Ecoterra Press Release on the Global Stand-off with Somali Pirates of the Ukrainian MV FAINA

By: Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis
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[ Posted On: 2008-10-06 ]

As events start turning a gravely deteriorated allure around the Horn of Africa, following the incomprehensibility that prevails among legal and illegal administrations, regional powers, and global powers, a great voice comes from the leading global NGO Ecoterra International – the last international environmental organization still working in Somalia.

I will expand on the ongoing and gravely worsening crisis in forthcoming articles; here I republish integrally the Press Release issued today under the title ‘Stay Calm and Solve it Now’!

Stay Calm and Solve it Now!

Ecoterra International – Press Release on the Stand-off concerning the Ukrainian Weapons-ship Hi-jacked by Somali Pirates

Ecoterra Intl.

10th update 2008-10-06 06:03:12 UTC

Day 12 - 280 h into the case – Update Summary;

Interim EASAP Emergency Helpline for Seafarer Families Operation at: +254-722-613-858

The stand-off concerning MV FAINA is still not yet solved, though negotiations have continued in earnest and all sides are willing to safeguard the human lives at risk. Unfortunately, the Somali side is now entangled and hampered by lengthy clan-based internal discussions, interferences by militia groups and the conclusion to the negotiations drags on, while speed is of the essence to also avoid the outbreak of hostilities at the coastal stretch near to the ship. Still too much emphasis is given to the surrounding sagas for whom the weapons are, how the armada of joint navies should act or how Somali politicians and brokers, who have been helpless all along, should assist. Soon there will be no possibility any longer to cut a deal and walk away from it alive - for neither side.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reports: "Perhaps significantly, although Kenyan officials made it clear that the 33 T-72 tanks, grenade launchers and ammunition aboard the hijacked Ukrainian ship Faina were part of a larger deal under which tanks, artillery and SALW were delivered by Ukraine in 2007, these weapons did not appear in Kenya’s recent submission to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA). Kenya's report to UNROCA for 2007, submitted on 26 September 2008, records ‘nil’ imports and ‘nil’ exports of major conventional weapons and gives no information on Small and Light Weapons (SALW)." According to the latest report released by the Ukrainian government, Kenya imported 40,000 automatic rifles and sub-machine guns and 405 grenade launchers last year.

The Kenyan parliamentary select committee on security will summon both the ministers for defence and internal security to explain the importation of military hardware aboard the hijacked ship MV Faina when parliament resumes next week. The chairman, Fred Kapondi urged the government to come clear on the issue when his team will be seeking to establish the actual owner of the military cargo, details of its importation and its security implications on the country. "As the chairman of a very crucial parliamentary committee, I reiterate that there is no need of keeping this matter secret anymore as it will continue giving room to speculation,' the Mount Elgon MP said.

Relatives of Indian seafarers on board the Japanese ship STOLT VALOR accused the Indian central government of not doing enough to rescue the crew. ”I would look forward to negotiate the things faster and let the people come home as soon as possible,” said Seema Goyal, wife of Prabhat Goyal, captain of the hijacked ship. The family of very young 2nd Officer Ulhas Krishna reported of his satellite phone transmission that the food-stocks would run out soon, since there are so many people on board now. INS GODAVARI, the Indian Navy frigate under command of Cpt. R. Sarin just recently had called on the port of Mombasa, but it is not known if it has orders to assist with the release of the hi-jacked tanker.

Press Sstatement;

ECOTERRA Intl. welcomes the statement by Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council: "The priority should be to resolve the problem only through negotiations with the pirates without the use of force," as well as the statement by Russia: "The Russian Navy rejects the use of force!" as stated by Capt.1st Rank Igor Dygalo to RIA Novosti concerning the FAINA case.

ECOTERRA International still urges all sides in the case of the hi-jacked Ukrainian ship MV FAINA to further de-escalate the extremely dangerous situation. "If the falcons from Russia or Ukraine, from the US or the EU and last but not least some ill-advised Somali politicians or religious leaders would get their way and drive the case to an end by destroying the vessel, a major humanitarian and environmental disaster would be created in the case of the weapons transporter MV FAINA!", ECOTERRA Intl. spokesman Dr. Hans-Juergen Duwe stated.

