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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Dutch Forces Free 20 Pirate Hostages, Let Pirates Go

Somali pirates forced Yemeni captives to turn fishing boat into pirate mother ship

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(Newser) – Dutch commandos freed 20 hostages in a raid on a pirate "mother ship" today, Reuters reports. The captives, Yemeni fisherman, had been forced to sail their vessel after it was hijacked by pirates for use in support of attacks in the Gulf of Aden. Seven pirates were briefly detained but the Dutch, on a NATO patrol, decided they had no legal power to arrest them.

"They can only arrest them if the pirates are from the Netherlands, the victims are from the Netherlands, or if they are in Netherlands waters," a NATO commander said. Assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades were found on the Yemenis' boat, which the Dutch discovered when they chased fleeing pirates after thwarting an attack on a Greek tanker.

A member of the Dutch special forces stands guard near the bridge of Dutch cargo ship MV Jumbo Javelin as it passes near the Gulf of Aden in this file photo.
A member of the Dutch special forces stands guard near the bridge of Dutch cargo ship MV Jumbo Javelin as it passes near the Gulf of Aden in this file photo.   (AP Photo/Tom Maliti, File)
A member of the Dutch special forces stands guard near the bridge of of a cargo ship as it passes near the Gulf of Aden.
A member of the Dutch special forces stands guard near the bridge of of a cargo ship as it passes near the Gulf of Aden.   (AP Photo/Tom Maliti)
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We have freed the hostages, we have freed the dhow and we have seized the weapons. The pirates did not fight and no gunfire was exchanged. - NATO Lieutenant Commander
Alexandre Fernandes

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5 comments
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TerrifiedCitizen
Apr 18, 09 12:58 PM CDT
Pirate law from antiquity has allowed for a long walk on a short plank... Pirate law allows this, so why should the Dutch stand in the way of the sovereign laws of a Pirate nation? Reply
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AClotfelter
Apr 19, 09 12:58 AM CDT
There should be some sort of "citizen's arrest" in this situation... just hold these guys until someone who DOES have jurisdiction can take them... Reply
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MedicOni
Apr 19, 09 1:03 AM CDT
Just shoot em and toss the bodies overboard. Reply
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oldgoat
Apr 19, 09 3:03 AM CDT
Seems kind of dumb. If this is true then they need to get together and change it. If you get pirates then they should be held and tried at a minimum Reply
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justme
Apr 19, 09 7:07 PM CDT
This is just an extreme,y narrow interpretation of the law. Because the pirates took a Yemeni ship and held Yemeni citizens, the Dutch could have held them for Yemeni authorities. Obama has his work cut out for him getting these cowards together to do anything meaningful. Reply
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