5 Somali pirates drown

[Cidp24]

5 Somali pirates drown with ransom share

By MOHAMED OLAD HASSAN, Associated Press Writer Mohamed Olad Hassan, Associated Press Writer Sat Jan 10, 2:47 pm ET
MOGADISHU, Somalia – Five of the pirates who hijacked a Saudi supertanker drowned with their share of a $3 million ransom, a relative said Saturday, the day after the bundle of cash was apparently dropped by parachute onto the deck of the ship.
The Sirius Star and its 25 crew sailed safely away Friday at the end of a two-month standoff in the Gulf of Aden, where pirates attacked over 100 ships last year. Hundreds more kidnapped sailors remain in the hands of pirates.
The drowned pirates' boat overturned in rough seas, and family members were still looking for four missing bodies, said Daud Nure, another pirate who knew the men involved.
Piracy is one of the few ways to make money in Somalia. Half the population is dependent on aid and a whole generation has grown up knowing nothing but war. A recent report by London's Chatham House think-tank said pirates raked in more than $30 million in ransoms last year.
Somalia's lawless coastline borders one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. Attacks have continued despite the patrols by warships from France, Germany, Britain, America, India and China.
The naval coalition has been closely monitoring both the Sirius Star and the Faina, a Ukrainian ship loaded with military tanks that has been held since September. The seizure of the Sirius Star on Nov. 15 prompted fears that the pirates might release some of the cargo of crude oil into the ocean, causing an environmental disaster as a way of pressuring negotiators. At the time, the oil was valued at $100 million.
Abukar Haji, uncle of one of the dead pirates, blamed the naval surveillance for the accident that killed his pirate nephew Saturday.
"The boat the pirates were traveling in capsized because it was running at high speed because the pirates were afraid of an attack from the warships patrolling around," he said.
"There has been human and monetary loss but what makes us feel sad is that we don't still have the dead bodies of our relatives. Four are still missing and one washed up on the shore."
Pirate Daud Nure said three of the eight passengers had managed to swim to shore after the boat overturned in rough seas. He was not part of the pirate operation but knew those involved.
"Here in Haradhere the news is grim, relatives are looking for their dead," he said.
The tanker had left Somali territorial waters and was on its way home Saturday, said Saudi Arabian oil minister Ali Naimi. A Saudi Oil Ministry official said the ship was headed for Dammam, on the country's Gulf coast, but gave no estimated time of arrival. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.
The U.S. Navy, which announced this week it will head a new anti-piracy task force, released photos Friday showing a parachute, carrying what was described as "an apparent payment," floating down toward the tanker.
The Liberian-flagged ship is owned by Vela International Marine Ltd., a subsidiary of Saudi oil company Aramco. Neither commented on the reported ransom drop.
"All the crew members are safe and I am glad to say that they are all in good health and high spirits," said a statement by Saleh K'aki, president and CEO of Vela. "Throughout this ordeal, our sole objective was the safe and timely release of the crew. That has been achieved today."
But over a dozen ships and around 300 crew members are still being held. The capture of the Sirius Star has already demonstrated the pirates' ability to strike high value targets hundreds of miles offshore.
On the same day the Saudi ship was freed, pirates released a captured Iranian-chartered cargo ship, Iran's state television reported Saturday. The ship Delight was carrying 36 tons of wheat when it was attacked in the Gulf of Aden Nov. 18 and seized by pirates. All 25 crew are in good health and the vessel is sailing toward Iran, the TV report said. It did not say if a ransom was paid.

Oh well. You play you pay.

[BigDawg]

Abukar Haji, uncle of one of the dead pirates, blamed the naval surveillance for the accident that killed his pirate nephew Saturday.
"The boat the pirates were traveling in capsized because it was running at high speed because the pirates were afraid of an attack from the warships patrolling around," he said.
"There has been human and monetary loss but what makes us feel sad is that we don't still have the dead bodies of our relatives. Four are still missing and one washed up on the shore."


Is that supposed to illicit sympathy?? Am I supposed to feel sorry that they lost there loved one who was a crook and help people hostage and terrorized families?? Give me a friggin break, Im sad that not all of them died with their illegal bounty that they got off the backs of hard working people. May they be cold and wet in hell for the rest of time.

[Cidp24]

+1. That one kind of stumped me too.

[Jenna]

Oh well. You play you pay.

[Cidp24]

Different kind of pirate. Kind of like the wicked witch and her sister were both witches...

[sgtbear111]

Just wait, they will sue someone in a US court. The US is becoming the law firm, and the free money tree for those so "entitled". Terrorists already are on the beneficiary list, so why not pirates?? Besides, according to factual historical revisions (i.e. Pirates of the Caribbean) pirates are just jolly good fellows.

[Car 4]

Perhaps that should be our new tactic!! If we can get one of the DDE's to race back and forth at their true top speed of 48 knots, we can use the wake to swamp the dipshts.

Gentleman....I think we have a plan. Someone call the Chief of Naval Ops.


Car 4

[gopherpuckfan]

Such a shame. I wish 50 would have drown.

[Terminator]

I wish those pirates would try and rob me. I would kick there ass and make them eat there own shit!

[Car 4]

Term.....I just love it when you talk dirty!



Car 4

[Standard Dave]

I think some people would call this karma or natural law.



Pirates, terrorists, drug smugglers any small boat without a fishing net should be fair game for naval forces in the region.

[Odd]

At first they said they capsized because they were afraid of warships. And now, the rest of the story...

"Other pirates on the shore wanted a tip from the pirates on the Sirius Star, so they started to fire in the air as our people approached the land," Libaan Jaama told CNN. "When our pirates heard the shots, they thought they would be robbed, so they tried to return to the tanker. In that quick turn the boat capsized."

[Bob Loblaw]

5 pirates died?

[armsmaster270]

Gee when are the services so we can send a Claymore Wreath.

[countybear]

The drowned pirates' boat overturned in rough seas, and family members were still looking for four missing bodies, said Daud Nure, another pirate who knew the men involved.

[TacticalII]

I wish those pirates would try and rob me. I would kick there ass and make them eat there own shit!

.......and film it. Two Pirates, One Goblet.

[MacLean]

Pirates, terrorists, drug smugglers any small boat without a fishing net should be fair game for naval forces in the region.

I think the ideal service to play with these assholes is your very own SBS.

Don't know if your current PM has the stones for it.

[Standard Dave]

I think the ideal service to play with these assholes is your very own SBS.

Don't know if your current PM has the stones for it.

The only PM weve had in the last 50 years who would have didn't actually have any (anatomically speaking).

[TXCharlie]

I think it's time to equip all of our merchant ships with cannon and torpedos.

[Standard Dave]

I think it's time to equip all of our merchant ships with cannon and torpedos.

Torpedos would be useless against the small craft used by the pirates .50 cal machines guns would be better