Seychelles prisons filled with Somali pirates

SEYCHELLES (CNN) -- The government in the Seychelles has captured dozens of suspected Somali pirates. But, they are releasing some of them to go after higher ranking individuals. This is a rare access to a prison where Somali pirates are serving time. This story looks at how the growing number of detainees is out of control despite efforts to combat the problem.

These are the unlucky ones, a rare glimpse of Somali pirates in prison in the Seychelles. In fact, 90 percent of suspected pirates are released without charge. Proving these men are really engaged in piracy is notoriously tough. The convicted ring-leader here, 51-year-old Mohammed Ali, still insists he's innocent. He says, "I'm not pirate I'm a fisherman."

Indeed, authorities say many suspected pirates were once fishermen, driven out of business by commercial operations. They ply these waters for a more lucrative catch. Other impoverished Somalis have also been drawn to the piracy and it's become a growing menace.

This prison on the Seychelles is just one of a number in the region that are already full to bursting point, the UN is building more facilities but here they are actually planning to release 19 prisoners next month to make way for more senior pirate leaders, so-called Kingpins.

Those nineteen inmates are expected to be transferred to smaller prisons elsewhere. But despite multi-national efforts to detain the pirate ringleaders, business is booming for the pirates. Over the last four years, average ransoms have risen from $600,000 to $4.7 million per vessel, according to the International Maritime Organization. Total ransoms pay-outs last year have totaled an alarming $135 million.

Somali analyst Adjoa Anyimadu says, "At moment people participating in pirate attacks can earn up to 10,000 dollars for few weeks work but the average income yearly for a Somali is 600 dollars, so you can see temptation is always gonna be there."

Lt. Colonel George Adeline tries to stop them. He says his cutters are regularly attacked by the pirates who mistake them for commercial ships. Adeline says, "The pirates can attack any ships especially at night. It's very hard to identify between civilian ships and the military ships. Sometimes at night they attack anything that moves."

The Seychelles is overwhelmed with pirates they, and other countries, have detained. Some are just children. The UN is building more prisons in a semi-autonomous region of Somalia, but they won't be ready for years and the Seychelles can't cope. Anyimadu says, "There are only 500 prisoners in Seychelles fifth of those are Somalis, who have been captured and imprisoned because of piracy, other countries such as Kenya have reached full capacity in terms of taking in Somali pirates."

But critics say until the underlying causes of piracy, conflict, poverty, are tackled in Somalia. The flow of inmates to Montagne Posse prison will continue. These men have made a simple calculation, the chances of getting convicted are low and the rewards could be life-changing.
Source: http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/200683/288/Seychelles-prisons-filled-with-Somali-pirates