Fact Box

Somali pirates at sea and in the dock:

PIRATE ATTACKS*
2008:
111 attempted attacks
42 resulted in hijackings
815 hostages taken

2009, as of May 12:114 attempted attacks29 resulted in hijackings478 hostages taken* Data from the International Maritime Bureau; Gulf of Aden and off Somalia’s east coastSOMALI PIRATES IN THE DOCKSeveral countries have suggested creating an international court to try the suspected pirates. For now, procedures vary greatly between countries.KENYAIn March, the European Union signed an agreement with Kenya on the transfer of suspected Somali pirates captured by EU forces. Since then, EU forces in the region have handed more than 50 pirates to Kenya, where they now face prosecution.The EU-Kenya agreement includes provisions stating that transferred persons will be treated humanely and will not be liable to suffer the death sentence.The UK and the United States have similar agreements with Kenya, and NATO is working on one.SOMALIABefore the EU-Kenya deal, French forces handed over suspected pirates to Puntland, the semi-autonomous region in northern Somalia from which most of the pirate gangs operate.Puntland is not recognised by the international community and efficient prosecution there is unlikely.NATO forces have also freed suspected pirates after briefly detaining them, sparking US criticism. Dutch commandos operating within NATO in April freed seven captives; had they been operating under the EU, they could have turned them over to Kenya.Lawless Somalia lacks the means to prosecute the suspects.UNITED STATESA Somali teenager, the sole surviving accused pirate from an attack on US container ship Maersk Alabama in April, was indicted in the United States on 10 counts in May.FRANCE15 Somalis accused of attacking French crews are being held in France.NETHERLANDS, DENMARKDenmark seized five Somalis who attacked a Netherlands-Antilles cargo vessel, then extradited the men to the Netherlands, where they are now on trial.SPAINA Spanish judge tried to bring a group of Somalis detained by a Spanish warship in May to Spain. But in the end Spain handed them over to Kenya.For an analysis of the legal tussles over suspected Somali pirates, please click on [nLF303912][To read an interview with a Somali pirate, please click on [nLQ085658](Sources: International Maritime Bureau; Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Government of Kenya; Military officials; Reuters news service)]- Nampa-Reuters