The Phenomenon of Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia: Challenges and Solutions of the International Community

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Phenomenon of Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia: Challenges and Solutions of the International Community The phenomenon of Piracy off the Coast of Somalia: Challenges and Solutions of the International Community by Abbas Daher Djama United Nations – The Nippon Foundation Fellow New York, December 2011 ii DISCLAIMER The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of Djibouti, the United Nations, the Nippon Foundation of Japan or the University of Columbia. iii Abstract The phenomenon of Somali piracy has appeared several years ago and continues to pose a serious challenge to the international community. Even if piracy is an international crime for which the universal jurisdiction principle applies, states patrolling off the coast of Somalia are facing major problems in prosecuting the pirates. The doctrine of universal jurisdiction provides that any court has jurisdiction to try certain offenders who have committed international crimes like piracy. Nevertheless the specificity of Somali piracy is closely linked to the political situation of the country which is devastated by a civil war since 1991 and whose Government controls only one part of the capital. The problem is exacerbated by the geography of Somalia. More than 40% of world trade must pass through the narrow straight between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The chaotic humanitarian situation in Somalia encourages more and more people to commit acts of piracy and, due to the phenomenon of Somali piracy's considerable magnitude, this make it increasingly difficult to implement the solutions envisaged by the international community. The purpose of this research is to examine the specificity of Somali piracy, to highlight the solutions hitherto proposed and applied. Furthermore, the research tempts to envisage the role of the region in solving this issue. iv WORKING TITLE: The phenomenon of Piracy off the Coast of Somalia: Challenges and solutions of the International Community SUPERVISORS: Prof. Lori Damrosch Dr. Francois Bailet v Acronyms AMISOM African Union Mission In Somalia ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations AU African Union BCN weapons Biological, Chemical, Nuclear weapons BMP Best Management Practice CGPCS Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia COMESA Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa EAPCCO Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation EASSy Eastern African Submarine Cable System ECA Economic Commission for Africa EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone ESA-IO The Eastern and Southern Africa - Indian Ocean FAO Food and Agriculture Organization GDP Gross Domestic Product GPS Global Positioning System GPML Global Programme against Money Laundering IGAD Intergovernmental Authority on Development ILO International Labour Organization IMB International Maritime Bureau IUU Illegal Unreported and Unregulated IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) LOSC Law of the Sea Convention IAMSP International Association of Maritime Security Professionals IMO International Maritime Organization IPOA International Peace Operations Association MSP Malacca Strait Patrols NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization NGOs Non Government Organizations PCASP Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel vi PMASC Private Military Security Companies ReCAAP The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia SOLAS Safety Of Life At Sea UNCLOS United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea UN United Nations UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNOPS United Nations Office for Project Services UNSCR United Nations Security Council Resolutions UNTOC United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime USD United States Dollar SUA Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence against the Safety of Maritime Navigation TFG Transitional Federal Government VHS Video Home System VTS Vessel Traffic System WFP World Food Programme vii Acknowledgements It has been a great experience being a United Nations-Nippon Foundation Fellow. I would like to deeply thank the Nippon Foundation for awarded me this unique opportunity. I would like to extend my deepest and most sincere appreciation to Dr. François Bailet for his continuous support and endless help during the fellowship. I would like to convey my sincere gratitude to the Division for Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea (DOALOS) and all DOALOS staff member for their warm welcome. I also would like to express my profound gratitude to the Government of Djibouti, especially H.E M. Mohamed-Siad Doualeh, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Djibouti to the United Nations for supporting me towards this fellowship. I sincerely express my appreciation to Prof. Lori Damrosch, Professor of International Law at Columbia University and my Co-Supervisor, for her support and guidance during the first segment of the fellowship. This acknowledgment would have not been complete without thanking the International Program of Columbia Law School and in particular Mr. Brian Gibson and Jason Nasrallah for their support, affection and friendship. viii Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................................................. XI LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................................ XI INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................................1 PART ONE:..............................................................................................................................................................4 CHAPTER 1: INTERNATIONAL LAW ..........................................................................................................5 SECTION A: INTERNATIONAL LAW .....................................................................................................5 Paragraph 1: Classic Law of Nations ........................................................................................................................ 5 Paragraph 2: Customary International Law of Piracy............................................................................................ 9 II- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) .................................................................. 