They attacked six ships – two of which fly our flag –west and northwest of the Mahe plateau and were captured by the French ship Navos, part of the European Union’s naval force.

Seychelles asked to prosecute the suspects because they threatened our ships.
“The evidence against them is very strong. They were caught in the act, with weapons, and they were photographed. The Attorney-General’s Office feels we have a strong case,” said Mr Morgan, who heads a high-level committee against piracy.

He said the EU-funded flight bringing in the 11 men will take away six who were picked up from the sea after their skiff capsized recently following a suspected attack.

In a statement, President James Michel said: “The coordinated approach in the fight against piracy is bearing its fruit. We are showing that piracy does not pay and we are taking every measure to ensure that our exclusive economic zone remains safe.

“I congratulate all the forces involved for their professionalism and dedication.”
Mr Morgan also said there was an incident at the weekend, 35 nautical miles north of Denis island, in which a Spanish tuna fishing vessel was attacked.

Our coast guard vessel the Topaz, which was returning from an anti-piracy mission, sailed to the area but the pirates had fled. Being low on fuel, it could not pursue them but the coast guard sent the Andromache, which captured them on Sunday.
 
There was no evidence to bring the suspects to court, so the Somalis were given just enough supplies to reach Somalia in the shortest possible time and were escorted out of our waters with a warning never to return.

Mr Morgan was speaking in an interview attended by Attorney-General Ronny Govinden and Colonel Michael Rosette, who is in charge of the Seychelles Coast Guard.

He also referred to another 11 suspected pirates who allegedly attacked a Seychelles Coast Guard vessel in December, saying there is enough evidence against them in the case that opened at the Supreme Court on Monday, and he hopes they will be convicted.

But he stressed while Seychelles is keen to play its role, Somalia should also shoulder its responsibility. So if the suspects are convicted, they will be handed over to the Somali authorities and serve their sentences in their motherland.

“Seychelles is not a dumping ground and we should not bear unnecessary burdens,” he said but added that we have responsibilities under the United Nations law of the sea.

“We have a regional responsibility and we want to ensure that with the maximum use of the resources available to us, and with the partnership of other forces internationally, we play our part as the amendment in the law today shows,” he said.

Mr Govinden said the laws passed in the National Assembly yesterday go far beyond what those of other countries provide for, adding: “We are spearheading the effort to prosecute pirates in an exemplary manner.”

He said newly caught suspected pirates will be charged under the new law, although even the older law is sufficient to deal with those already before the court.

Colonel Rosette said our vessels and officers on board are doing a good job, having made arrests on two occasions recently.

Forrás: http://www.nation.sc/index.php?art=18863