Posted on 01/13/2009 6:26:44 AM PST by rightwingintelligentsia
NAIROBI, Kenya (CNN) -- One of the pirates who held a Saudi oil supertanker off Somalia before releasing it for ransom has told CNN how five in his group drowned when the boat in which they left the ship capsized as they tried to evade rival pirates seeking a cut of the money.
Pirates seized the Sirius on November 15. A $3.5 million ransom payment -- down from the initial demand of $25 million -- was dropped by parachute onto the ship Friday, but the pirates delayed the vessel's release after the drownings.
"Other pirates on the shore wanted a tip from the pirates on the Sirius Star, so they started to fire in the air as our people approached the land," Libaan Jaama told CNN. "When our pirates heard the shots, they thought they would be robbed, so they tried to return to the tanker. In that quick turn the boat capsized."
Jaama said he was mourning his friends, who, along with other pirates on board, took 23 crew members hostage. The Kenya Seafarers Association said the crew -- which included citizens of Croatia, Great Britain, the Philippines, Poland and Saudi Arabia -- was in "good health and high spirits" when the vessel was released Saturday.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Darwin award potential.
Gee, I guess there is no honor among thieves? LOL.
When Anarchy rules, even the Anarchists can’t count on the rules!
Hollywierd is drooling over the script.
Just in time: Bush’s fault
They sank in water.
Oh, poor babies.
Get what you deserve, bastards.
What a sad story. My heart goes out to those poor dears...
I’m sure the pirates can sue the Saudis for emotional damages for the loss of their buddies. Heck,here in the US, they would probably win.
Instant karma gonna get you,
Gonna knock you right in the head!
Better get yourself together, darlin’
Pretty soon you’re gonna be dead!............
Just a guess, but I'm thinking...noisily?
“”Other pirates on the shore wanted a tip from the pirates on the Sirius Star,...”
Interesting. I hadn’t read about “tipping” the other pirates before. Wondering if this is SOP, or the incident is extraordinary.
“...In that quick turn the boat capsized.”
Overloaded boat with a Skipper’s adrenaline running on high? Regardless, a fitting end to a despicable lot.
“The Kenya Seafarers Association”
Isn’t that the yacht club Barry belongs to?
What is the difference between being robbed and being required to tip a pirate firing his gun? Are the pirates onshore like the longshoremen's union?
Ahh, CNN. Bringing us the scurvy side of these low-lifes. Too bad about the work-related risks. hardihar.
You haven't paid me yet!!!
Pirates drowning is as newsworthy as cockroaches croaking.
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