Global Voices Online

The Grapeshisha Blog, from the UAE, comments on a news report linking the Somali pirates to Dubai and other Gulf states.

Jamaica-based blogger Annie Paul happened to be reading a manuscript about pirates at a time when “the pirates of Somalia were rousing international consternation by capturing a US ship and holding its crew hostage” - and she shares an alternative perspective on this age-old profession.

Ryutaro Yanagawa (柳川龍太郎) in his podcast program Nekura Nomikon Onvoice (ネクラのみ来ん on voice) [ja] reflects upon issues related to Japanese foreign politics. In the last episode, the podcaster invites us to not forget those areas of the world, such as Darfur or Sri Lanka, that too rarely are the centre of media attention. He also expresses worry over the role of Japan abroad, particularly in Somalia, where recently the Maritime Self-Defence Forces (自衛隊, Jieitai) have been dispatched to collaborate in an anti-piracy mission.

With no clear details, its been announced that the Blue Star ship, that was hijacked by Somali pirates since September 2008, has been released. Zeinobia comments on the development.

Petro's Jotter writes that “the sailors released from the Ukrainian owned vessel ‘Faina', that was captured by Somali pirates last September, have been charged 200 USD for phonecalls made while in captivity”: “I suppose it will help offset the 3.2M USD ransom.”

Eternal Remont reports on the release of the MV Faina crew by the pirates, “a deep discount” on the ransom paid - and the future of the ship's cargo: “T-72s and assorted weapons” to be delivered to “Sudan, er, ‘Kenya.' Shipping weapons to Sudan would violate the U.N. arms embargo. That would be illegal.”

In the midst of the intense talks about the Gaza attack, Zeinobia didn't forget to shed the light on the recent hijacking of another Egyptian ship by the pirates of Somalia. She is also speculating what the Egyptian ministry of foreign affairs is going to do about the repeated threats.

MSF (Doctors without borders) has released its annual list of Top 10 Humanitarian Crises of 2008 and the DR Congo, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Somalia and Ethiopia's Somali region made the cut. Several bloggers have commented on the list, including The Road to the Horizon who noted that there was “no under-reporting this year” and Ethan Zuckerman who observed how disconnection affects public health.

Crossroads Arabia comments on the case of the Saudi oil tanker hijacked by pirates and now anchored off the coast of Somalia: “Perhaps we’ll be seeing Saudi naval vessels escorting the country’s own ships soon. The Royal Saudi Navy hasn’t had much of a chance to exercise its abilities, compared to the Army and Air Force, so this might be useful.”