11 III- Suppression of Unlawful Acts (SUA) ......................................................................................................... 20 IV- International Law and Piracy....................................................................................................................... 28 SECTION B: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS...........................................................................36 Paragraph 1: United Nations ................................................................................................................................... 36 I- United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR).............................................................................36 II- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) ............................................................................. 48 III- International Maritime Organisation (IMO) ................................................................................................ 52 I- Contact Group on Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS)..................................................................... 56 II- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) .............................................................................................. 57 III- African Union.............................................................................................................................................. 58 IV- Interpol ........................................................................................................................................................ 59 CHAPTER 2: REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LAW.....................................................................................61 SECTION A: REGIONAL LAW................................................................................................................61 Paragraph 1: Asian Cooperation ............................................................................................................................. 61 I- Asian regional cooperation.......................................................................................................................... 61 Paragraph 2: Gulf of Aden Cooperation................................................................................................................. 69 I- The component of the Gulf of Aden Cooperation ....................................................................................... 69 II- The Eastern and Southern Africa - Indian Ocean (ESA-IO) Regional Strategy and Regional Plan of Action.......................................................................................................................................................... 73 III- Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO)........................................................... 75 IV- Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) .............................................................................. 76 V- Regional cooperation and specificities
Recommended publications
  • The Shifting Sands of Djibouti
    DECEMBER 2019 ISSUE NO. 331 The Shifting Sands of Djibouti MONTY KHANNA ABSTRACT In spite of Djibouti being one of the smallest nations in Africa, its strategic location coupled with the shifting geo-politics of the region have increased its relevance manifold. Various events have influenced the position of Djibouti in the international reckoning: the secession of Eritrea from Ethiopia, the ‘Global War on Terror’, and increasing piracy off the Horn of Africa. Today Djibouti has the distinction of hosting military bases of four major countries, including China’s first overseas base. China has also started making deep inroads into the economy of Djibouti. This has created a large vulnerability for the United States, France and Japan, all of which depend on China-controlled ports for the sustenance of their bases. (This brief is part of ORF’s series, ‘Eye on China’. Find other research in the series here: https:// www.orfonline.org/series/eye-on-china/) Attribution: Monty Khanna, “The Shifting Sands of Djibouti”, ORF Issue Brief No. 331, December 2019, Observer Research Foundation. Observer Research Foundation (ORF) is a public policy think tank that aims to influence the formulation of policies for building a strong and prosperous India. ORF pursues these goals by providing informed analyses and in-depth research, and organising events that serve as platforms for stimulating and productive discussions. ISBN 978-93-89622-23-2 © 2019 Observer Research Foundation. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, archived, retained or transmitted through print, speech or electronic media without prior written approval from ORF.
    [Show full text]
  • Statute Law Revision Bill 2007 ————————
    ———————— AN BILLE UM ATHCHO´ IRIU´ AN DLI´ REACHTU´ IL 2007 STATUTE LAW REVISION BILL 2007 ———————— Mar a tionscnaı´odh As initiated ———————— ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1. Definitions. 2. General statute law revision repeal and saver. 3. Specific repeals. 4. Assignment of short titles. 5. Amendment of Short Titles Act 1896. 6. Amendment of Short Titles Act 1962. 7. Miscellaneous amendments to post-1800 short titles. 8. Evidence of certain early statutes, etc. 9. Savings. 10. Short title and collective citation. SCHEDULE 1 Statutes retained PART 1 Pre-Union Irish Statutes 1169 to 1800 PART 2 Statutes of England 1066 to 1706 PART 3 Statutes of Great Britain 1707 to 1800 PART 4 Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801 to 1922 [No. 5 of 2007] SCHEDULE 2 Statutes Specifically Repealed PART 1 Pre-Union Irish Statutes 1169 to 1800 PART 2 Statutes of England 1066 to 1706 PART 3 Statutes of Great Britain 1707 to 1800 PART 4 Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801 to 1922 ———————— 2 Acts Referred to Bill of Rights 1688 1 Will. & Mary, Sess. 2. c. 2 Documentary Evidence Act 1868 31 & 32 Vict., c. 37 Documentary Evidence Act 1882 45 & 46 Vict., c. 9 Dower Act, 1297 25 Edw. 1, Magna Carta, c. 7 Drainage and Improvement of Lands Supplemental Act (Ireland) (No. 2) 1867 31 & 32 Vict., c. 3 Dublin Hospitals Regulation Act 1856 19 & 20 Vict., c. 110 Evidence Act 1845 8 & 9 Vict., c. 113 Forfeiture Act 1639 15 Chas., 1. c. 3 General Pier and Harbour Act 1861 Amendment Act 1862 25 & 26 Vict., c.
