Govt strategy to deal with sea piracy

NEW DELHI: As sea pirates continued to hold 18 Indians hostage aboard a ship off the Somalian coast, the government on Wednesday said it is formulating a strategy to deal with the increasing threat of piracy in high seas but ruled out "hot pursuit" as a policy to meet the challenge.
    
Defence Minister A K Antony said "serious attempt" is being made to secure release of the Indians held hostage on the Panama ship, MV Stolt Valor, which was hijacked by pirates from Gulf of Aden in northern part of the African coast 16 days back.
     
"Piracy in the high seas is becoming a serious problem and all nations, mainly those in the Indian Ocean region (IOR), are concerned about it," he said when asked about the fate of the Indians aboard the hijacked ship.
     
"The government is in the process of finalising a strategy to meet the increasing threat of piracy in the high seas," he said on the sidelines of a function on Defence Accounts Day.
     
He, however, ruled out government following any policy of "hot pursuit" as "it has wider implications."
     
His comments came amid repeated demands by the families of the Indians held hostage on the hijacked ship that the government should act to secure their release. The families even staged a demonstration here yesterday to press their demand.
     
Pointing out that the government was applying its mind seriously by discussing the strategy with various departments, Antony said a policy on the response system to piracy would have to be taken at the highest levels.

Recalling that the Indian Navy had in February this year organised a symposium involving Navies of the IOR countries, the Defence Minister said they were trying to formulate an international charter to deal with the menace.

"The Indian Navy is in touch with other navies on this, since piracy occurs in the IOR, especially in Somalian waters and other areas. We are in the process of discussing the charter proposals with other navies of the region.
    
"Ultimately, after deliberations by all agencies, a decision will have to be taken by the government at the highest level," Antony said.
    
Acknowledging that piracy was a matter of major concern for the countrymen, especially the abducted sailors' families, the Defence Minister said negotiations to secure the abducted personnel's release was in progress.
    
"The ship is already in a Somalian port. It is not an Indian ship, but registered in Hong Kong. We are closely monitoring the situation and some negotiations are also going on to find a solution. Serious attempt is being made on this issue," he added.
    
There has been no breakthrough yet in the negotiations between international maritime bodies and the shipping company on one side and the pirates on the other.