The New York Times (May 9, 2009) had a interesting
article on the changing fortunes of pirates in Somalia. Most of the press we have been reading suggests that piratical activity is a "win win" for Somalians involved in the activity. Indeed,
as I have blogged earlier, in a nation racked by violence and virtually no economic growth, the benefits of piratical activity seem pretty compelling.
This story begins to straighten out the record a bit. Piratical activity is, in fact, criminal. Since these communities operate outside the law, we shouldn't be surprised that the tactics they use tend toward violence and the abuse of power. So, some Somali communities are pushing back.
For the first time in this pirate-infested region of northern Somalia, some of the very communities that had been flourishing with pirate dollars — supplying these well-known criminals with sanctuary, support, brides, respect and even government help — are now trying to push them out.
Grass-roots, antipirate militias are forming. Sheiks and government leaders are embarking on a campaign to excommunicate the pirates, telling them to get out of town and preaching at mosques for women not to marry these un-Islamic, thieving “burcad badeed,” which in Somali translates as sea bandit. There is even a new sign at a parking lot in Garoowe, the sun-blasted capital of the semiautonomous region of Puntland, that may be the only one of its kind in the world. The thick red letters say: No pirates allowed.
Much like the violence, hunger and warlordism that has engulfed Somalia, piracy is a direct — and some Somalis say inevitable — outgrowth of a society that has languished for 18 years without a functioning central government and whose economy has been smashed by war.
But here in Garoowe, the pirates are increasingly viewed as stains on the devoutly Muslim, nomadic culture, blamed for introducing big-city evils like drugs, alcohol, street brawling and AIDS. A few weeks ago, Puntland police officers broke up a bootlegging ring and poured out 327 bottles of Ethiopian-made gin. In Somalia, alcohol is shunned. Such a voluminous stash of booze is virtually unheard of.
More interesting, perhaps, is the increasing willingness of pirates to give up the trade. This risks of the pirate life have become significant enough that some pirates are willing to go legitimate for lower pay, despite the promise of fortunes.
Still, the Puntland pirate bosses insist they are ready to call it quits, if the sheiks find jobs for their young underlings and help the pirates form a coast guard to protect Somalia’s 1,880-mile coastline from illegal fishing and dumping. These are longstanding complaints made by many Somalis, including those who don’t scamper up the sides of cargo ships, AK-47 in hand.
It is a stretch, to say the least, that the world would accept being policed by rehabilitated hijackers. But on Monday, Mr. Boyah and two dozen other infamous Puntland pirates, many driving Toyota Surfs, a light, fast sport utility vehicle that has become the pirate ride of choice, arrived at an elder’s house in Garoowe to make their case nonetheless.
These kinds of choices aren't unique to Somali pirates. Many pirates in the 17th and 18th century yearned for the ability to settle down to a liesurely life without the imminent threat of the gallows or death at sea. Few accomplished that goal, but the sway of a steady income without risk is a strong one. Perhaps the pirates in Somalia will have a better shot at accomplishing this than their predecessors.