    [Show full text]
  • Ye Intruders Beware: Fantastical Pirates in the Golden Age of Illustration
    YE INTRUDERS BEWARE: FANTASTICAL PIRATES IN THE GOLDEN AGE OF ILLUSTRATION Anne M. Loechle Submitted to the faculty of the University Graduate School in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of the History of Art Indiana University November 2010 Accepted by the Graduate Faculty, Indiana University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Doctoral Committee _________________________________ Chairperson, Sarah Burns, Ph.D. __________________________________ Janet Kennedy, Ph.D. __________________________________ Patrick McNaughton, Ph.D. __________________________________ Beverly Stoeltje, Ph.D. November 9, 2010 ii ©2010 Anne M. Loechle ALL RIGHTS RESERVED iii Acknowledgments I am indebted to many people for the help and encouragement they have given me during the long duration of this project. From academic and financial to editorial and emotional, I was never lacking in support. I am truly thankful, not to mention lucky. Sarah Burns, my advisor and mentor, supported my ideas, cheered my successes, and patiently edited and helped me to revise my failures. I also owe her thanks for encouraging me to pursue an unorthodox topic. From the moment pirates came up during one of our meetings in the spring of 2005, I was hooked. She knew it, and she continuously suggested ways to expand the idea first into an independent study, and then into this dissertation. My dissertation committee – Janet Kennedy, Patrick McNaughton, and Beverly Stoeltje – likewise deserves my thanks for their mentoring and enthusiasm. Other scholars have graciously shared with me their knowledge and input along the way. David M. Lubin read a version of my third chapter and gave me helpful advice, opening up to me new ways of thinking about Howard Pyle in particular.
    [Show full text]
  • Strategy 2017: Creating Our Nation’S Wealth Together
    James Alix Michel President of the Republic of Seychelles Foreword Strategy 2017: Creating our nation’s wealth together Our nation has come a long way in a short time thanks to our commitment to placing people at the centre of development. This has given us the right platform for our future socio-economic development. We have also achieved a lot in the last two years in terms of re-dynamising our economy. In many ways, we are witnessing a great transformation in our economy - a transformation which reconciles our increasing growth over the last two years with our commitment to equality and social justice. All transformations of this scale and of this nature require a dynamic strategy to guide us and provide direction. Seychelles’ strategy for 2017 provides a template for sustained growth through a strategic positioning of Government as facilitator. Wealth creation which will benefit the whole population is at the heart of this approach. Full Government support is available where necessary, with the emphasis remaining on the empowerment of economic actors in the productive sectors of our economy. Tourism and fisheries will continue to be the main drivers of growth and creators of wealth. Through strategic re-investment, the expansion of revenue in these two sectors will also enable the generation of growth throughout the economy and allow new entrepreneurial initiatives to emerge in previously untapped areas. The policies developed here also take into account the shifting nature of global economic patterns and endeavour to further establish competitive niches for Seychelles. To do this, we will require increased flexibility within the Seychellois workforce and our Human Resource Development initiatives will reflect this.
