And 18 more suspects in the Seychelles
(BRUSSELS2) Using a little persuasion, the British and Danes got the Seychelles government to accept 18 of the pirates they had apprehended in the Indian Ocean as part of the NATO operation " Ocean Shield". And that they still had on board their ships for several weeks.
The transfer of prisoners after the judgment at the key
The British ship RFA Fort Victoria thus handed over 14 men intercepted on board a Yemeni dhow on January 13, with all the paraphernalia of the perfect pirate on board - weapons including RPG grenades, ladders... . 4 other pirates were transferred by the Danish ship Absalon. This transfer was initially refused by the Seychelles government, which is currently refusing any additional transfer as long as the system for the reception of prisoners in Somalia, supervised by the UN, is not operational. But this one changed position after having "obtained assurances" regarding these transfer mechanisms, as reported by the daily The Nation.
In London, the British Minister for Foreign Affairs issued a public statement welcoming the positive outcome of these negotiations by expressing his “great gratitude to the Seychelles for this agreement. " Their commitment to the fight against piracy makes it possible to avoid a situation where these individuals would not be accountable for their actions. " he added (*). " In a few weeks, the London Conference on Somalia will discuss how the international community can address the various issues facing Somalia.. At the Royal Navy, we also breathe a sigh of relief, this will allow the supply ship to move on. In 4 months of "intensive" engagement, the RFA Fort Victoria arrested 30 pirates and came to the aid of 44 sailors held hostage, it is specified.
(*) original text: "We are very grateful to the Seychelles for their agreement to prosecute these suspected pirates. Their commitment to the fight against piracy has helped avoid a situation where these individuals were not held to account for their actions. "In a a few weeks time the London Conference on Somalia will discuss how the international community can tackle the many problems faced by Somalia, including piracy. Today's agreement on the transfer of alleged pirates demonstrates what can be achieved through international co-operation and commitment."