when these Mota phoker homeless jeberti can do shiit to somaliland , not only do they plagiarize Srinlankan newspaper but they have the audacity to print their fake stories
Kii jeberti jab ,
fake sheikh faraz imbecil: this is the real story:
Story of a captain:
Behind the lines of pirates
Uvindu Illeperuma
Being captive by a ruthless gang of pirates is the worst kind of nightmare one could imagine. For Captain Sarath Weerewansa of the ship M.V. Leila it was an experience of living hell. Being dehydrated for days, not being fed properly and just being treated like slaves in a place where there is no democracy, rules and regulations, is truly something you don’t want to dream of or wake up to. Here he relates in detail how he and his crew were bundled out from the ship he commanded and held prisoner in the most anguishing conditions.
Captain Weerewansa returned to his motherland two weeks ago after being freed from the clutches of Somali administration. However, the twist to the tale, according to him is that the Somali State Government was working hand in glove with the pirates.
A captain who didn’t stop fighting for his men and his country and his freedom
Piracy in Somalia is a great impediment on the cargo movements. The Somali Government now in power is not in a position to combat this menace as the pirates are overwhelmingly powerful than the state authorities. But the adventure story woven around Captain Weerewansa has nothing to do with pirates. Actually, it is an exception.
‘This was not a dealing I had to do with pirates. We were taken into custody by Somali State Government, he added with a feeling of despise.
When asked what took him to Somalia he said, ‘ Somalia wasn’t my destination, but the sister ship launched before us was caught up with fire, I was behind them. They met with that accident in Somali waters. So the owner of my shipping company told me to go to them and help in any possible way. When I embarked there the crew of my sister vessel had been taken into custody. So that was the same fate I also had to undergo.
Revealing the reason behind for such an arrest Captain Weerawansa said that Somalia clamp a US $ 2.5 fine to release the ship. So Somali authorities told us to tolerate the things until our shipping company pay the fine.
‘But the company was not that quick to pay the fine and release us. We were optimistic of a rapid release. But nothing of the kind happened. They say it is a democratic Government. Their democracy was proved by the way they treated us. They treated us in a very appalling way. Actually they didn’t know what democracy was. It was a bunch of terrorists ruling the country.
The crew of my sister ship was assaulted and tortured by the authorities. August 7 was the day on which we were arrested. Two days after the arrest the ship was taken into the pier. I was able to contact the owner of my ship and he was telling me he was doing his very best to release us. He was asking for time.
A week became a month. Month became many months. To take the ship out of Somali waters we were asked for the port clearance certificate. But we were unable to submit that certificate as we were under arrest. Captain Weerawansa thought it best not to inform the family the circumstance he was under. Now already three months had passed. He was helpless thinking about the plight his family would have had to confront if he was not released forthwith.
‘But I didn’t tell them what was happening around me thinking that they will be scared. I expected the company and other accountable authorities to do their best to get us released. But that was not what really happened. ‘My hopes began waning when I felt the owner ignoring my plight. He avoided answering the phone. Ultimately he severed the connections he had with us.
There was a shortage of food and water. No words can describe the difficulties we had to face, revealed Captain Weerawansa. A Somali Journalist got an interview from me. It was published in their paper. U ltimately the plight we were undergoing in this unknown land was leaked to the international media.
They had a field day interviewing me over telephone. ‘Somali State is not doing the right thing, not sending us to our motherlands. This is not a Government but a bunch of terrorists administrating the country. This is not a country of democracy but a country of piracy’ was the response he marketed to the international media’
Weerewansa and crew were detained under no court order. He appealed to the international community to stop sending their ships to Somalia. This is not a court in the real sense of the word. This is a Kangaroo court and only the jungle law reigns in the country. His words went reverberating in the international scene. As a result some countries avoided sending ships to Somalia. My allegations hurt the Somali Government.
Captain Sarath Weerewansa of the ship M.V. Leila. Pictures by Rukmal Gamage
The President of Somalia made a friendly approach towards us. They took us to hotel where a media gaggle was organized. So they told me to speak good about Somalia letting down my former allegations in the presence of international media. I saw some men who are around us with AK 47s and other arms.
But I was not shaken. I was adamant and repeated my allegations without letting down my criticism against the Somali Government. I told the Somali government officials to shoot me down without taking me and my crew to task.
The approach the Somali Government adopted on us changed its colours meanwhile. They came up with an idea I never expected. They asked me to change my religion, then marry a Somali woman and serve Somali land. In response to their suggestion I told them that I have a wife and a child back in Sri Lanka. I told what I expected from them was my quick release. But there were only negative answers available; they were actually taking revenge over what I have done. I tarnished their image in the presence of international media. They were penalizing us.
When food and water was running out they took a long time to replenish. I went from pillar to post asking my release. But most of the officials showed their unconcern, most of the discussions I had with them ended up with heated arguments.
If I tell you frankly the helplessness I felt, when the ship’s owner was online I asked what was happening’.
He told me he was not competent to do anything. I demanded why he didn’t tell me earlier about this in which case I could do something worthwhile without having my faith in you. ‘Is this the way I am rewarded with for looking after your ship? I demanded. Some Indians in my crew thought to take their life in water.
My health condition was deteriorating. I was hospitalized twice. Second time was due to diarrhea. Though they didn’t torture us physically they did mentally.
How they were released
The crew of my sister ship was released under a court order. But still we were detained. I struggled with my argument Law is law. But the official seemed not flexible enough. Ultimately they had to release us as they couldn’t withstand the international pressure unleashed on them. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the High Commissioner in Nairobi, Jayanatha Dissanayaka for his untiring efforts to take me out of that hell. Ultimately on March 24 we came to Sri Lanka. First we arrived in Nairobi, where I can remember how Jayantha Dissanayaka and Deputy High Commissioner Mahesh were there to welcome us. They arranged a party for us. But I was in a critical condition caused by diaherria.
During my detention my family had lot of hardships. My telephone line and the electricity were cut off. But when my wife told Sri Lanka Telecom and Electricity Board the conditions we were in they supplied the facility unhindered, I should admire SLT for providing the facility as it was the only way possible for me to hear the voice of my wife and child - the only solace I had.
Captain Weerawansa has not yet been paid for 7 months by his company. The company owner had changed the name of the company in fear of prosecution. I seek the help of media to go before international human rights.
I need to take legal action against Somali Government for torturing me and my crew. But I know next to nothing about the procedure I will have to follow. So I request from able authorities to make me aware of the possibilities bringing those rascals to book,’ concluded Weerewans
