The Issue of Piracy off the Coast of Somalia India’s Stand

India’s Profile  India has a strong and developing maritime industry.  Natural advantage: large geography, large young population, long coastline – 7 th largest in Area: 2,973,193 sq km – 2 nd in population: 1,173,108,018 – 7500 km coastline  20th in international trade.

India’s Profile Top ten largest trading partners of India ( ) CountryTotal TradeTrade Balance China PRP163,202-92,676 USA155,35312,254 United Arab Emirates152, Saudi Arabia105, Germany67, Singapore63, UK Hong Kong50, Belgium Netherland Source: Federal Ministry of Commerce, Government of India

Indo-Somalia ties  India shared bilateral relations with Somalia  India and Somalia enjoyed excellent political, economical and cultural relationship previously  In recent years, India has also aided in peace keeping operations in Somalia  Somalia has sought India's help in training of disarmed militias, rehabilitation, modernization and equipment of the reactivated military and police camps, training of staff in human health sector and rehabilitation of public infrastructures.

Situation Analysis Somali Piracy Foreign Exploitation Illegal Fishing Illegal Waste Disposal Political Instability Disintegration of Armed Force Inadequacy of Government Weaponry Funding Yemen

Situation Analysis: Foreign Exploitation  Illegal Fishing:  The UK's Department for International Development (DFID) report (2005)  , Somalia lost over $100 million dollars in revenue due to illegal tuna and shrimp fishing in the country's exclusive economic zone by foreign trawlers.  More than $300m-worth of tuna, shrimp, and lobster has been lost in recent years  71% of Somali labour force involved in Agriculture  29% of the labour force is involved in Industry and Service  With the access foreign trawlers invading Somali exclusive economic zones  73% of Somali fisherman turned to piracy  Hence little alternatives careers besides fishing

Situation Analysis: Foreign Exploitation  Illegal Waste Disposal:  Reports show, after the collapse of the Somali Government in 1991  Increase “mysterious” ships appearing off Somalia’s Coast  No hard evidence in which determines waste disposal’s origins  Signs of nuclear and industrial wastes within waters  Cause dwindling sources of marine agriculture to deplete at even faster rate.  No legitimate way in which disposal can be stopped

Situation Analysis: Political Instability  Disintegration of Armed Force:  Collapse of the Government in 1991  Led to the de facto dissolution of the national armed forces.  Subsequent disbanding of Somali Navy  No stable Navy till June 2009  The Somali navy was re-established with a new commander appointed: Admiral Farah Omar Ahmed  May 2010, construction of new naval base in the town of Bandar Siyada  Somali piracy reasoned as an unofficial “Navy”  Lack of stable navy militants to protect exclusive waters in past decade and predicted 12 years to come.

Situation Analysis: Political Instability  Inadequacy of Government:  Inconsistent Legal System  No national system  A mixture of English common law, Italian law, Islamic sharia law, and Somali customary law  Inapt Education system  50% of Somali children enrolled in elementary schools  7% enrolled in high school  Less than 1% were in institutions of higher learning.  Literacy level 25%  Lack of proper Legal and Education system result in the inability for locals to obtain better or alternative careers

Situation Analysis: Weaponry & Funding  Yemen:  SANA'A, Dec. 27— A UN investigation found Yemen is the primary source of arms and ammunition  Somalia which has been under an arms embargo since  Yemeni government's inability to stem the large scale arms trafficking is "a key obstacle to the restoration of peace and security to Somalia…”  The UN Security Council extended the monitoring group's mandate for another year.  No direct actions have been taken against Yemen for the supply of weaponry

India’s Stand  It is expected that the epicentre of maritime trade would touch India in the near future.  India supports the United Nation’s resolution to combat Somali piracy in that region to protect maritime industry.  Welcomes support from countries  Especially countries in which are main trading partners with India and countries whose trade routes are generally affected by Somali piracy

Proposed Solutions

Proposed Solutions: Provision of Aid  Long-term developmental Aid  Development of suitable education system  Aim to increase literacy level in Somalia  Provision of necessary equipment and material in which is needed for education  Development of raw material industry  Largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves  Aid in developing a stable political system, development of areas near resource  Provide suitable conditions in which attract investors to Somalia  Hence increasing employment rate in Somalia  Also providing more skills training and transfer of technology and knowledge from the investor’s country

Proposed Solutions: Direct Combating of Piracy  Provision of War Ships in areas where Piracy rates are high  Areas Include: 1.Gulf of Aden 2.Coastlines of Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania  Provide short-term protection against piracy  To ease situation while development acts are underway  To protect vessels which are travelling through these regions

Proposed Solutions: Development in Naval Security  Aid Somalia in their Military development  Provide Somali Navy in skills training and operations of Naval Ships  Allow Somali Navy to be able to guard its own waters from foreign trawlers and waste disposal ships  Increase the amount of Militants  Increase job ability and military size  Provide more incentives for new recruits

Conclusion  India has already begun aiding Somalia’s development and also in peacekeeping activities in Somalia  Somalia would more readily accept India’s aid due to their previous relations and requests.  India’s position in the World Trade Organisation(WTO) can help aid Somalia like the many other developing countries we have already represented in WTO meetings.  Prior experience in aiding developing nations such as Korea, Egypt and Congo in earlier years, Angola and Rwanda in recent years.