UN plans to establish Somali courts to fight piracy

The UN Security Council decided Monday to urgently consider establishing courts in Somalia to try acts of piracy in an effort to build a more efficient way to fight piracy on the high seas.

The council unanimously adopted a resolution to set up 'specialized Somali courts to try suspected pirates both in Somalia and in the region, including an extraterritorial Somali specialized anti-piracy court.'

The decision was based on recommendations made by Jack Lang, a former French government minister serving as a legal adviser on piracy issues at the UN.

French Ambassador Gerard Araud said the resolution took into consideration Somalia's instability and economic and social problems that caused the problems of piracy in the impoverished nation.

Araud said the resolution called for strengthening the methods of investigation and for transferring pirates to face criminal charges on piracy.

'It is finally taking into consideration the long-term economic interests of Somalia: it calls for the delimitation of the Somali maritime space and requests the UN secretary general to submit a report by October on illegal fishing and the rejection of toxic wastes off Somalia,' Araud said.

'France welcomes the adoption of resolution 1976, which represents a significant and concrete step forward in the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia,' he said.

Despite international efforts to fight piracy, including use of national navies to thwart hijacking on the high seas, Somali pirates had been able to seize more ships and luxury vessels and ransom their owners.

Studies have shown that pirates have collected millions of dollars after seizing ships. Dozens of vessels and crews are still in the hands of pirates.

Some countries like the United States have already brought suspects in attacks to their own shores to stand trial.

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