An Indian “blunder” off Somalia?

(B2) We remember that the Indian Navy had proclaimed that it had fired and sunk, on November 18, a pirate "mother ship" which had made "hostile gestures". According to the Indian press, this version is not entirely accurate.

The sunken boat is actually a Thai fishing boat, according to the owner of the "Ekawat Nava 5", Wicharn Sirichaiekawat, who spoke on a news channel. "It was not a mother ship of pirates. But a boat hijacked that very morning by the pirates, who wanted to take it to Somalia". "Of the 16 crew members, one survived, one died, and 14 people are missing." The surviving member drifted for six days before being picked up by a ship and hospitalized in Yemen. This version should now be verified.

The Indian Navy maintains its version in any case "When the Tabar demanded to be stopped for inspection, the pirates threatened to destroy the Indian vessel. Pirates were seen on the upper deck of this vessel with guns and rocket launchers. He threatened to fire on INS Tabar ", says the ministry. The Indian frigate then returned fire, setting fire to the boat, "explosions on board were heard".

If this version is to be taken into account, one can still wonder why the Indian warship did not verify that there were survivors on board - who could be fished out or saved -. In this case it would be a violation of the law of the sea, with non-assistance to anyone in danger

In any case, it illustrates all the difficulty with which the ships of the Eunavfor Atalanta operation will be confronted. How to act quickly and safely for the crews, while demonstrating discernment and proportionality in the response given? What to do to "neutralize" pirates without going to the most deadly fate? The most "radical" action is not automatically the most effective...

(NGV)