Somali Pirates Fan Club
Posted by Dewan Gibson | Filed under Social Comm
For obvious reasons I feel a sense of solidarity with my beanpole Somali brothers. Despite living in impoverished anarchy they find a way to survive. I wrote about the Somali pirate issue for another website (thatminoritything.com) and the piece generated a lot of comments/controversy. Some readers felt I was siding with “Muslim terrorists,” while others could sympathize with their struggle. Well, I’ll leave it up to you to decide.
SOMALI PIRATES FAN CLUB
I often find myself rooting for the underdog. When the arrogant New England Patriots had their undefeated season ruined I cheered for days. When the mighty Los Angeles Lakers got whooped in the 2004 NBA Finals, the text messages of sarcastic condolences I sent to Lakers fans felt almost orgasmic. Naturally my connection with the little guy is extended to the Somali pirates.
In contrast to what some recent media reports have stated the Somali pirates, despite some wearing traditional garb and beards that would make many Americans call the FBI, are not Islamic militants. According to a BBC report many of the pirates are former fishermen who had their livelihood threatened by illegal fishing after the Somali government collapsed in 1991.
As the Somali government fell the country erupted in lawlessness and various foreign owned vessels, primarily European and Asian, rushed into Somali waters, bullied the locals and took the resources. This would go on for years despite local fishermen appealing to the United Nations for support. As is the case with most problems in Africa that are not focused on by Caucasian entertainers, the international community remained idle.
Two European companies, Swiss firm Achair Partners and Italian waste management firm Progresso even had the gall to dump tons of nuclear and toxic waste into Somali waters as part of a secret deal with corrupt Somali political leader Ali Mahdi Mohamed. They were exposed by a 1997 joint investigation between Italian newspaper Famiglia Cristiana and Greenpeace, but again nothing was done.
Years later, after the 2004 tsunami caused the tide and tainted water to rise in the Gulf of Aden, the UK Times reported a number of Somali locals had been sickened with illnesses common to people exposed to radiation and toxic waste. The European companies, despite dumping the waste that caused these illnesses, were not penalized.
In addition to lack of employment opportunities and environmental discrimination, the governments and corporations that are taking financial losses should make one feel an accord with the Somali pirates.
The Chinese government (who apparently only tolerate technological piracy) sent warships to the area after they nearly lost a cargo boat. Ironically, this is the very same Chinese government that has trained fighter pilots and sold weapons to the genocide-loving Sudanese government.
Also, the oppressive government of Saudi Arabia, which paid a $3 million ransom to recover an oil tanker, has a long history of funding terrorist operations throughout the world.
Similar points can be made regarding a number of European countries that have historically raped the region and are now suffering financial calamities from pirate attacks.
But as is the case with most Robin Hood stories, all may not end well for the Somali pirates.
Recently a vacationing French family that had been warned not to sail through the troubled Somali waters was kidnapped. French troops attempted to save the family with a hostile ambush. This led to gunfire and the death of the French father who had previously blogged about the need to not let the pirates disrupt his trip across African waters. Early reports indicate he may have been a victim of friendly fire.
As we have all heard three Somali pirates were killed by U.S. Navy snipers after holding an American naval captain at gunpoint. According to the Los Angeles Times family members of the pirates and Somali elders attempted to negotiate a truce before the shooting. This deal would include the safe release of the American captain without a ransom, on condition that the Somali offenders be prosecuted at home and not detained by the Americans.
Yet President Obama, perhaps having woke up on the right side of the bed that morning and needing to “pass” his first national security test authorized the use of lethal force. In typical American style and despite the relative peaceful endings to most Somali pirate highjackings, the peace deal was dismissed with aggression that will only lead to more violence.
For the next few days many will feel good knowing that the mighty Americans save the day. Little attention will be given to conditions that birthed the Somali pirates or to the future hostages who will become victims of retaliatory violence. Like most underdogs the Somali pirates had their day in the sun. The run is over for the little guys, but I’m still cheering.
-Dewan W. Gibson: Author of The Imperfect Enjoyment
6 Responses to “Somali Pirates Fan Club”
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andy Says:
January 5th, 2010 at 4:01 pmTHE MEDIA DOESN’T ASK WHY????? THESE PIRATES WERE FISHERMAN BEFORE THEY WERE PIRATES, THEY CANT FISH ANYMORE DUE TO ILLEGAL DUMPING BY EUROPE AND ASIA. THE WATER IS TOO TOXIC THAT NOTHING LIVES IN THOSE SHORES. NO CORPORATION HAS BEEN CHARGED, WHY??? I SUPPORT THE SOMALIS, THEY ARE NOT PIRATES THEY ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE! THE REAL PIRATES ARE THE BANKS, CORPORATIONS AND THE MEDIA THAT PRESENTS WATERDOWN MEDIOCRE NEWS CANDY.
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#1 Pirate fan Says:
January 5th, 2010 at 7:43 pmI totally agree! SOMALI PIRATES R AWESOME!
They kick ass and i love them to deattthhhh!
I SWEAR I AM THEIR #1 FAN!
I WILL MEET THEM SOMEDAY!!!!!
does anyone know how i can contact them?
They are my heroes! -
Dewan Gibson Says:
January 6th, 2010 at 12:10 pmWow! I love that pirate enthusiasm! I hear there’s actually a Facebook fan page up. Shout out to the pirates!
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