Piracy Report Independent Global Incident Analysis

PIRACY REPORT MAY 2016 ______

Piracy and Acts of Armed Robbery of Ships

For Monthly Reports Please contact Lydelle Joubert [email protected]

 Incidents of piracy and robbery of vessels in Incidents Southeast Asia are lower in 2016 compared to 2014 and 2015. Seven of the nine incidents reported in May 2016 were robberies or attempted robberies at anchorages.

 A product tanker was hijacked approximately 21nm South of Pulau Serutu, Indonesia in May 2016. The Indonesian Navy intercepted the vessel and arrested nine suspects.

 The 10 hostages kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) from the tug, Brahma 12 and the four from the tug, Henry were released for ransom in May 2016. In two online videos, the ASG threatens to behead one of the two remaining foreign hostages kidnapped from Samal if ransom 2016 demands are not met by 15:00LT on 13 June 2016. Incidents

 Kidnappings occured on smaller and slower vessels in the Sulu and Celebes Seas off the Philippines. ASG kidnapped crew over large distances. The Samal hostages were taken almost 400nm from Sulu. The group also used surveillance prior to kidnappings..

 A trilateral technical meeting between Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia was held on 26 May 2016 in order to draft a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on maritime security in the Sulu Sea.

 The highest concentration of incidents in 2016 to date was recorded off Bayelsa and Rivers states, Nigeria. 30 attacks were reported in this area. May 2016 Armed guards repelled four attacks on tankers off Incidents Bayelsa in May 2016. Attacks off and on the internal waterways of Bayelsa and Rivers are likely to continue in the near future. Militants bombed several facilities in May 2016 and it is likely that the conflict will keep on spilling over to the maritime domain.

 Incidents in India can be described as petty theft. One incident was reported at Kandla Port in May 2016. Eight incidents were reported since January 2016 at Kandla Port and Anchorages.

 Seven cases of robbery were recorded in Chinese anchorages in 2016. Robbers steal fuel, fire fighting equipment and ship’s stores. Often the robberies go unnoticed until several hours later.

Incidents of Piracy and Robbery of Vessels: 2014 to 2016

35 SE Asia 30

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 16

14 West Africa

0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

8 Indian Sub-Continent

7 2014 6 2015 5 2016 4 Linear (2014) 3 Linear (2015) 2 Linear (2016) 1

0 MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016

EAST AFRICA AND ARADIAN GULF WEST AFRICA INDIAN SUB CONT SE ASIA SOUTH AMERICA

11 32

40 6 20

Type Vessel Code

20 Barge B Bulk Carrier BC Cargo ship CS Coast Guard/ PB Patrol Boat Container C 15 Dhow D Ferry F Fishing Boat FB Fishing Trawler FV Offshore Supply OSV Vessel 10 Passenger Boat PMB Roll-on-Roll-off Cargo Ship Ro-Ro Tanker MT Tug TB 5 Yacht SY

0 Ro- B BC CS PB C D F FB FV OSV PMB MT TB SY Ro Americas 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 Indian Sub Continent 2 1 2 2 11 2 SE Asia 2 10 1 3 1 1 1 6 5 West Africa 2 1 1 2 1 3 2 1 20 2 East Africa/Arabian Gulf 2 4

7/05/2016. Hai Soon 12. Product Tanker. Hijacked. Intercepted by Indonesian Navy.

Incidents in Southeast Asia are lower in 2016 compared to the preceding two years. Nine incidents were reported in May 2016. Seven incidents were recorded in anchorages. A robberies and a attempted robbery were reported at Batam Anchorage, Indonesia. Two robberies were also reported at Samarinda, Indonesia. A tanker was hijacked south of Pulau Serutu, Indonesia in international waters.

