A FRENCH military operation to free a yacht hijacked by Somali pirates backfired yesterday when one of the hostages was killed, highlighting the perils facing US forces trying to free an American seaman being held captive in a parallel pirate stand-off.
Four French hostages, including a three-year-old child, were rescued on board the Tanit, which was hijacked en route to Zanzibar last weekend. Two pirates also died in the raid, said President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office.
Despite the death of one of the hostages, the French government stood by the commando-style tactics – which they have used before – and stressed that they would not give in to pirates running amok in the Indian Ocean, who have seized dozens of vessels for ransom over the past year.
“During the operation, a hostage sadly died,” a statement from Mr Sarkozy’s office said. But it added that the president “confirms France’s determination not to give in to blackmail, and to defeat the pirates”.
French officials had privately expressed exasperation at the determination of the Tanit’s crew, which included Chloe and Florent Lemacon from Brittany and their son Colin, to persist with their expedition to east Africa, despite the parlous security situation in the region. One official said the couple had been repeatedly warned about their adventure.
France has taken a very robust approach to the piracy scourge threatening global shipping through the vital Gulf of Aden-Indian Ocean conduit. Twice it has sought to make pirates pay for their actions; firstly last April, by pursuing the bandits on land through Somalia; and then in September, by successfully storming a seized French yacht.
But the unfortunate outcome of yesterday’s operation underscored the formidable difficulties facing taskforces policing the treacherous waters off east Africa.
In particular, it will focus attention on the US military as it confronts a hostage crisis unfolding further north off the Horn of Africa, where a US ship captain is being held by four gunmen adrift in a lifeboat.
Richard Phillips offered himself up as a hostage to persuade the armed bandits to leave his ship, the Maersk Alabama, which was seized on Wednesday. The US quickly dispatched a destroyer, the USS Bainbridge, to the scene. The warship is prowling several hundred yards away from the drifting launch.
At one point early yesterday, Capt Phillips tried to escape by swimming to the destroyer. The four pirates quickly jumped in and hauled him back aboard. Later, allies of the pirates told Reuters that they wanted $2 million (€1,520,000) for their captive.
Last night pirates released the Norwegian-owned MT Bow Asir tanker after receiving a ransom payment from owners, pirate sources said. A spokesman for operator Salhus Shipping AS confirmed the vessel was released, and that the 27-member crew was unharmed but declined to say if it paid any ransom or give details about any negotiations with the pirates.
After a winter lull, the epidemic of piracy in the Indian Ocean has rapidly re-emerged in recent days. Various gangs based along Somalia’s Indian Ocean coast are holding 18 foreign ships – including five taken this week – and more than 250 hostages. Success last year, when they netted tens of millions of euro in ransoms, has allowed the pirates to invest in new boats and equipment, enabling them to attack far out to sea.
The hijacking of the Alabama is believed to be the first pirate attack on an American-flagged merchant ship in 200 years. Last night, a pirate source told Reuters that associates were heading towards the scene of the stand-off on a captive German vessel, with foreign hostages on board to be used as human shields.
But with at least two other US warships approaching, it was unclear whether the pirates would dare, or be allowed, to get near the lifeboat, which has run out of fuel.
“Other pirates want to come and help their friends, but that would be like sentencing themselves to death,” said Andrew Mwangura, co-ordinator of the East African Seafarers’ Assistance Programme, which monitors the region’s seas.
Some observers believe the American stalemate can be resolved without ransom or bloodshed. Mr Mwangura, who has closely followed dozens of negotiations with pirate gangs, said he expected Capt Phillips would be released in exchange for guaranteed safe passage back to Somalia for the gunmen. “I think this will be resolved in the next day or two,” he said. – (Guardian service)