Showing posts with label Somalia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Somalia. Show all posts

PostHeaderIcon More than 100 Filipino seamen still on the hands of Somali pirates

4/20/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


Of more than 300 hostages pirates keep in captivity off the coast of Somalia, about a third of them are Filipino seamen. On Friday, April 17, 2009, 17 Filipinos have been released leaving about 105 still to be freed.

According to Philippine Foreign Affairs official Esteban Cornejos, a total of 227 Filipino seamen have been abducted in the sea off the Gulf of Aden in 2006 and they were released without government intervention. The country is a leading supplier of seafarers worlwide, numbering about 350,000 who serve as crews of oil carriers, luxury vessels, and passengers ships.

This time more than a hundred Filipino seamen are yet to be released from the clutches of Somali marauders. Malacanang Palace have decided to ban the deployment of Filipino mariners on ships that pass within 200 nautical miles or 300 kilometers from Somali coast.

In spite of the UN Security Councils adoption of Resolution 1838 since October last year calling on nations with boats in the area to use military force to halt piracy at sea, the kidnapping activities of Somali pirates for ransom continue. They have intensified attacks on shipping---causing travel to be more expensive and dangerous.

“Pirates have attacked more than 80 boats this year alone, four times the number assaulted in 2003, according to the Kuala Lumpur-based International Maritime Bureau. They now hold at least 18 ships — including a Belgian tanker seized Saturday with 10 crew aboard ”----AP/MSNBC (04/18/09)

The most recent is the attack on Saturday April 18, 2009, when a Norwegian vessel MV Front Ardenne was attacked by 7 Solmali pirates who were foiled after a 7 hour speed chase by NATO anti-piracy ships and helicopters from Canada and United States. (Photo Credits: Chris & Steve) =0=



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PostHeaderIcon Hostage negotiators in Mindanao can learn from the daring rescue of ship captain from Somali pirates

4/14/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


There are lessons to be learned from the rescue of Richard Phillips, the brave captain of the container ship Maersk Alabama, who was taken hostage by pirates in lifeboat drifting in the Indian Ocean during a five-day standoff of ransom extortion.

With the approval of Pres. Barack Obama, three Somali pirates watching Phillips were killed and one was captured last Sunday, April 12, 2009, during the rescue by the US navy sharpshooters. The pirates who tied the ship captain demanded $2 million for the release of the 53 year old Vermont native, one among 200 or more hostages still being held captives by pirates from a dozen ships in the coast of Somalia. Among the hostages had been Filipino seafarers.

As the angry pirates vow to avenge the slay of their companions, Pres. Obama calls for a concerted effort to stop piracy, seeking cooperation among nations. The continuing pirate activity in the Somali Coast revives the call to arm ship crews in commercial vessels.

“Somali officials said piracy started about 10 to 15 years ago as a response to illegal fishing. The country's tuna-rich waters were plundered by commercial fishing fleets soon after its government collapsed in 1991. Somali fishermen turned into armed vigilantes, confronting fishing boats and demanding they pay a tax. In 2008, more than 120 pirate attacks occurred in the Gulf of Aden, far more than in any other year in recent memory. Experts said the Somali pirates netted more than $100 million, an astronomical sum for a war-racked country whose economy is in tatters.”----Piracy at Sea, New York Times (04/13/09 )

The successful rescue of Phillips by intrepid US Navy Seals proves that a carefully planned and executed rescue is a viable option when the life of the hostage is in imminent danger and all negotiations to gain freedom fail.

Unsolved ICRC Hostage Crisis in the Philippines

Rescue operation becomes pressing in kidnapping situations in the Philippines as well. To date, two International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workers are still being held in the hinterlands of Jolo Sulu. In Lamitan, Basilan, suspected members of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) beheaded one of two hostages they took during a raid in a Christian village and killed another civilian who crossed their path.

Abducted and held at gunpoint since January 2009, 62 year-old Italian Eugenio Vagni and 38 year-old Swiss Andreas Notter remain as captives of the notorious Abu Sayyaf who are reportedly demanding a $5 million for their release. The ICRC and the Philippine government still keep their no-ransom policy in dealing with these Muslim bandits.

Since their abduction in January 2009 by the notorious Al-Qaeda affiliated group, only Mary Jane Lacaba, another ICRC was released. The US embassy in Manila expressed willingness to help solve the hostage crisis, but military and government leaders feel they can solve the protracted standoff on their own. As the captivity of the humanitarian workers drag on, the risk of them being harmed or killed grows. Without paying a ransom, pretty soon authorities need to decide what to do in order to free the victims.(Photo Credit: Reuters/ Phillips family) =0=

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PostHeaderIcon Nuns abducted in Kenya, farmers from Camarines Sur march to Malacanang & the US national debt of $10,664,871,159,771.01 bogs the nation

11/28/2008 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


The message of Thanksgiving is as beautiful as the reason why we celebrate Christmas. Both holidays are times of reflection and joy for all peoples of the world. Yet today, November 27, 2008, in spite the celebration’s purity of purpose and its significance, dark forces break our peace and try to shatter our hope.

