Seychelles and Japan team up to fight piracy |19 December 2014

Seychelles and Japan have agreed on the transfer of suspected pirates for trial, eventual conviction in Seychelles and repatriation back to their country of origin.

The agreement permits pirates captured at sea by the Japanese Navy to be handed over to the Seychelles’ authorities in order to face justice.

The accord was signed yesterday afternoon on board the Takanami, a Japanese navy vessel currently in Port Victoria.
The Minister for Home Affairs and Transport Joël Morgan signed on the Seychelles side while the Japanese high commissioner Tatsushi Terada signed for his country.

Also present were the Commissioner of Police Ernest Quatre, Prison Superintendent Maxime Tirant, Lieutenant Colonels Leslie Benoiton and Simon Laurencine from the Seychelles Coast Guard, Technical Advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and chairman of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) Philippe Michaud and representatives of the United Nations Organisation for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and of the anti piracy cell REFLECS 3.

Minister Morgan thanked Japan for supporting Seychelles and its people and to help in the effort in bringing stability and maritime safety in this part of the world.

He said the agreement represents a further step in the collaboration between the two countries and exemplifies the very strong role they are both playing in the fight against piracy and in bringing peace and stability in the South West Indian Ocean.

“This is necessary for world trade, securing maritime routes and peace and stability of the Indian Ocean islands such as Seychelles. Seychelles’ economy depends on the maritime sector with activities such as fishing, maritime tourism and trade. So the security of the maritime zone is necessary for the development of the country’s economy,” Mr Morgan said.

The minister concluded by looking forward to the continued collaboration between Seychelles and Japan, collaboration which he hopes will develop in other areas.

On his side, the Japanese ambassador stated that signing the memorandum on board a ship of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force signifies both Seychelles and Japan’s strong commitment to tackle piracy and secure stability in the region.

He was in agreement with Minister Morgan that maritime safety is vital for the prosperity of the international community as a whole, particularly for island states which depend heavily on maritime trade.

“Therefore it is natural for Japan and Seychelles to cooperate in their efforts to tackle piracy,” he said.

He also explained that this is why his country has enacted laws which criminalise acts of piracy and enable its naval vessels and maritime patrol aircraft to protect any ship from pirates regardless of her flag.

Mr Terada however pointed out that providing protection to vessels is not a fundamental solution in the issue of piracy. He insisted that piracy eradication requires a comprehensive approach including a mechanism such as the memorandum signed, which brings pirates to justice.

“Japan will continue to engage in anti-piracy activities with the ultimate aim of eradicating piracy from the region. I believe that the signing of the memorandum has brought us one step closer to achieving this grand objective,” he said.

The Takanami is accompanied by another Japanese Navy vessel, the Ohnami. They arrived in Port Victoria on Wednesday and leave tomorrow.