 7 May 2016 – Hai Soon 12, a Kiribati flagged product tanker was hijacked by armed pirates approximately 21nm South of Pulau Serutu, Indonesia.1 The pirates changed the vessel’s name to KM Aiso. The IMB PRC sent a broadcast to all vessels to help in locating the Hay Soon 12. Indonesia Navy patrol boats intercepted the vessel after chasing it for eight hours. Nine suspects were detained. According to the pirates the plan was to transfer the oil to a Malaysian flagged tanker.2

Feedback ASG Hijackings of Vessels and Kidnapping Incidents in the Philippines

 1 May 2016 – The hostages kidnapped from the Indonesian flagged tug, Brahma 12 on 25 March 2016 were delivered to the home of provincial governor Abdusakur Tan Jnr’s on Jolo Island, Philippines.3

Copyright © 2015 L. Joubert 6  3 May 2016 – In a video posted on the Internet, ASG threatened to behead one of the two remaining foreign hostages kidnapped from Samal if their ransom demands are not met before 15:00LT on 13 June 2016. The male hostages were dressed in orange t-shirts and Marites Flor, the Filipino hostage, had her hair covered.4 In another video posted on the weekend of 18 May 2016 the hostages pleaded to incoming Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, the Norwegian and Canadian governments to pay the ransom by 13 June 2016. Marites Flor addressed Duterte in Filipino.5

 11 May 2016 – The four hostages kidnapped from the Indonesian flagged tug, Henry off Sitangkai island, Tawi-Tawi on 15 April 2016 were released. They were once again dropped at the home of provincial governor Abdusakur Tan Jnr on Jolo.6

Abu Sayyaf Group and Attacks on Vessels – The Usual Suspects

In April 2014 the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) kidnapped two Germans from their yacht, Catherine off Palawan, Philippines. This was however not a new trend. ASG first resorted to maritime kidnappings on 11 April 2004 when they kidnapped three crew members for ransom from the tug East Ocean 2 off Taganak Island in the Sulu Sea.7 Ransom never materialized and the three hostages died in captivity.8

In a way the roots of the ASG were already laid in the 14th century, when Muslim traders brought Islam to the Philippines. When Ferdinand Magellan arrived in this region in 1521 he found a loose network of fiefdoms. The Spaniards set the task to convert Muslims to Christianity which was achieved with reasonable success with exception to the South. The South was occupied by a group of people with a strong identity as Pilipino Muslims. The Spaniards called them the Moros, a term derived from the word Moor which was the name given to the black Muslims from North Africa.

This historical backdrop formed the basis for the conflict that still exists today between this Muslim minority and the Christian majority and the fight of the Moro people for an independent and autonomous Muslim state. The struggle became known for high levels of violence and banditry. Organizations such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) were formed as a result of this struggle for autonomy in the 1970s. In the 1970s more than 120 000 people died as a result of skirmishes between the Philippine Armed Forces (PAF) and the MNLF. Negotiations between government and the MNLF led to an agreement in 1996 determining that the MNLF would give up their fight for an independent state in return of an autonomous Muslim region.

In the early 1990s some members of the MNLF associated with Abubakar Janjalani became disillusioned with the MNLF and formed the Mujadeen Commando Freedom Fighters (MCFF). While fighting in Afghanistan, Janjalani got the nickname Abu Sayyaf after an Afghan leader Professor Abdul Rasul Sayyaf. The group became known as the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

In 1991 the ASG bombed the MV Doulos, a Christian missionary ship docked in Zamboanga. A terror campaign followed marked with bombings, beheadings and kidnappings which focused on Christians and foreigners.9 With the death of Janjalani in 1998 the ASG divided into two factions under Janjalani’s brother Khadaffy Janjalani and Ghalib Andang or Commander Robot. The Andang faction evolved into a criminal gang focussing on monetary gain through kidnap for ransom.

AGS’s connection with Al Qaeda stems from Janjalani’s connection with Bin Laden in Afghanistan. ASG received funding and training from Al Qaeda. After the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US, the US deployed 1 650 troops to the Philippines as part of their campaign to target Al Qaeda and their affiliates under Operation Enduring Freedom. The capture of Andang in 2003 led to the consolidation of power under Khadaffi Janjalani. Under his command the organization went on a spree of mass bombings.

