angeldemon_007
SENIOR MEMBER
New Delhi: The United Nations International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has rebutted Defence Minister AK Antony's claim that international terror groups could be behind the Somali pirates menace. This comes days ahead of a crucial Cabinet Committee on Security meet to finalise India's new policy to fight sea piracy off the Indian coast.
"We don't think that the menace of piracy is only on the part of these Somalian pirates. There are more powerful group and forces behind this pirates, they are siting somewhere else," Antony said.
The International Maritime Organisation quashed global speculations over al Qaeda affiliated, al Shahaab controlling the Somali pirates.
IMO Secretary General E Mitropoulos said, "We don't think the Somali pirates are backed by any terror organisations, they hijack ships to get ransom money which they again use for hijacking more ships."
This IMO reaction to CNN-IBN contradicts reports that al Qaeda backed al Shahaab which operates in large parts of Somalia is believed to control several gangs of pirates. Al Shahaab and Ras Kamboni, another local group ostensibly even corner a share of the ransom money earned by the pirates.
Earlier this year, an al Shahaab spokesperson had audaciously even announced a discount on ransom payment to clear the backlog of hijacked ships.
Somali pirates' growing strength and strategy of shifting their area of operation closer to India has left the Indian government worried.
"Instances of pirate attacks in the Arabian Sea and more recently in the Indian Ocean, much beyond the piracy infested areas of Gulf of Aden, pose a serious threat to us by putting at risk a large number of Indian seafarers and ships," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said.
While more than 30 Indian sailors are still in Somali pirates' captivity - the oldest among them being the six MV Iceberg sailors - the Cabinet Committee on Security will be meeting next week to formulate India's new policy to fight Somali pirates.
UN rebukes Antony, says no terror-pirates link - India News - IBNLive
"We don't think that the menace of piracy is only on the part of these Somalian pirates. There are more powerful group and forces behind this pirates, they are siting somewhere else," Antony said.
The International Maritime Organisation quashed global speculations over al Qaeda affiliated, al Shahaab controlling the Somali pirates.
IMO Secretary General E Mitropoulos said, "We don't think the Somali pirates are backed by any terror organisations, they hijack ships to get ransom money which they again use for hijacking more ships."
This IMO reaction to CNN-IBN contradicts reports that al Qaeda backed al Shahaab which operates in large parts of Somalia is believed to control several gangs of pirates. Al Shahaab and Ras Kamboni, another local group ostensibly even corner a share of the ransom money earned by the pirates.
Earlier this year, an al Shahaab spokesperson had audaciously even announced a discount on ransom payment to clear the backlog of hijacked ships.
Somali pirates' growing strength and strategy of shifting their area of operation closer to India has left the Indian government worried.
"Instances of pirate attacks in the Arabian Sea and more recently in the Indian Ocean, much beyond the piracy infested areas of Gulf of Aden, pose a serious threat to us by putting at risk a large number of Indian seafarers and ships," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said.
While more than 30 Indian sailors are still in Somali pirates' captivity - the oldest among them being the six MV Iceberg sailors - the Cabinet Committee on Security will be meeting next week to formulate India's new policy to fight Somali pirates.
UN rebukes Antony, says no terror-pirates link - India News - IBNLive