Somaliland might assist Puntland in the war against Piracy

[Coeus]

Puntland, Somaliland Officials and Businessmen Meet to Discuss MT Jubba XX

Puntland and Somaliland officials visited the crew members of the the recently released MT Jubba XX after it arrived in Bosaso port at 1330 (local time) on Thursday afternoon and before she left for Berbera in Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland.

Somali pirates hijacked the United Arab Emirates-flagged oil product tanker early on July 16, 2011 as she made her way from the UAE to the port of Berbera, but Puntland officials secured its release after local businessmen paid a $200,000 ransom, rather than the shipowner.

The Director General of the Puntland Port Ministry, Farah Salad Ed, who met with the crew, told Somalia Report in an exclusive interview that the crew members were happy to be safe from the pirates but were exhausted from the ordeal. He also told our correspondent that the crew said they were not tortured by pirates, but that everything had been stolen from them.

Puntland officials sent two Puntland Coast Guard boats to escort the vessel from Bosaso to Berbera and the pirates who released the oil tanker are now in Toxin village near Bargal District, according to the director general.

Members of the media were not allowed on board.

Thank You, Puntland

Puntland and Somaliland businessmen and officials held a press conference at 1720 (local time) on Thursday in Bosaso and praised the role of the local elders for handling the successful negotiations with the pirates. In an unusual move, the pirates accepted an extremely low ransom after the elders traveled to their village for the discussions. Pirates typically receive millions of dollars for oil tankers.



Hassan abdi Salan Sh. Ali, the chairman of Red Sea Petroleum which owns the vessel, said all crew members were healthy and expressed his thanks to the local government.

"We can’t forget how much we appreciate the autonomous government of Puntland and the local business figures in Bosaso. I am sure that this case will create new cooperation between Somaliland and Puntland because both sides suffer the effects of piracy," he said. "Both sides can open new doors in anti-piracy cooperation.”

Ali Abdi Aware, a former minister of Puntland and now a Bosaso businessman, said pirates have been getting more powerful in recent years and also increasing their numbers due to the heafty ransom payments.

"We must stand up for a war against piracy in our land," said Mr. Aware.

Aware said he learned during the negotiations that piracy can easily be prevented and solved by the community elders who can work with the pirates to solve the problems that caused them to turn to piracy in the first place.

The son of a Sri Lankan crew member told asked Somalia Report to send Puntland President Farole his personal 'thank you' for Puntland's role in securing the release of vessel.

[haxxor]

This is good news. Any unity is good news and fuck off people who think otherwise.

[Coeus]

This is good news. Any unity is good news and fuck off people who think otherwise.