The cargo of the ill-fated ship comprises not only of the 1,500 mt of refurbished battle tanks (33 units), it also consists at least of 1,000 mt other military hardware, including 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition with a substantial amount of 125mm 3BM32, which contain a depleted uranium (DU) penetrator. It can not be ruled out that among that ammunition also tank rounds encased in a DU liner for ‘enhanced killing power’ can be found, which Russia has marketed for export and which have even a higher DU load.

In case Russia, Ukraine, the United States of America or any other power are willing to go for a military solution and the FAINA has been prepared by the pirates or commandos in the meantime to be blown up, a grave humanitarian and a major environmental disaster would be created only around 8 miles off coastal villages and 11 km from the town of Hobiyo. Also other nearby towns like Haradheere would be affected.

Picture: Ecoterra – the Poseidon Reasoning

Depleted uranium (DU) munitions are at least controversial because of unanswered questions about potential long-term health effects and are considered a toxic heavy metal. Cellular and animal studies have shown that uranium is a kidney toxin, neurotoxin, immunotoxin, mutagen (agent which changes the genetic information of an organism), carcinogen and teratogen (agent causing malformations of the embryo or foetus), which is why not only the vast majority of countries - including Kenya - have signed a resolution to ban its proliferation, but also the UN and the EU work on its global ban.

"The acutely pending humanitarian and environmental crisis and disaster situation still can be avoided through negotiations", Dr. Duwe is convinced, "because the pirates are only interested in the money and a quick get-away."

"This crisis is of such magnitude that it can not be left to junior Ukrainian diplomats in Nairobi or to the arms-exporters to drag on, while the military hard-liners, referring to ill-advised demands by some biased Somali politicians, who this time might not benefit, get ready or "allow" others to blow this case into a real problem", the ECOTERRA spokesman concluded with the advise that the stand-off is solved peacefully by a payment coming from those who left this dangerous shipment unprotected into Somali waters. ECOTERRA Intl.demands that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as well as the IAEA and other relevant organizations are called in to inspect the cargo after the pirates release it.

Since last Thursday ECOTERRA Intl. has urged the Somali group, which hi-jacked FV FAINA, to treat the ship's crew with all human respect, to allow medical personnel as well as supplies for the people to come on board, to not tamper with the cargo and to agree to an unproblematic quick solution to the crisis. The recent developments, however, characterized by calling in the guns to bring the stand-off to an end would cause a real disaster and must be averted by all means.

It must be avoided too that the now re-enforced pirate-gang becomes so paranoid and desperate that they would blow up the ship or start killing the crew. Even though the war-mongers might see Ukrainian seafarers only as collateral damage, the world community has to recognize their human rights - to life at least and not to be sacrificed for the smooth running of legal or illegal business as usual. Under the present situation the pirates might even abandon the ship and leave the crew unharmed, if the Navy ships would open for them an escape possibility. Not doing so means either paying or having to sacrifice the crew, the ship and the cargo as well as creating an environmental disaster at the seashore of impoverished Somalia.

ECOTERRA Intl. together with Madam Nyna Karpachyova, the Ukrainian parliament's human rights ombudsman, and the Ukrainian as well as Russian families together with many national and international Human Rights Organizations plead not to sacrifice the crew and to not hinder the valuable help of the Kenyan chapter of the East African Seafarers Assistance Programme.

Article Source: http://www.afroarticles.com/article-dashboard

About The Author: Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis - is Orientalist, Assyriologist, Egyptologist, Iranologist, Islamologist, Historian and Political Scientist. Dr. Megalommatis, 51, is the author of 12 books, dozens of scholarly articles, hundreds of encyclopedia entries, and thousands of articles. He speaks, reads and writes more than 15, modern and ancient, languages.

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