U.N. anti-piracy resolution set to be renewed

[unhappycamper]

U.N. anti-piracy resolution set to be renewed
By Mark Abramson, Stars and Stripes
European edition,Sunday, November 29, 2009

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — The United States wants to renew a U.N. counterpiracy resolution that has not been used since it was passed almost a year ago, while people in the shipping industry worry about what could happen if it were ever invoked.

U.N. Resolution 1851 authorizes the use of force against pirates on land before they hit the ocean to commandeer commercial vessels for ransom — and in some cases seize private yachts — off East Africa. The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved the resolution in December 2008, and it is slated to expire after one year.

“These authorities provide a basis for ongoing counter-piracy military operations and allow member states to prevent pirates from using Somalia’s territorial waters, land and air as safe havens to evade forces in the area,” Rosemary DiCarlo, alternative U.S. representative for special political affairs, said in the U.N. Security Council Chambers, according to a transcript of the recent session.

State Department spokesman David McKeeby said in an e-mail that Resolution 1851 will be renewed but declined to explain why it is being renewed when it has never been used.

DiCarlo noted that there were 160 instances of piracy in the Eastern Africa area through the first nine months of 2009, compared with 136 during the same time last year. Many of those attacks are moving into the western Indian Ocean because of naval operations in the area.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=66357

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

1. Wow, it's about REAL pirates. Not people who copy bits. That's new. -nt