The Depressing, Official Truth About Somalia and its Pirates

The Wall Street Journal

By Gerald F. Seib  Thursday, April 09, 2009 While pirates that seized an American ship continue to hold its captain hostage off the coast of Somalia, many Americans probably are wondering: Why can't the world just put a stop to this bizarre scourge of Somali pirate attacks on the high seas? At least a partial answer might be found by perusing a recently produced State Department report on human rights—or lack thereof–in Somalia. It is a long and frightening description of a country with no functioning central government that has splintered into sections controlled by three competing forces, and descended into near-total chaos as a result. The report has sections with such telling titles as: "Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life," and "Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment." A typical passage: "During the year hundreds of civilians were killed in inter- or intraclan militia clashes. The killings resulted from clan militias fighting for political power and control of territory and resources; revenge attacks; criminal activities and banditry; private disputes over property and marriage; and vendettas after such incidents as rapes, family disagreements, killings, and abductions. With the breakdown of law and order, very few of these cases were investigated by the authorities, and there were few reports that those cases resulted in formal action by the local justice system." Oh, and yes, the piracy: "During the year piracy off the coast of Somalia significantly increased, and the International Maritime Bureau identified Somali territorial waters as the most dangerous in the world. Pirates conducted 42 successful hijackings and 69 unsuccessful attacks on vessels off the Somali coast…At year's end 15 vessels and more than 200 crew members remained in the custody of Somali pirates."