    [Show full text]
  • The World Bank Seychelles COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Development Policy Financing (P174198)
    The World Bank Seychelles COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Development Policy Financing (P174198) Document of The World Bank Public Disclosure Authorized FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Report No: PGD212 INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DOCUMENT FOR A PROPOSED LOAN IN THE AMOUNT OF US$15 MILLION Public Disclosure Authorized TO THE REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES FOR A COVID-19 CRISIS RESPONSE EMERGENCY DEVELOPMENT POLICY FINANCING JUNE 11, 2020 Macroeconomics, Trade And Investment Global Practice Public Disclosure Authorized Africa Region This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only in the performance of their official duties. Its contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorization. Public Disclosure Authorized The World Bank Seychelles COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Development Policy Financing (P174198) Republic of Seychelles GOVERNMENT FISCAL YEAR January 1 – December 31 CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (Exchange Rate Effective as May 31, 2020) Currency Unit =Seychellois Rupee (SCR) US$1.00 = SCR 17.59 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AML Anti-money Laundering NDS National Development Strategy ASA Analytical and Advisory Services NGO Non-governmental Organizations AfDB African Development Bank PA Prior Actions ASP Agency for Social Protection PA Prior Action BO Beneficial Ownership PCI Policy Coordination Instrument Cat DDO Catastrophe-Deferred Drawdown PEFA Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability CBS Central Bank of Seychelles PforR Program for Results CFT Combatting the
    [Show full text]
  • Not So Different from Non-Traders: Trade Premia in the Middle East and North Africa
    Not so different from non-traders: trade premia in the Middle East and North Africa David C. Francis and Helena Schweiger Summary This paper uses a unique, comparable firm-level dataset covering more than 100 developing economies to provide a novel set of stylised facts on firms engaging in international trade in either manufacturing or services, focusing on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We show that firms in MENA are more likely to export and/or import than their counterparts elsewhere. However, we do not find the expected positive and significant productivity premia: while MENA’s larger exporters are also more productive, a large share of exporters – the comparatively low- volume ones – are no more productive than non-traders. We also confirm positive and significant productivity premia – the largest among the regions covered – for importing manufacturers. In contrast, we find no size or productivity premia for MENA firms that only sell their goods abroad. These patterns could be explained by the region’s higher barriers to buying goods from abroad. Keywords: International trade, firms, manufacturing, services, developing countries JEL Classification Number: F14, F19, F23 Contact details: David C. Francis, The World Bank Group, Development Economics, 2121 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W., Washington, D. C. 20433, USA, email: [email protected]. Helena Schweiger, One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2JN, UK, email: [email protected]. David C. Francis is a Private Sector Development Specialist at the World Bank and Helena Schweiger is a Senior Economist at the EBRD. This paper builds on the authors’ work on the joint report by the EBRD, EIB and World Bank Group on “What’s Holding Back the Private Sector in MENA? Lessons from the Enterprise Survey”.
    [Show full text]
  • Alert 2010! Report on Conflicts, Human Rights and Peacebuilding
    Alert 2010! Report on conflicts, human rights and peacebuilding Written by: Maria Cañadas Francesch Vicenç Fisas Armengol Patricia García Amado Maria Prandi Chevalier Josep Maria Royo Aspa Jordi Urgell García Pamela Urrutia Arestizábal Ana Villellas Ariño María Villellas Ariño This book is printed on chlorine-free recycled paper. Report completed on December the 31st 2009. Edited by: Icaria Editorial / Escola de Cultura de Pau, UAB Printed by: Romanyà/Valls, S.A. Verdaguer, 1, Capellades (Barcelona) Cover design: Lucas Wainer Mattosso ISBN: 978-84-9888-230-8 Legal registration number: B-16.559-2010 This report has been written by: Maria Cañadas Francesch ( human rights and transitional justice), Vicenç Fisas Armengol ( peace processes), Patricia García Amado (humanitarian emergencies and socio-political crises), Maria Prandi Chevalier ( human rights and transitional justice), Josep Maria Royo Aspa ( armed conflicts and socio-political crises), Jordi Urgell García (armed conflicts and socio-political crises), Pamela Urrutia Arestizábal ( armed conflicts and socio-political crises), Ana Villellas Ariño ( armed conflicts and socio-political crises) and María Villellas Ariño (gender and socio-political crises). Yesid Arteta Dávila and Carlos Arturo Velandia Jagua ( Colombia armed conflict’s analysis). The contents of this report may be freely reproduced and circulated provided that the source is properly quoted, with reference to the title of the report and the publisher. The authors assume full responsibility for the contents of this report. Summary Alert 2010! Report on conflict, human rights and tion for each area of study. Most of these indicators, peacebuilding is a yearbook which analyzes the state of once cross-tabulated, can also help us understand how the world in connection with conflicts and peacebuild- some factors influence others.
