Over the last few months OCEANUSLive has regularly posted articles (main site) featuring matters relating to counter piracy and its threat to the island nation of the Seychelles.
Specifically, we have, whenever possible, posted updates on the appalling situation of two Seychellois fishermen, Rolly Tambara (70) and Marc Songoire (63), kidnapped by Somali pirates 65 miles west of the island of Mahe, the main island, on 30 October, but not reported until 2 November 2011.
Following the outrageous demands by the pirates for a $20 million ransom, and prisoner swap from Seychelles and other countries, a mission to release the fishermen was undertaken.
To the exultation of the Seychellois people, the President of the Seychelles, “– who is also the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces – congratulated the Seychelles ‘Negotiation Team’ for successfully ensuring the release of Mr Tambara and Mr Songoire in a high-risk security operation that was effected without incident”. He went on to say, "they were rescued through an operation with the help of other governments who provided necessary support.”
So, just over a year in captivity at the hands of Somali pirates, having been forced to head to the coast at Hobyo, then being moved inland to Adado, the elderly fishermen were treated inhumanly by countrymen of the same continent. The joy at their release was not only a cause for celebration of their respective families and friends, but also for the government and the Seychellois people as a whole. And celebrate they have done since the two men arrived back in the Seychelles on Monday, 5 November 2012.
However, this is the part of the saga that has surprised many observers on the island and in other countries; the lack of transparency of the operation to release the men, and why the details of the operation were not made more public. The prevailing notion is that in order for the 'negotiations' to be used as a warning to Somali pirates to make them think twice before carrying out their criminal activities near the Seychelles, or indeed, taking any Seychellois hostage. Something akin to the reputation that Russian and Malaysian forces have following previous rescue missions.
A Seychelles newspaper, Le Seychellois in a piece by Wavel Ramkalawan states the intense feeling of the islanders:
Welcome Home, Marc & Rolly
“Our prayers have been answered. God is so good.” These were the words most uttered when our two Seychellois brothers arrived back in Seychelles following a one year ordeal in Somalia as hostages of ruthless Somalian pirates.
We are all so grateful to the Almighty for having protected and given them and their families the courage to endure each day of their captivity. Our prayer is that they recover from that terrible experience and catch up with these missing 54 weeks, as they enjoy the presence of their loved ones.
Their experience teaches us a lot of lessons on human behaviour. In the first place let us take a look at the pirates who captured them. They showed no respect whatsoever for the two innocent men, both aged over 60, in a small fishing boat with engine problems. Rolly and Marc had no appearance of being wealthy people, but rather two hard working fishermen trying to earn a living. There was no compassion whatsoever on the part of these Somalian pirates.
Secondly, let us look at the masters of these pirates. Again there are no human feelings exhibited. Instead of showing some decency and realizing that these two elderly gentlemen should not be made to endure such suffering, their first thought was money. One would have thought that at least they would have seen their own fathers in Marc and Rolly and would have given an African sentiment of respect for the elderly. But it was not to be. This is an indication of how low they have stooped.
On another level, one would have expected a softer approach to negotiations. But there again, it was not to be. The two oldest Seychellois to be taken hostage were to be the ones to be kept the longest in captivity. This is what the pirates decided and this is what they executed.
These pirates who mistreated our two brothers and others before them, have the same frame of mind as those in our prisons. We respect human rights even if they don’t. Should the ones over here, with the same ruthless and merciless attitude not be taken to task for their behaviour? Should the punishment for piracy not be harsher than what they are receiving right now? I believe so. They should not be made to believe they are in a 5 star hotel on full board, medical treatment included. They should be paying for their crime and their lodging in our prison.
Somalian pirates in our prison should be on hard labour. The 100 or so of them should be made to work hard in the development of our country. One hundred strong men who exposed their lives to be
on the ocean doing wrong should now be made to use that same energy to do what is right. They should be involved in teams cleaning the environment, getting rid of all the invasive plants that are taking over our forests, making sure there is no rubbish in our rivers and marshes, planting to feed our people, and doing other jobs that will ensure that they learn a new way of living to earn a decent living.
Seeing the state of our two fellow citizens has hardened the hearts of the Seychellois. The Seychellois believe that a new approach should now be taken. If they could treat our respected elderly the way they did, should they not receive proportionate punishment they duly deserve? As we give thanks for the safe return of Marc and Rolly, let us also pray for the end of the scourge of piracy and a new beginning for Somalia.
As seen above, the ire is turned on the Somali pirates serving prison sentences in the comparative luxury of an improved mountainside prison, but it is somewhat of a surprise how quickly collective joy and celebration has turned to anger a resentment of the government that took the step to conduct a mission on Somali territory. The US Navy SEALs conducted a mission to rescue two aid workers earlier this year, and EU naval forces carried out a land attack on a Somali pirate logistic area, but such actions are few.
As Rolly and Marc begin the long journey to recover from the ordeal and return to a semblance of normality, spare a though for over 150 seafarers that remain hostage at the hands of ruthless pirates. No such rescue is in sight for them.
