Pirates Seize Filipino Ship Off Somalia

20 Sailors Said To Be Aboard; Philippine Government Says No Ransom Will Be Paid

(AP)  A cargo ship with 20 Filipino sailors has been hijacked off the coast of Somalia, a Philippine official said Wednesday.

Pirates climbed aboard the bulk carrier Stella Maris on Sunday and seized the ship in the Gulf of Aden, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Estaban Conejos told reporters.

He said the Japanese owner has been is contact with the crew and they are safe. The ship was located off the northeastern tip of Somalia, he said.

Conejos ruled out paying a ransom to free the hostages, saying it is against the Philippine government's policy.

"We look toward the local manning agents and the ship owner and the host country because they have the responsibility to ensure the safety and the earliest release of the crew," he said.

Pirate attacks in Somalia and Nigeria have gone up in the first quarter of 2008, making Africa the world's top piracy hotspot, the International Maritime Bureau reported earlier this month.

In April, Somali pirates seized a luxury French yacht with 30 crew, including 22 French and six Filipinos. A week later, French troops arrested six pirates after the hostages were released.

[downsteamjim]

Islam at work.

[cfin5]

Grant them a speedy trial,.....Trail by Sharks that is. I guarantee that their "jury" will not be prejudiced.

[cfin5]

I guess according to the article, in my view, this is a golden opportunity for the Japanese military''s elites to defend their property rights......Times a wasting guys. Make them "not there".

[libsluv2spit]

I guess poverty in africa DID NOT END after Live8 as promised..

[jboxton]

AAAaaaargh!

[legacyabq]

well, the thing is that governments (publicly at least) always say they don''t pay ransoms. If they did, then every criminal on the high seas would lunge for that country''s ships, in order to get ransom. If there''s no profit in it, theres no motivation to try and ransom people. Duh. They''re not "heartless", they are protecting the intersts of their country. This is their job. They''ll be released, you''ll see...

[checkthepast]

I have several Filipino relatives that work in shipping and make a good living at it. Like it is everywhere, it depends on who you work for. A lot of shipping companies are legit and take care of the employees. But there is trash and cheats in all professions around the world. Ransom only breeds kidnappings.

[janairah]

THIS IS SO SAD. IT''S JUST LIKE SAYING THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE HOSTAGES AT ALL. THEY ARE LIKE COLD BLOODED MURDERERS, AND THEY HAVE THE AUDACITY TO CALL THEMSELVES PUBLIC SERVANTS?
TSK....TSK....TSK SUCH A SHAME!!

[brianbwb-2009]

"Conejos ruled out paying a ransom to free the hostages, saying it is against the Philippine government''s policy."

If it was made public how much these crewmen are paid for their labor, a more accurate statement would be "their lives aren''t worth any ransom, we can always get more, so you might as well kill them".

Countries like the Phillippines, and Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar, etc., are Republican''s fondest dreams, the populace is kept at, or below poverty levels, while the company owners become some of the world''s richest people.

If the ransom was $100 us dollar per person, it would probably be a month''s labor for the workers, and still the richest wouldn''t care, they will just hire more, and write off the goods as business losses to offset taxes.

And for the Americans who think this to be a sick analysis, you will soon see that it is an example of your own, and your children''s future under neocon governance.