugs makes for interesting reading, unfortunately, it simply represents an old, worn-out tact used in Socioeconomics 101 to explain lawless behavior.

In other words, these "fishermen" (pirates) aren't "defending" ANYTHING. Rather, offensively, they're enriching THEMSELVES in a manner that capitalizes on an opportunity close at hand.

With lethal weapons, they engage in extorting ransom money that fuels their own aspired lifestyle and furthers their "business." (They don't share the wealth with their poor fellow villagers. These gangs don�t operate like Robin Hood.)

Good try, though. Blaming life-threatening criminal activity on a victimized societal group is a common liberal practice.

P.S. Thanks for remembering to toss "Iraq" and the "U.S." into your predictable stew.
___________________

@ Lost Cause:

"...what is going on with all this intense focus on the pirate business...? ...this whole pirate-busting media cascade reeks of propaganda..."
----------------

Instead of exercising a conspiracy theory, how about simply considering that, according to a Somali pirate "spokesperson," their activity has markedly increased due to the lawful threat against them by fed-up countries and NATO? Their "business" is now running into trouble.

As for the Media, who would've thought that ongoing news stories involving PIRATES (and a hostage showdown with Uncle Sam) would garner journalistic excitement?!

KJ Ottawa
said

I'm not surprised this happened, Canada sends the same message to it's own criminals on land.
If in international water blow them up and leave them there. I also agree with one comment where the crew should be armed and shoot on site if they are boarded. Dump them overboard and sink there ship. Problem solved.

MAL
said

They are pirates.

Hang 'em from the yardarm. [sp?]

Mark -Vegreville, AB
said

Perhaps patrols by unmanned drones would be the best means of monitoring the coast for pirate activity. Intercept them as soon as they leave Somali waters, take their weapons and send them back home. If that is the best and most efficient LEGAL remedy, then do it.

Freeman Blaze
said

Time to stop the boy scout approach of catch and release. Do on to them as they would certainly do on to you. If they had the upper hand and you resisted you'd die. Blow the bastards out of the water and take no prisoners

Chris
said

" . . . due to murky legal circumstances."

Hmmmm . . .

They interdicted a tanker with weapons,then flee. Sound pretty clear to me. The're brazen because they know we're gutless. One round each would have cleared this all up. And set tne needed example to the rest of the scurvy lot!

Mark
said

Interesting...Canadian taxpayers fund our military to hunt down and capture these 'pirates' who would blackmail countries, companies and individuals and/or commit murder.

..then we let them go.

How Canadian.

Jasper
said

Somalia is a lost cause. If anyone here thinks they can go over there and help, good luck to you. The locals have been known to even take Al Qaida hostage and make them pay for "protection". The neigbouring countries just try to contain the poison to one area and prevent it from spreading. The place is out of control and any aid will only end up in the hands of the war lords.

Art
said

Why is it for the last few months it becomes a news story every time the Canadian military does their job. We certainly don't hear about it every time 'Joe the plumber' successfully installs a toilet.

I suspect it is the government trying to put the spotlight on the military for their own purposes.

Cal in Ottawa
said

If there is no UN mandate to destroy the pirates, why are we spending all this money deploying a ship? Besides which, there are not very many Canadian flagged ships in existence; even Mr Martin's ships fly flags of convenience! Piracy is illegal regardless of which country's vessels are being attacked. If we cannot arrest or sink these pirates we are wasting our time and money.

Misty Calgary
said

Harper and Obama are buddies with a least countries working together we can expect more progress.

Rick in NB
said

@ Nick J Boragina:
" back in trhe 1600's the last time we fought piracy" Boy its time you did some googling. Piracy is and has been doing great business since before Christ. Every century every decade.
It's just that the the Gulf of Aden is one of the larger operations in a while and Canada is active in it.
For all you blow them out of the water folks. I know that i have read somewhere that there is a UN directive that bans deadly action. I think that a water canon is all the UN allows.
Please somebody correct me if i'm wrong.