    [Show full text]
  • Doing Business in Africa Focus on Mauritius and Seychelles
    www.pwc.com Doing business in Africa Focus on Mauritius and Seychelles November 2015 Agenda Why this seminar? PwC Africa Desk Doing business in Mauritius DoingDoing Business in Africa • Mauritius business and Seychelles in Seychelles 2 PwC November 2015 Why this seminar? PwC 3 Interest in investing in Africa continues to grow rapidly. Need for general as well as specific hands-on information and ability to discuss new developments. Doing Business in Africa • Mauritius and Seychelles 4 PwC November 2015 Seminars so far Angola Botswana Ethiopia Kenya Mozambique Namibia Nigeria Rwanda South Africa Tanzania Zambia Doing Business in Africa • Mauritius and Seychelles 5 PwC November 2015 PwC Africa Desk PwC 6 The PwC Africa Desk The PwC Africa Desk is part of the International Tax Services team in Johannesburg Created to enhance coordinated tax service delivery across PwC in Africa The Desk is staffed by secondments from various PwC offices across Africa who provide home country contexts Countries represented include Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia Doing Business in Africa • Mauritius and Seychelles 7 PwC November 2015 Ways the Africa Desk can support you Tunisia Morocco Algeria Libya Egypt Proactively One-stop MauritaniaMali Niger Sudan informs relevant service Cape Verde Chad Eritrea parties on new Senegal Djibouti Gambia developments Guinea Bissau Burkina Benin Guinea Nigeria South Ethiopia Faso Sudan Sierra Leone Côte Central d’Ivoire African Republic Liberia Togo Somalia Ghana Cameroon Kenya Uganda São Tomé and Príncipe Democratic Gabon Rwanda Because of helicopter Republic Equatorial Guinea of Congo Burundi Congo Seychelles view, identification of Tanzania other cross-country Malawi Comoros Angola Mayotte alternatives Zambia Zimbabwe PwC offices Namibia Reunion For services in these territories Botswana Thought leadership Quick responsesplease contact a neighbouring on territory Mauritius Swaziland through AfriTax general and specific South Lesotho newsletter, One page tax questions Africa summaries per African country, country seminars, etc.
    [Show full text]
  • EIF Annual Progress Report – 2012
    egrated 2012 t In F – r d a m e c e Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) w n a o ORT h r n k E P • for trade-related assistance for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) E R L PROGRESS A ANNU EIF EIF ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT – 2012 Find out more at: www.enhancedif.org or contact: [email protected] [email protected] Published by the EIF Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Rue de Lausanne 154 1211 Geneva 21 Switzerland Tel: +41 (0)22 739 66 50 Fax: +41 (0)22 739 57 66 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.enhancedif.org tegrated In F r d a m e c e Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) w n a o h r n k E • for trade-related assistance for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) EIF ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT – 2012 This report is based on a master set of data in a data hub that has been compiled by the Executive Secretariat for the Enhanced Integrated Framework (ES) and EIF Trust Fund Manager (TFM) and partner countries of the EIF in response to requirements of the EIF Board as endorsed by the EIF Steering Committee (EIFSC). The report covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2012, providing progress on EIF implementation at programme and country levels, including the outlook for 2013. The full report in English and French can be accessed on the internet at: www.enhancedif.org A hard copy of the publication is available upon request ([email protected]).
