Somali pirates to request asylum in Netherlands

Five Somali pirates standing trial in the Netherlands

for their crimes have said they plan to request asylum in the Netherlands.

The five were arrested on January 2 in the Gulf of Aden, close to the African coast, by the Danish navy. They had attacked the cargo ship Samanyulo, officially a Dutch ship.

They were transferred to The Hague to stand trial - the first time foreign pirates were brought before a judge in the Netherlands.

On Monday, the same day the trial against the five was due to start, the alleged pirates were quoted in Dutch daily newspaper Volkskrant as saying they 'enjoyed' life in the Netherlands and planned on requesting the government for asylum.

One of the alleged pirates said he wanted 'to get an education while in prison. I am asking the Dutch government not to send me back to Somalia. The people that live here respect human rights. I want to settle here.'

Attorney Willem-Jan Ausma, said his client, another of the pirates, feels 'safe here. He receives proper meals, he can play football and watch television. He just loves the toilet in his cell.'

Ausma told his client that he should count on receiving a sentence of four years imprisonment.

He also told his client he has a reasonable chance of getting permanent residency.

Since Somalia lacks a centralized government and is notorious for violating international human rights, it would be almost impossible to extradite the five after their conviction in the Netherlands.

'Naturally, my client is happy,' Ausma said. 'He is hoping to get an education and eventually transfer his family to the Netherlands.'

Ausma said he fears the ongoing piracy trials in the Netherlands, the United States and Kenya may encourage pirates to commit more crimes rather than deter them.

'Everything is better than Somalia,' Ausma said.

Geert-Jan Knoops, an international criminal law attorney affiliated with the Royal University of Utrecht agreed.

'These trials may trigger other pirates to let themselves be arrested on purpose,' Knoops said.

'The Dutch Justice department must be cautious. I cannot imagine the five alleged pirates would voluntarily return to Somalia after their conviction.'

Knoops said an international tribunal, so far supported only by Russia and Germany, would be a better solution.

'This would avoid a lot of problems,' he said.



Source: www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1477910.php/Somali_pirates_to_request_asylum_in_Netherlands_#ixzz0FxIJnUUZ&B