Editorial
Bangladeshi ship in pirate hands
Restraint and firmness needed to ensure crew safety
The seizure of a Bangladeshi vessel, MV Jahan Moni, by Somali pirates on Sunday on the Arabian Sea once again brings to light a problem which has increasingly been upsetting sensibilities everywhere. The state of lawlessness which Somalia has been going through, particularly in the absence of a credible government, has spawned all this piracy which is today a menace before every nation engaged in shipping. In the past, these pirates have seized not only ships and their crew but have also abducted individuals who were simply on excursions on small vessels. It can be easily surmised as to what torment hostages go through at the hands of the Somali pirates, who hardly have any inclination, other than demanding ransom, towards demonstrating decent and civilized behaviour.
That said, the seizure of the Bangladeshi ship raises very legitimate fears about the safety of the 26 people, including the wife of the ship's chief engineer, on board. As we write this editorial, we note that the Bangladesh authorities have yet been unable to make any contact with either the crew of the ship or the pirates who abducted them. Meanwhile, satellite tracking has revealed that the ship is headed toward the Somali coast. One reason why the crew are not responding to calls on their mobile phones is not hard to imagine: in such conditions, it is the hostage takers who are in charge. They are not likely to allow their prey to be in touch with the outside world, at least not before they have themselves made their demands known. That is the lesser of our worries. A far more serious one is the risk now posed to the hostages' lives, a condition which surely exercises minds in the government at this point. Obviously, the authorities are scrambling to have this worrying situation brought to an end.
For Bangladesh, it is now important that the government establish contact with governments in and around Somalia in order to make sure that the 26 people on board stay safe. Additionally, the possibilities of making direct contact with the pirates, through intermediaries who have a record of dealing with them, must be explored. It is clear we are on some very dangerous ground here. Dealing with criminals operating on a global level is something we are not generally acquainted with. Which is why it is important that the issue be handled with restraint and yet with firmness. Until the hostages are freed and are back home safe, we have to be in a state of utmost alert.
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