World piracy doubles in first quarter 2009 due to Somalia

LONDON (Reuters) – Piracy incidents nearly doubled across the globe in the first quarter of 2009 almost entirely due to an upsurge in attacks by gangs off the Somali coast, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said on Tuesday.

The London-based watchdog recorded 102 attacks worldwide in the first three months of 2009 compared with 53 in that period a year ago, with 61 attacks in the Gulf of Aden and off the east coast of Somalia compared with 6 in the first quarter of 2008.

Somali pirates have made millions of dollars in ransoms hijacking commercial vessels in the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, despite patrols by foreign navies off the Somali coast, disrupting aid supplies and trade routes.

Twenty attacks were recorded off Somalia's east coast with 18 of those in March alone, which included four hijackings. That compared with seven incidents in the fourth quarter of 2008. The IMB said 41 incidents were reported in the Gulf of Aden region and 5 vessels hijacked.

A total of 34 vessels were boarded, 29 ships fired upon and nine hijacked worldwide, the IMB said.

"In the majority of incidents the attackers were heavily armed with guns or knives," the watchdog said. "Violence against crew members continues to increase."

"Given the current state of the global economy, there are concerns that piracy may increase. Navies and coastguards must continue to maintain their physical presence," it said.

The IMB said apart from Somalia, Nigeria continued to be a high risk area with nearly all attacks related to vessels supporting and connected to the oil industry.

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)—A U.S. judge has sealed a hearing involving a Somali teenager accused in hostage-taking of the captain of an American-flagged cargo ship earlier this month to consider whether the youth is a juvenile.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew J. Peck in Manhattan agreed to seal the courtroom Tuesday after court-appointed lawyers for Abduwali Muse asked for a closed hearing to consider whether he is under the age of 18 years old.

Philip L. Weinstein, a lawyer for Muse, said he spoke with his client’s father and his father said the teenager’s birth date was November 1993, which would make him 15 years old.

Prosecutors said they believe they have evidence that he’s an adult and indicated that includes statements Muse made to authorities.

If the judge rules Muse is a juvenile, the record, including the charges against him, will likely remain sealed.

Three pirates were killed by U.S. Navy Seal snipers last week, ending a five-day hostage standoff and freeing American Richard Phillips. A fourth pirate - believed to be Muse - was taken into custody by the U.S. Navy before the standoff ended.

Muse, speaking through an interpreter, said little before the hearing was closed, other than short responses to the judge’s questions. His lawyers said he wouldn’t give testify to the court during the closed hearing.

When asked if he understand that attorneys were being appointed for him, Muse said, “I understand. I don’t have any money.”
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Judge Deciding Whether Alleged Pirate Is A Juvenile
By Chad Bray
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

NEW YORK — A U.S. judge has sealed a hearing involving a Somali teenager accused in hostage-taking of the captain of an American-flagged cargo ship earlier this month to consider whether the youth is a juvenile.

Philip L. Weinstein, a lawyer for Muse, said he spoke with his client’s father, who said the teenager’s birth date is November 1993, which would make him 15 years old.

Prosecutors said they believe they have evidence that he’s an adult and indicated that includes statements Muse made to authorities.

“We’re trying to accommodate First Amendment interests versus Fifth Amendment interests,” the judge said.

Members of the media, including Dow Jones Newswires, objected to the hearing being closed.

If the judge rules Muse is a juvenile, the record, including the charges against him, will likely remain sealed.

Three pirates were killed by U.S. Navy Seal snipers last week, ending a five-day hostage standoff and freeing American Richard Phillips. A fourth pirate — believed to be Muse — was taken into custody by the U.S. Navy before the standoff ended.

When asked if he understood that attorneys were being appointed for him, Muse said, “I understand. I don’t have any money.”

Muse appeared at the hearing wearing blue prison garb. His left hand was wrapped in a large white bandage.

Peck, the judge, indicated that he had reviewed the complaint against Muse before the afternoon hearing and had a brief closed conference with lawyers when the juvenile issue was initially raised.

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