1. Lum Yi Brandon Tan

2. Spain and Somali pirates Spanish tuna fishing vessel, Alakrana, was seized on October 2 2009 by pirates off the coast of Somali On 3 October, two pirates leaving the Alakrana were arrested by the Spanish warship CANARIAS. On 15 November, the Alakrana was released after reportedly a $3.3mil ransom. Spanish navy captured eight suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia on 25 April 2010.

3. Spain- Somali Ties No direct ties between Spain and Somalia, thus it is with much difficulty if we were to intervene directly in Somalia’s government. However, being part of the European Union, we plan to use this as a channel for our actions on Somali Piracy.

4. Stance on Piracy Strongly against Calls for Europe to take a tougher stance in dealing with piracy Requests the multinational naval force to block the three main ports from which Somali pirates appear to be operating.

5. Stance on Piracy Approved a Spanish draft law against piracy which calls for prison terms of up to 15 years for those found guilty of carrying out attacks on planes or ships.

6. Stance on Piracy Spain and France plan to propose an international conference on Somalia to help reclaim security and stability. The conference aims to come up with a "complete" response to the unrest in Somalia beyond 'security and military level' and focus instead on a "political, security and civil" solution.

7. Military Actions Deployment of 395 troops as part of a European Union task force. A P-3 maritime surveillance plane with 70 troops at a French air base in Djibouti. Deployment of a frigate with a helicopter and 196 troops; and later a supply ship with a helicopter and 118 more troops.

8. Other actions Authorization for Spanish ships in these waters to carry armed civilian security guards. Cannot station Marines on fishing boats as Spanish Law does not allow this

9. Solutions Deployment of more troops Defense from Somali pirates on Spanish ships or trawlers Blockades on ports to decrease pirate activities Cost of such a deployment could be high Funding of pirates Somali Diaspora mainly from Yemen and Dubai Call on UN to impose restrictions on imports into Somalia

10. Solutions Direct attacks on Somali pirates Highly impossible A policy of not attempting rescue operations and not firing on pirates unless fired on first. Lest be accused of crimes against humanity or war crimes Helping Somali’s government Difficult Spain has no ties with Somalia However can use EU as a channel for action

11. Sources http://www.barcelonareporter.com/index.php?/news/ comments/basque_trawler_alakrana_and_its_crew_u nder_somali_pirate_control_for_a_seve/ http://www.barcelonareporter.com/index.php?/news/ comments/basque_trawler_alakrana_and_its_crew_u nder_somali_pirate_control_for_a_seve/ http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/somalia- shipping.1e9 http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/somalia- shipping.1e9 http://www.eunavfor.eu/2009/10/eu-navfor-spanish- warship-canarias-arrests-two-suspected-pirates/ http://www.eunavfor.eu/2009/10/eu-navfor-spanish- warship-canarias-arrests-two-suspected-pirates/ http://www.speroforum.com/a/20630/Spain- confronts-Somali-piracy http://www.speroforum.com/a/20630/Spain- confronts-Somali-piracy

12. http://www.euronews.net/2009/11/12/spain-calls-for- blockade-of-pirate-ports/ http://www.euronews.net/2009/11/12/spain-calls-for- blockade-of-pirate-ports/ http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/01/21/spain. piracy.taskforce/ http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/01/21/spain. piracy.taskforce/ http://www.expatica.com/es/news/spanish-news/Spain- approves-tough-new-law-against-piracy-_58092.html http://www.expatica.com/es/news/spanish-news/Spain- approves-tough-new-law-against-piracy-_58092.html http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63O1YF20100425? feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedb urner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+reuters/ worldNews+(News+/+US+/+International) http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63O1YF20100425? feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedb urner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+reuters/ worldNews+(News+/+US+/+International)