ID :
27821
Sat, 11/01/2008 - 01:03
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/27821
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India working out policy on international anti-piracy action
New Delhi, Oct 31 (PTI) With sea pirates holding 18 Indian sailors hostage for a month-and-a-half now, India Friday said it was working out a policy for international cooperation between navies to deal with the increasing threat of piracy in the high seas.
The government also called for putting a stop to the piracy menace and said the frequent pirate attacks on ships "cannot be allowed" to continue, even as it expressed serious concern over incidents in international waters.
"We cannot allow the situation (pirate attacks) to continue. There should be a solution to this. We must put a stop to this kind of piracy. So India is very much concerned," Defence Minister A.K. Antony told reporters, after attending the Naval Commanders Conference here.
"So, in consultation with the Navy, the Defence Ministry has already taken up this matter with Ministry of External Affairs (M.E.A.).
"Through diplomatic channel, we are working on it and we are trying to find a procedure so that important navies of the world can act together in that area (African coast)," Antony said, replying to questions on the government's response to the abducting of Japanese-owned merchant vessel Stolt Valor with 18 Indian sailors on board.
Stating that all nations, including India, were concerned
about the pirate attacks, Antony said there were some
"developments" relating to piracy along the African coast
every day.
But, despite the presence of 69 warships of the U.S.,
Russia, Canada, United Kingdom and France along the African
coast, pirates continued to attack ships sailing through the
area in the Indian Ocean Region, Antony said.
"Of late, ships from the European Union have also joined
other warships there. It is a matter of serious concern," he
added.
Noting that Russia had sent its warship to the region,
as its military equipment was on board an Ukrainian ship that
was abducted by Somalian pirates, Antony said the Russians too
were only "watching the situation" and had "not gone beyond"
that.
Stating that there were two aspects -- deployment and
operations -- to the naval intervention in piracy-related
incidents, the Defence Minister said India, apart from other
navies, had already sent its warship to the region for
anti-piracy patrol, and the M.E.A., in consultation with the
Navy, was working some operational details through diplomatic
channels.
"Once it (procedure) is ready, we will approach the
highest body and take a decision," he said.
Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta, who was present on the
occasion, told reporters later that an Indian warship was
already working in tandem with other navies in the anti-piracy
operations and that the ship deployment was being done in
coordination with other ships, so as to cover all areas in the
region.
"There is a ship on patrol. That (Indian) ship is
carrying out the job that it is supposed to. We are working in
concert with other navies in the region. We are coordinating
with them, so we (ships) are in different areas and we cover
the area we want," Mehta said.
Noting that all navies wanting to patrol the African
waters against pirates would have to work together, he said
the arrangement was to have a ship or two from all interested
navies and to work out the area amongst them.
"This is the process that the Defence Minister told you
about. Because, we are some distance away and we cannot keep a
flotilla there forever," he said, referring to the policy the
government was working out for international anti-piracy
operations.
Clarifying on the International Law governing naval
intervention in piracy-related crimes, the Navy chief said it
authorised warships to take preventive action against any
pirates operating against any country in the international
waters.
"The restriction, however, is we cannot go into Somalian
territorial waters. Because, we do not have any arrangement
with them (transitional government). In that context, we are
carrying out patrol and we are looking out if any body is
groping in those waters and then we will take charge of them
(pirates)," he added.
However, he noted that navies could not interfere even if
ships of another country was taken over by pirates, unless the
distressed country asked for help and that other navies would
have no jurisdiction over the abducted ship till then.
"That (intervention) has happened in the case of Japan
when we (Indian Navy) tackled the pirated M.V. Alondra Rainbow
merchant vessel (in October 1999). So if that situation arises
(in Somalia), we will take a different step," Mehta added.
Pointing out that navies had the powers to prosecute the
pirates "with ease," the Navy chief said this was possible
only in international waters and not in territorial waters of
other countries.
On the warships that were entering Somalian waters at
present, Mehta clarified that under a U.N. mandate, the naval
ships only escorted ships carrying food assistance under an
international programme. PTI
The government also called for putting a stop to the piracy menace and said the frequent pirate attacks on ships "cannot be allowed" to continue, even as it expressed serious concern over incidents in international waters.
"We cannot allow the situation (pirate attacks) to continue. There should be a solution to this. We must put a stop to this kind of piracy. So India is very much concerned," Defence Minister A.K. Antony told reporters, after attending the Naval Commanders Conference here.
"So, in consultation with the Navy, the Defence Ministry has already taken up this matter with Ministry of External Affairs (M.E.A.).
"Through diplomatic channel, we are working on it and we are trying to find a procedure so that important navies of the world can act together in that area (African coast)," Antony said, replying to questions on the government's response to the abducting of Japanese-owned merchant vessel Stolt Valor with 18 Indian sailors on board.
Stating that all nations, including India, were concerned
about the pirate attacks, Antony said there were some
"developments" relating to piracy along the African coast
every day.
But, despite the presence of 69 warships of the U.S.,
Russia, Canada, United Kingdom and France along the African
coast, pirates continued to attack ships sailing through the
area in the Indian Ocean Region, Antony said.
"Of late, ships from the European Union have also joined
other warships there. It is a matter of serious concern," he
added.
Noting that Russia had sent its warship to the region,
as its military equipment was on board an Ukrainian ship that
was abducted by Somalian pirates, Antony said the Russians too
were only "watching the situation" and had "not gone beyond"
that.
Stating that there were two aspects -- deployment and
operations -- to the naval intervention in piracy-related
incidents, the Defence Minister said India, apart from other
navies, had already sent its warship to the region for
anti-piracy patrol, and the M.E.A., in consultation with the
Navy, was working some operational details through diplomatic
channels.
"Once it (procedure) is ready, we will approach the
highest body and take a decision," he said.
Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta, who was present on the
occasion, told reporters later that an Indian warship was
already working in tandem with other navies in the anti-piracy
operations and that the ship deployment was being done in
coordination with other ships, so as to cover all areas in the
region.
"There is a ship on patrol. That (Indian) ship is
carrying out the job that it is supposed to. We are working in
concert with other navies in the region. We are coordinating
with them, so we (ships) are in different areas and we cover
the area we want," Mehta said.
Noting that all navies wanting to patrol the African
waters against pirates would have to work together, he said
the arrangement was to have a ship or two from all interested
navies and to work out the area amongst them.
"This is the process that the Defence Minister told you
about. Because, we are some distance away and we cannot keep a
flotilla there forever," he said, referring to the policy the
government was working out for international anti-piracy
operations.
Clarifying on the International Law governing naval
intervention in piracy-related crimes, the Navy chief said it
authorised warships to take preventive action against any
pirates operating against any country in the international
waters.
"The restriction, however, is we cannot go into Somalian
territorial waters. Because, we do not have any arrangement
with them (transitional government). In that context, we are
carrying out patrol and we are looking out if any body is
groping in those waters and then we will take charge of them
(pirates)," he added.
However, he noted that navies could not interfere even if
ships of another country was taken over by pirates, unless the
distressed country asked for help and that other navies would
have no jurisdiction over the abducted ship till then.
"That (intervention) has happened in the case of Japan
when we (Indian Navy) tackled the pirated M.V. Alondra Rainbow
merchant vessel (in October 1999). So if that situation arises
(in Somalia), we will take a different step," Mehta added.
Pointing out that navies had the powers to prosecute the
pirates "with ease," the Navy chief said this was possible
only in international waters and not in territorial waters of
other countries.
On the warships that were entering Somalian waters at
present, Mehta clarified that under a U.N. mandate, the naval
ships only escorted ships carrying food assistance under an
international programme. PTI