Rick in NB
said

3 tours and counting
said

As a Canadian tax payer I'm not impressed that my tax money is spent on chasing pirates for nothing. As an Army soldier I'm extremely happy I didn't join the Navy. I could just imagine if our ROE were like that in Kandahar!! We fight off the Taliban with fury, no questions asked but we politely shoo away Somali pirates....what a joke.

Casz
said

Letters of Marque? Somalia has no sea based commerce to attack so how would that be useful? And arming merchant ships will just escalate the weaponry used by pirates - their profits can go to arms dealers to maintain their income - and increase the likely of crews being killed. Somalia needs to stabilized so there can be a government to negotiate with. Countries passing through their waters can pay tariffs to help Somalia protect their waters and prosecute pirates. No doubt the pirates flee to Somalia, regardless of their country of origin, because there is no effective goverment so there is no penalty.

We (as in our suppliers) choose to go through their waters to save money and time on transportation. So we can either provide escorts or change shipping routes if the cost of piracy outweighs the transportation savings. Killing pirates will create replacement pirates not resolve the problem.

Faramir
said

Kill to SOBs. Anti-piracy laws give us the right to blow them out of the water. And lay a few missiles on Mogadishu.

Captain Jack Sparrow
said

Make them walk the plank and feed them to the sharks. Somalian law is anarchy anyway. I cannot believe that the Dutch let several pirates go yesterday, and we let ours go as well!

Barring that, take them to the Tower and have them drawn and quartered at Her Majesty's Pleasure. It's still on the books.

paul
said

what a load of BS.

These thugs are caught red-handed and are still released?

If we are not authorized to get the job done, then we shouldn't take on the responsibility of patrolling and protecting these waters.

Dunny from Manotick
said

If we are just going to let these criminals go at the end of the day we might as well just have our sailors come home.

CB in Ontario
said

What CDN ships need is a wooden plank and sharky waters...

Tony Swain
said

I agree; you ain't whistling; Dixie! ;)

(T)

Anthony
said

The Winnipeg, along with the nearby American ship USS Halyburton, began pursuing the pirates, a high-speed chase that lasted for more than seven hours....
One missile would have easily done the job much faster, with better results.
It's laughable.

Dixie from Alberta
said

The only way to stop this madness is to blast them out of the water. They were armed..not with fishing poles. This is just cause. Letting them go is just plain stupid. The ships should be travelling in convoys surrounded by war ships...isn't that how they did it during wartime which this is?

eddytoronto
said

Somalias pirates are a motley crew: Fishermen defending their turf.

The international response to these pirates has been not surprisingly military. But more is needed including action that addresses the deeper issue in Somalia a lack of economic growth and good governance. Yet UN Secretary General appeal to 50 countries for broader assistance received no response.

Somalias strategic position in the Horn of Africa means that any nation that dominates this area will have tremendous control over world trade.

For the West and the U.S control of this region will allow them to counter the dominance of China in the region as well as use the region as a base to conduct operations on terrorists and nations accused of harboring terrorists.

Does it not bother the Afrikan people that out of nowhere a group of men now being called pirates and terrorists by the western media seemed to have all of a sudden emerged on the global political scene? As of today April 19 eighteen nations led by the U.S British and Chinese have sent military ships on the coast of Somalia to deal with the men now called pirates.

Where was the UN Security Council when this economic terrorism against the stateless Somali people was taking place Now the same nations that have been engaged in massive theft and economic degradation on Somalias coasts are calling for blood and military action to ensure that economic terrorism against the Somali people is not interrupted.

The hypocrisy can be compared to the U.S and its allies killing of Iraqis and referring to the murder of these Iraqis as killing the enemy and fighting for freedom and liberty yet when these desperate individuals decide to fight back they are called insurgents terrorists and enemy combatants.

After years of plundering their resources the Somali fishermen finally decided to fight off the real pirates thieves and terrorists and instead of being called voluntary coast guards they are being labeled as criminals pirates and terrorists. Am I to believe that all the fishermen now being called pirates are doing so for nationalistic purposes but does it matter?