Radulan Sahiron (Cmdr Putol) Transport. Spokesperson 2 x Germans Hatib Hajan SY Catherine – Sawadjaan 2014

Boat owner

Muammar Askali Ambrin Absara

Alhabsy Misaya

4 x hostages Idang Susukan Brown Muktadil Samal - 2015 Angah Adji Nickson Muktadil

Mohammad Said

Furuji Indama

Julhajan Aksan 10 x hostages Bandajar Dangin Brahma 12 - 2016 Arrested Tirso Orquiza Lugnasin Yasser Igasan

Guarding Surveillance

Cmdr. Waning

Suspects in Recent Maritime Kidnappings10

In February 2004 the group bombed SuperFerry 14 in Manila Bay. 116 people lost their lives. This phase lasted until Khadaffi’s death in 2006. Once again the leadership was fragmented. The ASG once again resolved to kidnapping for ransom to fund their upkeep and to fund operations. At this stage the ASG functioned more like a criminal gang.11

Currently ASG has between 200 and 500 functioning members and 2 000 supporters.12 Members have family ties with members of the police and local government.13 The leadership is fragmented. In July 2014 one of the leaders, Isnilon Hapilon swore allegiance to ISIS in an online video.14 Since then the black flag appeared in videos posted online.

In April 2014 the ASG and affiliated groups once again started to kidnap crew from vessels with the kidnapping of the two Germans in Palawan. Since then ASG kidnapped a total of 26 people from vessels in seven separate incidents. Kidnappings occur on smaller and slower vessels such as tugs and barges, yachts, fishing vessels and passenger boats.

It is indicated that the Tanum Group from Patikul is at the centre of maritime kidnappings.15 The leader of this group is Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan. He is in his 60s and leads a group of Abu Sayyaf members in their 20s, which include several orphaned sons of Abu Sayyaf fighters.16

AGS launches operations from Sulu and transports hostages over large distances on sea. They also manage to evade pursuit. ASG has a proven maritime capability and has used maritime kidnappings from resorts to fund their terrorist activities for over a decade. There are several similarities in the execution of the kidnapping of four yacht crew from the Ocean View Marina in Samal in 2015 to prior resort kidnappings.

A surveillance team under Cmdr. Waning reportedly posed as fishermen in Samal to case-out the Ocean View Marina prior to the kidnappings. Hostages are often split in groups and moved from location to location to foil rescue operations.

AGS uses social media to apply pressure on governments and families to meet their ransom demands. Beheadings are used to terrorize families of hostages and the governments involved to pay ransom. Video clips on social media are used for this purpose.

Currently regional armed forces increased efforts to secure the Sulu and Celebes Seas. A trilateral technical meeting between Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia was held on 26 May 2016 to draft a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on maritime security in the Sulu Sea.17

The Philippines on its own won’t have the patrol boats or budget to sustain these operations on the long run. Their efforts are further diverted to the South China Sea border dispute with China More than 80 percent of the US $ 50 million funding for the United States Southeast Asia Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) will be allocated to the Philippines in 2016. Although the bulk of these funds are earmarked to improve their maritime capabilities in the South China Sea, security in the Celebes and Sulu Seas will also be reinforced.18

Five late reports were received of robberies from Bulk Carriers, Tankers and a Ore Carrier in Chinese anchorages in April 2016 Robbers steal fuel, fire nozzles and ship’s stores. Often the robbers steal fuel with a hose without being noticed. Seven robberies were recorded in 2016.

Three incidents on vessels were reported in India and Bangladesh in May 2016. A tanker was robbed at Kandla Port, India. Two attempted robberies were reported. At Visakhapatnam, India robbers tried to steal stores from a Tanker. At Chittagong C Anchorage, Bangladesh, seven robbers in a small boat attempted to board a container ship.

