Seychelles Government Issues International Warrant of Arrest
By Sarah J of TODAY.sc
Targets pirates involved in the capture of two Seychellois fishermen held hostage in Somalia and also changes legislature which empowers the judiciary to prosecute any offences related to committing acts of piracy, whether committed in Seychelles' waters or anywhere in the world.
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Marc Songoire & Rolly Tambara Held Hostage
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The Seychelles' Government has issued an international warrant for the arrest and subsequent prosecution of the suspected Somali pirates who participated in the abduction and detention of the two Seychellois fishermen, Marc Songoire and Rolly Tambara, being kept hostage in Somalia since last October.
The Minister of Home Affairs and Transport, Joel Morgan, made the announcement in the National Assembly on Tuesday, as the country's legistature debated on proposed changes to the laws against piracy in Seychelles. With the fishermen's days in captivity fast approaching the 300-day mark, Minister Morgan said that after months of tough negotiations with the Somali pirates for their release, government had come to realis that it was dealing with criminals who have no compassion and humanity for others, especially for two frail and elderly fishermen. "The man we are dealing with is a monster.
He has no heart," Minister Morgan who is also the Chairman of the High-Level Committee of Piracy in Seychelles, said in the Assembly. "The day that man leaves Somalia, that will be the last day he sees his country.
Wherever in the world he goes he will be arrested and brought to Seychelles where he will pay dearly for the crimes he has committed against our citizens," Minister Morgan stressed.
The Minister described the conditions under which the two men are being kept, (following the release of a number of pictures depicting Rolly Tambara, flimsily dressed and lying on the ground [original picture courtesy of Somalia Report/OCEANUSLive]), as "deplorable and unfit for humans". He said the pirates' acts are causing much suffering to the two fishermen and immense pain to their families.
70-year old Rolly Tambara and 63-year old Marc Songoire from Belvédère were both fishing in Seychelles waters, some 60 miles west of Mahé in a small fishing boat, Aride, when they were taken by pirates on 2 November last year. According to reports they are both being held in Ceer-Huul village.
The National Assembly voted to unanimously approve the new laws which render piracy a crime in Seychelles whether committed in Seychelles' waters or anywhere in the world.
The new provision has been added to the country's Penal Code and empowers the judiciary to prosecute any offences related to committing acts of piracy, aiding suspected pirates, conspiring to commit acts of piracy and those who finance pirate activities.
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