Lost Cause
said

Does anyone else wonder what is going on with all this intense focus on the pirate business off the Somalian caost? It's a total media frenzy lately. Why is this all over the news all of a sudden? Sorry to make a nautical joke, but something's fishy about this.

It's good that these incidents are being sorted out and all, but this whole pirate-busting media cascade reeks of propaganda... maybe the powers that be want our attention fixed on minor problems they can easily resolve rather than the other major ones they can't?

Mike, Toronto
said

So a Canadian & American warship chased a pirate skif for 7 hours, firing shots to stop & disarm them. Then they let them go! Yesterday a Dutch warship captured several pirates & then let them go also! Am I missing something here? These released pirates will just go back to shore, re-arm, & come back out to try again! What a joke! Either give the warships authority to deal with pirates effectively, or bring them home!

" G " in Winnipeg
said

Wow, what a story!!!? "Canadian warship chases pirates"
Perhaps we should fly those sailors home and honor them for their heroic action??!

Goldens
said

Send over the Powder Puff, that will really put the fear of God into these pirates. Make them have a massage before turning them loose.

John Wilson
Bridgetown NS

Nick J Boragina
said

Arm merchants? If someone had suggested that back in the 1600's, the last time we fought piracy, they would have been laughed off the stage.

We had a lull in piracy for a few hundred years. It's back. This is not a cost, rather we've had it easy and free for too long. Enforcing the law does not come cheap.

Fahad, Montreal
said

Good Job HMCS Winnipeg!

"G" in Ontario
said

I wanted to say Shoot not shout haha i get so mad i can't type///?/..,<

Joel Bain
said

Canada has been a LEADER in international law creation and reform. It is time that it steps up again to revitalize international law against piracy. NOW!

Sean Calder - Chatham ON
said

Mike from Toronto
"Why not arm all vessels passing through the region so they can fight off pirates themselves?"

They can Mike. Well, certain ships can. Former Presidential Candidate Ron Paul has put forward a request to re-instate "Letters of Marque" which allows for the arming of Merchant Ships that pass through "pirate infested waters".

Some countries, however, gave up that privlege back in the 1800's with the Paris Declaration.

JD
said

Did i read this right.
They disarmed the pirates & then let them go !
Does it make any sense to have all these warships wasting all this money running up & down the coast to " let them go "
NATO & UN .They were always a joke abd still are to this day.

Lz in Canada
said

Too bad you can not try them using Somali laws. Oh wait, they don't have any laws... therefor, you deal with them like you would any "high sea" criminal.... cough cough....

Instead, we have 7 pirates who are "on a pleasure cruise" with a grenade launcher. Must be fishing with it. Them "big whales" off their coastline. Yah, thats it. This whole thing is just stupid.

They should sink ANY boat that attempts a highjacking, then rescue whatever or whomever is left. That sends a CLEAR message. Instead, we are sending a message of, "oh, you didn't get the ship this time, try again," as we drop them off on their coast with a "warning."

ex-Canadian
said

Still don't understand why NATO forces don't blow these pirates out of the water.

What is wrong with us? When will the civlized world have had enough?

"G " in Ontario
said

One warning to Stop and if this is not followed then shout and ask questions later is what should happen. These pirates are ruthless, show some balls and then they might think twice the next time. There will be a next time cause they were all let go to attack another day. Time for talking is long over.

Raj
said

Well done! here's to canada!

Mike from Toronto
said

Such an immense waste of money, time and resources. There really must be another way around this. Why not arm all vessels passing through the region so they can fight off pirates themselves?

In Pictures

HMCS Winnipeg

The Canadian warship HMCS Winnipeg is performing anti-piracy operations off Somali coast.

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Please let's not even entertain any protectionist responses to this issue. Canadian consumers go south to shop because of the cheaper prices. How about resorting to competitive pricing as a solution...that will keep Canadian shoppers at home.

George Nippers Bruce Mines On

New cross-border shopping rules take effect Friday

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