Five incidents were reported in West Africa in May 2016. Seven robbers in a wooden boat approached a product tanker at Lomé Anchorage, Togo.. One robber succeeded in boarding but fled after being spotted. Four attacks were reported on tankers off Nigeria, all unsuccessful. In all four cases the pirates aborted the attacks after armed guards returned fire.

Feedback Kidnappings

9 May 2016 – The five crew members kidnapped from the MT Sampatiki 30nm from Bonga, Nigeria on 26 March 2016 were released.

Two incidents were reported on the east coast of Africa in May 2016. Ship’s stores were stolen from the product tanker, Pacific Zircon in Mombasa Port, Kenya.19 Crew’s cash and property were also stolen from the LPG Tanker, Berlian Ekuator at Island View, Durban Port, South Africa.20

On 12 May 2016 the LPG Tanker, Irmgard Schulte was boarded by four robbers armed with steal pipes at Port Jose Anchorage, Barcelona, Venezuela. Ship’s stores were stolen.21

1. http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/104582/indonesia-foils-attempt-to-hijack-singaporean-ship viewed 12/05/2016 2. https://icc-ccs.org/piracy-reporting-centre/live-piracy-report/details/151/1175 viewed 4/04/2016. 3. https://www.yahoo.com/news/militants-threatened-slit-throats-indonesian-hostage- 114847858.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw viewed 25/05/2016 4. http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/05/24/Abu-Sayyaf-hostage-video.html 5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfQGfj78H8M 6. http://print.kompas.com/baca/2016/05/12/The-Release-of-Indonesian-Citizens-a-Result-of-Joi viewed 12/05/2016 7. https://gisis.imo.org 8. http://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/search/IncidentSummary.aspx?gtdid=200404130001 viewed 8/06/2016. 9. Atkinson, G, “Abu Sayyaf: The Father of the Swordsman”, American Security Project, March 2012. 10. http://dzrhnews.com/duterte-confirms-one-suspects-samal-kidnapping-arrested; ; http://www.gulf- times.com/asean-philippines/188/details/456501/kidnappers%E2%80%99-boat-recovered-in-sulu; http://www.zamboangatimes.ph/top-news/16327-military-police-not-convinced-abus-behind-samal- kidnapping.html; http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/538723/news/regions/samal-kidnap-victims- reportedly-seen-with-abu-sayyaf-in-sulu; http://retiredanalyst.blogspot.com; http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Philippines/philippines-palawan-rio-tubbataha-german-couple- abducted-from-yacht viewed 19/05/2014; http://www.journal.com.ph/news/provincial/10-indon-fishers- snatched-by-asg-men-in-tawi-tawi; www.philstar.com/.../what-you-need-to-know-about-the-abu-sayy... 11. http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/152 viewed 25/05/2016 12. http://tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/religion-geopolitics/commentaries/backgrounder/what-abu-sayyaf 13. http://www.benarnews.org/english/commentaries/asia-pacific-threat-update/gunaratna-lanao- 05162016122052.html 14. www.philstar.com/.../what-you-need-to-know-about-the-abu-sayy.. 15. http://www.gulf-times.com/asean-philippines/188/details/456501/kidnappers%E2%80%99-boat-recovered- in-sulu 16. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/725191/military-suspects-abductors-from-sulu 17. http://www.asket.co.uk/#!Standard-Operating-Procedure-SOP-on-Maritime-Security-in-the-Sulu- Sea/n0226/57469bea0cf2c662486f1543 18. http://cogitasia.com/the-overlooked-gap-in-the-southeast-asia-maritime-security-initiative/ 19. https://icc-ccs.org/piracy-reporting-centre/live-piracy-report/details/151/1206 viewed 10/05/2016 20. https://gisis.imo.org/Public/PAR/Incident.aspx?Action=View&ID=7338 viewed 30/05/2016 21. https://icc-ccs.org/piracy-reporting-centre/live-piracy-report/details/151/1213 viewed 16/05/2016