UN Denies Tanker Hijacking

[Human]

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news06_april05_2006

 

THE United Nations yesterday denied reports that pirates have hijacked an oil tanker with 19 Filipinos off the coast of Somalia.

 

“They have no reports of this hijacking incident,” Joe Gordon, chief security adviser of the UN Field Security Coordination Office in war-torn Somalia, told chargÈ d’affaires Bernadette Muller of the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, which has jurisdiction over Somalia.

 

The Al Jazeer news network and an international piracy watchdog reported on Monday that Somali gunmen had seized a United Arab Emirates-registered oil tanker, reportedly named Lin 1, off Mogadishu after it left on March 29.

 

Muller coordinated with the UN office to clarify the reported hijacking and to check on the condition of the possible Filipino hostages, and was told there had been one.

 

Hijacking is prevalent in the Somali territorial waters, prompting the United States and Britain to escort commercial vessels entering and leaving the port of Mogadishu.

 

Located in Eastern Africa and bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, Somalia has been in civil war since 1991, when the regime of Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted.

 

Since then, the warring clans have divided the country into the Republic of Somaliland and Putland, with warlords fighting to control the capital city of Mogadishu.

 

In 1993 UN forces tried to intervene to restore order, but were forced to withdraw two years later after suffering heavy casualties. Ferdinand Fabella

[Luke_Wilbur]

I wonder why the UN would make such a statement?

 

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South Korea said Wednesday it has set up a task force to seek the release of a South Korean fishing vessel that was captured by pirates off the coast of Somalia.

 

The 628 Dongwon was seized Tuesday afternoon by eight armed assailants, who approached in two speed boats firing guns, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

 

All 25 crew members being held captive were confirmed safe, Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon told reporters. The captain and some of the crew members have been allowed to call company headquarters and their families in South Korea, he said.

 

The crew includes eight South Koreans, nine Indonesians, five Vietnamese and three Chinese, according to the ministry.

 

“We are still trying to figure out the identity of the kidnap group and they have yet to suggest conditions for negotiations,” Ban said. “We are devoting all possible efforts for (the crew’s) safe return.”

 

South Korea has sent letters to the governments of Somalia and neighboring Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia asking for their cooperation in facilitating the crew’s release, Ban said.

 

On Tuesday, two other South Korean fishing vessels in the area called for help, and nearby U.S. and Dutch naval ships tried to intervene, but gave up when the seized ship entered Somali territorial waters, the ministry said.

 

Cmdr. Jeff Breslau, spokesman for the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, said when the South Korean vessel turned toward Somali waters, the U.S. and Dutch ships tried to intercept it and fired warning shots in its direction. Members of the South Korean crew were seen on the deck with guns pointed at them, so the effort was broken off, he added.

 

The seized ship is now at a port in northeastern Somalia, according to South Korea’s Foreign Ministry.

 

http://www.navytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1667286.php

[Guest human_*]

The only things' that I can think of is that the United Nations hasn't gotten through their channels an official confirmation. Or that they are negotiating with the pirates, and want to keep this as low key as possible.

 

As far as I know this has not been picked up by the major U.S. News Media "yet?".

 

 

 

 

I wonder why the UN would make such a statement?

 

*********************************************

 

South Korea said Wednesday it has set up a task force to seek the release of a South Korean fishing vessel that was captured by pirates off the coast of Somalia.

 

The 628 Dongwon was seized Tuesday afternoon by eight armed assailants, who approached in two speed boats firing guns, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

 

All 25 crew members being held captive were confirmed safe, Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon told reporters. The captain and some of the crew members have been allowed to call company headquarters and their families in South Korea, he said.

 

The crew includes eight South Koreans, nine Indonesians, five Vietnamese and three Chinese, according to the ministry.

 

“We are still trying to figure out the identity of the kidnap group and they have yet to suggest conditions for negotiations,” Ban said. “We are devoting all possible efforts for (the crew’s) safe return.”

 

South Korea has sent letters to the governments of Somalia and neighboring Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia asking for their cooperation in facilitating the crew’s release, Ban said.

 

On Tuesday, two other South Korean fishing vessels in the area called for help, and nearby U.S. and Dutch naval ships tried to intervene, but gave up when the seized ship entered Somali territorial waters, the ministry said.

 

Cmdr. Jeff Breslau, spokesman for the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, said when the South Korean vessel turned toward Somali waters, the U.S. and Dutch ships tried to intercept it and fired warning shots in its direction. Members of the South Korean crew were seen on the deck with guns pointed at them, so the effort was broken off, he added.

 

The seized ship is now at a port in northeastern Somalia, according to South Korea’s Foreign Ministry.

 

http://www.navytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1667286.php