The rejoicing which accompanies the holiday is marred by negativities in the news all over the world. Blocking the way of prayers, reflections, family reunions, turkey dinners, sharing food with the needy, parades, and football games, are spoilers of today’s obervance. Here are some examples:

Mumbai India Massacre

1. Mumbai Terrorist Attack in India with rising numbers of casualties: 104 dead & 314 wounded. Undetermined number of hostages is being held by a militant group believed to be Islamic extremist radicals. An Australian and a Japanese tourist are among the dead.

Kidnapping in Kenya

2. Maria Teresa Olivero, 60, and Caterina Giraudo, 67, two Italian Catholic nuns on a mission to help alleviate hunger and maintain health programs in Kenya were abducted by gunmen on November 17, 2008 and were taken to undisclosed location in lawless Somalia. Their abduction shows the difficulty of helping the poor and underserved in troubled countries like those in Africa.



Thailand's State of Emergency

3. Thailand has declared a state of emergency around two airports. Scores of protesters against the government have massed on terminals of both airports resulting to all flight cancellations.

UPDATE: As of Sunday November 30, 2008, more than 30 anti-government protesters have been wounded by gunfire and grenade blasts. The closure of the airport strands about 100,000 travellers in Thailand.

Fajardo Estate (Banasi Farm) March from Camarines Sur to Manila



4. Fajardo Estate land dispute escalates when 49 poor farmers from Banasi, Bula, Camarines Sur decided a 21 day march to Malacanang Palace to demand the return of their land which covers 123.349 hectares. Before the CARP, the disputed property is owned by Edilberto Fajardo, Corazon Fajardo, Angustia Imperial and heirs of Baao, Camarines Sur.

“Nagsikad na poon kan Noviembre 17, 2008 an 21 dias na paglakaw kan 45ng paraoma hali sa Banasi, Bula, Camarines Sur pasiring sa Malacañang nganing huroton ki Presidente Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na ibalik sa sainda an 123.3490ng hectariang daga na parte kan Fajardo Estate na enot pig-award sa sainda susog sa Certificate of Land Ownership (CLO) No. 00495527 base sa Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL).”---Bicol Mail, (11/20/08)

Every American Owes $34,947.22/person

5. As of November 27, the outstanding public debt of USA is $10,664,871,159,771.01 (approximately $10.7 trillion dollars). According to the National Debt Clock’s tally, the national debt increases by about $3.89 billion/day since September 28, 2007. Amercan citizens share this debt at $34,947.22/person.

If Barack Obama expands the government spending with his promised programs and he increase taxes as the financial meltdown reels on, the economic strain and debt burden are likely to push the Americans to the limit. At this time the public is watching nervously to see the mettle of the incoming president. (Photo Credits: Reuters/PunitParanjpe; ____, Pakisamagallery/JuanEscandor; JsDart)=0=

RELATED BLOG: "At least 82 killed & hundreds injured in terror attacks in Mumbai, India" Posted by mesiamd at 11/27/2008.

UPDATE: November 28, 2008---The death toll and injured in Mumbai massacre rose to 125 and 327 respectively.
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PostHeaderIcon Ships hijacked by pirates, an earthquake in Indonesia and the decline of RP peso

11/19/2008 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post


7

Is the total number of ships hijacked by Somali pirates on since November 5, 2008 in the Aden Gulf. The latest hijacked ships are operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran and that of Saudi Arabia, a super oil tanker carrying $100 million worth of crude oil. In the past ransoms were paid to recover the ships, but nations are finding ways to foil piracy in the busiest sea lane of the world.

P49.96

At the close of business trading on November 18, 2008, the peso-dollar exchange has floundered close to P50/per dollar. The slide of the peso value is expected to continue as local and foreign effects of recession take its full effect.

7.5

Recorded in the Richter’s scale is strength of the quake that hit Indonesian island Sulawesi on November 17, 2008 which reportedly killed at least 6 persons, toppling houses and injuring scores of people. A tsunami warning from US officials in the area was raised within 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the quake’s origin, but was later lifted.

$1.2 billion

Bangko Sentral of the Philippines (BSP,) discloses this amount of deficit in the balance of payments (BOP) mainly attributed to capital flight, weak exports, and payment of maturing obligations. BOP is the record of the country’s transactions with the rest of the world and its deficit in October 2008 reduces this year’s surplus in a 10 month period to $345 million, down from $7.87 billion registered year-on-year.

77

Is the reported number of people who contracted typhoid fever in Quezon. Caused by Salmonella typhosa, the diarrheal disease with systemic manifestations is linked with contaminated water supply. The Department of Health (DOH,) advises boiling of water and frequent hand-washing to counter the spread of the disease. In a separate outbreak, 2 persons died of another diarrheal illness in Misamis Oriental. Reported on 11/18/08, about 1,000 people have sought treatment in the hospital for complaints which are suspicious of cholera. (Photo Credit: by Moody_fingers) =0=
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