    [Show full text]
  • The Costs, Benefits and Future of NATO's Operation Ocean Shield
    Research Paper Research Division - NATO Defense College, Rome - No. 95 – September 2013 Safe Seas at What Price? The Costs, Benefits and Future of NATO’s Operation Ocean Shield James M. Bridger1 Contents Somali piracy burst onto the global security agenda in late 2008, a year in which over 100 merchant ships were attacked and dozens hijacked for ransom. For NATO and other international actors, this wave of maritime crime was Surveying the Sea p.1 regarded as a threat to international peace and security due to its apparent and But at What Cost? p.4 possible effects on supply chain security, energy security, and pirate-terrorist Addressing Symptoms collusion. By January 2009, NATO, the European Union (EU), US-led Com- vs. Causes p.4 bined Task Force 151 (CTF-151) and a number of independent states had all deployed naval missions to the Horn of Africa. Despite these efforts however, Beyond Suppressing Piracy: the number of attacks continued to increase for the next three years as the Secondary Benefits of Operation Ocean Shield p.5 pirates expanded their geographical range in all directions. A Post-Crisis Counter-Piracy Suddenly by 2012, the number of attacks plummeted to their lowest level in Role for NATO p. 7 five years (see Graph I). Better coordinated naval patrols, improved Best Man- agement Practices for commercial ships, the increased use of armed guards A Sustainable Exit Strategy p. 8 aboard vessels and political developments within Somalia have all received credit for turning the tide against the pirates. But has the ‘war on piracy’ been won, and what kind of measures will need to remain in place to ensure that the scourge does not return? These questions are particularly significant for NATO, whose counter-piracy mission, Operation Ocean Shield, is set to ter- minate at the end of 2014.
    [Show full text]
  • Sea Piracy Law a Comparative Study Between India and United Kingdom
    International Journal of Business, Economics and Law, Vol. 1 ISSN 2289-1552 2012 SEA PIRACY LAW A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN INDIA AND UNITED KINGDOM Abishek Murthy School of Law Christ University, Bangalore, India. 1. INTERNATIONAL SEA PIRACY 1.1 Piracy “An act of boarding or attempting to board any ship with the intent to commit theft or any other crime and with the intent or capability to use force in the furtherance of that act”1. Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons travelling on the same vessel as the perpetrator (e.g. one passenger stealing from others on the same vessel). The term has been used throughout history to refer to raids across land borders by non-state agents. Piracy is the name of a specific crime under customary international law and also the name of a number of crimes under the municipal law of a number of States. It is distinguished from privateering, which is authorized by national authorities and therefore a legitimate form of war-like activity by non-state actors. Privateering is considered commerce raiding, and was outlawed by the Peace of Westphalia (1648) for signatories to those treaties. Those who engage in acts of piracy are called pirates. Historically, offenders have usually been apprehended by military personnel and tried by military tribunals. In the 21st century, the international community is facing many problems in bringing pirates to justice.2 1.2 Location & Extent of Piracy Piracy is considered a serious problem by governments and the shipping industry alike.
    [Show full text]
  • NPRC) VIP List, 2009
    Description of document: National Archives National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) VIP list, 2009 Requested date: December 2007 Released date: March 2008 Posted date: 04-January-2010 Source of document: National Personnel Records Center Military Personnel Records 9700 Page Avenue St. Louis, MO 63132-5100 Note: NPRC staff has compiled a list of prominent persons whose military records files they hold. They call this their VIP Listing. You can ask for a copy of any of these files simply by submitting a Freedom of Information Act request to the address above. The governmentattic.org web site (“the site”) is noncommercial and free to the public. The site and materials made available on the site, such as this file, are for reference only. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals have made every effort to make this information as complete and as accurate as possible, however, there may be mistakes and omissions, both typographical and in content. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information provided on the governmentattic.org web site or in this file. The public records published on the site were obtained from government agencies using proper legal channels. Each document is identified as to the source. Any concerns about the contents of the site should be directed to the agency originating the document in question. GovernmentAttic.org is not responsible for the contents of documents published on the website.
    [Show full text]