Stay out of the Malacca Straight!

[Capt. Iron Faith Cutler]

Indonesia Orders Pirates, Sea Terrorists Shot on Sight

1 hour, 48 minutes ago Add Oddly Enough - Reuters to My Yahoo!

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's naval chief has ordered his commanders to shoot dead armed terrorists or pirates operating in key waterways including the busy Strait of Malacca, which carries a third of world trade.

Navy Chief of Staff, Bernard Kent Sondakh, would also meet soon with his counterparts from Malaysia and Singapore to seek ways to increase joint patrols in the Strait, officials said on Friday.

The Malacca Strait is a 500-mile channel through which about 50,000 commercial vessels pass each year, including ships ferrying 80 percent of Japan's oil needs.

"In the future, every thief or terrorist at sea has to be shot dead and this should be publicized by the mass media to teach a lesson," Sondakh said in a statement.

The United States and Singapore have voiced alarm at the risk of pirates linked to terror groups attacking tankers or other vessels in the Strait, and called for tougher security measures.

But Muslim-majority nations Indonesia and Malaysia, on either side of the waterway, have rejected suggestions foreign forces might be used.

Sondakh said his tough order applied especially to the Strait of Malacca, where piracy is a constant menace to vessels.

He complained pirates and hijackers caught at sea by the Indonesian navy were serving only light jail terms and then returning to their ways.

"Those who use weapons have to be shot dead. Don't take them alive, unless they surrender and ask for mercy," he said.

"From now on we will show to the world that the Indonesian Navy alone is capable of safeguarding the Malacca Strait, and don't try and accuse us of violating human rights again."

Navy deputy spokesman Colonel Sumantri said no schedule was available for Sondakh's meeting with his Malaysian or Singaporean counterparts.

"We have been doing coordinated patrols for some time with Malaysia and Singapore there. What we are going to discuss later is how to increase those patrols," Sumantri said.

He had no further details.

The United States is expected to start talks soon with Asian nations on a Regional Maritime Security Initiative, an as yet ill-defined plan whose focus will be to boost cooperation.

Singapore has repeatedly warned of the potential link between pirates and militant networks such as Jemaah Islamiah, blamed for the deadly 2002 bomb blasts on the island of Bali and linked to Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s al Qaeda.

The Bali blasts killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.

[Cire]

They might as well just start public hangings. They aren't going to stop piracy. At most the pirates might move elsewhere and come back when the order is lifted.

But I consider meself warned.

[privateer]

finally a govt. not afraid of 'world opinion'

I see nothing wrong with shooting these guys on site.

ifn ya be hijacking tankers and such be prepared to except the consequince's . there was a reason most pirates had a SHORT run of it.

about time someone said " look if ya do this , we're going to shoot you."

[Cire]

True. Doesn't mean it'll work, but true.

Although I think that there are a couple of governments not afraid of 'world opinion' of late, but that his a whole different kettle of fish.

[PyratePhil]

Now iffin' they had a piece o' paper wot said their government were behind 'em, I bet's me good left arm there'd be a diff'rent story afoot...

[privateer]

ay woot?

they be given out letters o'marque !!!???

now that sounds a little more fun.

aaaaahh....just think ........

fully licensed ta have a sixty cal. mounted ta the bow.

and no hassles about the fifty cal. rifle and the deck sweepers an ,an, an,

wait dis is da part where ye be waking me up ,huh?

[PyratePhil]

...wait dis is da part where ye be waking me up ,huh?

Sorry, mate, time ta be a'wakin'...

O'course, iffin ye decide ta join th' newly created Commonwealth of Philbertania, we might be willin' ta discuss terms...

"A chicken in every pot and a Pyrate in every port"

<PyratePhil's campaign slogan)

[privateer]

here here.

sounds like a fine country ya got there. I'd honored ta sail against all 'er enemys fer ya.

'ell , ya could even give bilge monkey a safe port.

betwixt loose'n most o' is rum and the jack boots breathing down 'is neck I'm sure he'd vote fer ya . maybe even twice.

[Cire]

Phil, I be liking te join ye.

[Capt. Tarkanius De Morte']

So the Straights they be patroled do they..

Ha ha Sound like a challange to me!

What say the lot O' ya!

HUH? The Sweet trade ...it be a short life but a merry one !!!!!!W!

What say ye?!!

Join me???

Capt Tark