Pirates or Disempowered Somalis?
Although the piracy situation off the coast of Somalia has been going on for years, the capture of U.S. captain Richard Phillips last week raised the profile of the crisis. Even Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and President Barack Obama have commented on the situation, stating that the United States must do more to halt piracy.
However, there is an untold story behind all of the media hype around Somalia’s “pirates.” There is no doubt that what the Somalis are doing constitutes piracy on some level – after all, they are holding ships and people for ransom. But there is a deeper history of violation of Somalis living in coastal towns, and a sense of injustice among the civilian population.
If you’ve been following the news recently, you’ve probably heard a lot about pirates. Not the swashbuckling, patch-over-the-eye, ruthless robber kind, but the disempowered, poverty-stricken Somali kind.
Although the piracy situation off the coast of Somalia has been going on for years, the capture of U.S. captain Richard Phillips last week raised the profile of the crisis. Even Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and President Barack Obama have commented on the situation, stating that the United States must do more to halt piracy.
However, there is an untold story behind all of the media hype around Somalia’s “pirates.” There is no doubt that what the Somalis are doing constitutes piracy on some level – after all, they are holding ships and people for ransom. But there is a deeper history of violation of Somalis living in coastal towns, and a sense of injustice among the civilian population.
Will you tell President Obama to take an evenhanded approach to the Somali piracy situation? <http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ufShDGBjqhP9ezubvR4QzEUKzxmZIxzC>
Today’s pirate story actually began over 15 years ago, with another form of theft. Having over-fished their own oceans, many European, Middle Eastern, and Asian fishing companies perceived the 1991 state collapse in Somalia as an opening to begin business in foreign waters. Large trawlers appeared off the coast, scraping up $300 million worth of seafood every year, depriving costal Somalis of their livelihood and subsistence. Foreign corporations also saw it as a great location to discreetly dump barrels of toxic waste, thereby causing death and disease among the Somali population.
This is the reality that has been lost to the mainstream media hype around the Somali “pirates.” Of course, it cannot condone violence or hostage-taking, but it should give pause to the military rallying cry around piracy.
There is no military solution to the Somali crisis – only a diplomatic and development-based one. Will you send this message to President Obama today? <http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=XopyHZgN1ykTvK2oC9RkNUSxdqyFGaMz>
Read AFJN’s full analysis by clicking here <http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Ytb5k0LNL%2FF%2FpRtKPqDjt0UKzxmZIxzC> , then click here to tell the President <http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=F8HbYm8DKN6h6UGKCas0o0UKzxmZIxzC> that you demand a balanced and just policy toward Somalia.
Thank you for taking action!
In solidarity,
Rocco, Beth, Bahati, and the whole AFJN team
Africa Faith and Justice Network
125 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20017 202.884.9780 | fax 202.884.9774 | afjn@afjn.org