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Indian Ocean: international cooperation against piracy as well as human and drug trafficking
by Melani Manel Perera
Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa speaks to international conference on maritime security in the Indian Ocean. Better information sharing and screening are needed.
Galle (AsiaNews) – “The lack of a coordinated international effort to uphold maritime security not only affects oceangoing vessels, but also the national security of coastal nations, and therefore cooperation among countries with interests in the Indian Ocean is essential to effectively fight piracy and trafficking of humans and narcotics,” said Sri Lanka Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the keynote speech at the opening of the two-day ‘Galle Dialogue’ meeting. This year's theme is "Challenges and Strategic Cooperation for Indian Ocean Maritime Concerns".
“Somali piracy is one of the maritime security threats in the Indian Ocean,” the secretary explained. “Existing international maritime laws and practices have proven ineffective in combating the activities of the Somali pirates”. Instead, what is needed “is the greater cooperation between the maritime powers. Combating this problem requires greater information sharing, better screening practices and better coordination among nations,” he added.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, brother of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said that others threats also come from the sea, like human trafficking, especially after the end of Sri Lanka’s 30-year civil war which ended in the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The group’s “remaining vessels that operated in that group’s international supply network began engaging in this illegal enterprise. Charging many thousands of dollars per illegal immigrant, these vessels transported hundreds of people through international waters to western countries such as Canada and Australia,” he claimed.
“Drug trafficking is another issue that can affect any nation. Apart from the immediate harms caused through drug smuggling, this racket provides a lucrative source of income for terrorists, insurgents and large criminal networks. Drug cartels maintain a symbiotic relationship with such groups,” the secretary added.
The international conference brought together defence experts from 20 countries including Sri Lanka, including Australia, Bangladesh, China, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kenya , Malaysia, Maldives, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, South Korea and the United States.
Photo credit: Sajeewa Chinthaka, Lakbima newspaper