By DNA Correspondent | Place: Ahmedabad | Agency: DNA
From May next year, world would be free of Somali pirates, said Ebyan Mahamed Salah, ambassador of the Republic of Somalia in India. The ambassador said this while talking to DNA on the sidelines of the Global Maritime Security and Anti-Piracy Conference-2011 in Gandhinagar on Saturday.
The Somalian government has prepared a master plan to disarm the 'sea gangs' and have the areas controlled by them, mapped.
The government has mapped primarily four small islands where the pirates wield enormous influence. These four islands are Harardhere, Garo Ad, Hobyo and Eyl, the ambassador said.
Salah further said that a dialogue was going on with the pirates on these islands and that the Somalian government was sure that it will come up with a solution to the menace.
"Government has set a deadline of May 2012 for this and we are confident of disarming these sea gangs by then," Salah said.
"The government has already initiated efforts to 'rehabilitate gangs that have proliferated on these islands," she said. The government is also in the process of framing a number of policies.
Ambassador said, at present, Somalia doesn't have any laws to deal with piracy. But by May 18, 2012, a framework will be in place for this, she said. To combat the menace, it was necessary to restore stability, Salah added.
Salah said poverty was not the only reason why Somali youth took to piracy. "They are lured by the prospect of earning quick bucks," said Salah. She said one simple but effective solution to the problem of piracy was to stop paying ransom.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_somalia-hopes-to-end-piracy-by-may-2012_1618113
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