A Japanese ship attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia

Last month the Nippon Foundation hosted an emergency meeting at its headquarters in central Tokyo to discuss the increasing problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia. The meeting was attended by members of parliament representing the Liberal-Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan, key figures in the Japanese shipping industry, and the mass media.

Meeting participants were shown a video of the testimony by Philippine seamen who spoke about their ship being seized by Somali pirates. This was followed by Mr Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of the Nippon Foundation, who spoke of the serious need for the dispatch of a United Nations PKO (Peace Keeping Organization) force to patrol and protect international shipping off the coast of Somalia.

This meeting, sponsored by the Nippon Foundation and the Maritime Policy Research Foundation and other organizations, follows another gathering held last November that proposed the emergency dispatch of Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (MSDF) vessels to the ocean off the coast of Somalia to escort commercial ships in the area. This resulted in sending two MSDF destroyers last month to patrol the area.

However, under the maritime police provision of the Self Defense Forces Law, these vessels are limited to escorting vessels connected with Japan, for example, Japanese registered vessels or foreign ships with Japanese crew or cargo on board. Under the law, the MSDF cannot protect the ships of other countries. Therefore, speakers at the meeting called for a wider interpretation of the MSDF's role around the coastal zone of Somalia, in order to cooperate with all countries involved in the struggle against the pirates.

A representative of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) said the situation off Somalia is a historic case that called for a long term plan for all countries to cooperate in efforts to maintain the safety of the seas. A Philippine seaman representative spoke at the meeting, saying that at the peak of the piracy last September, 91 Filipinos were held captive on ships by Somali pirates, and at present there are 54 Filipinos aboard various ships in pirate hands. "We are afraid of the pirates, but we also have to make a living," he said.

As the controversy continues over the role of the MSDF, the Japanese Diet's Lower House passed an antipiracy bill on 23 April to create a permanent law enabling the MSDF to protect ships of any nationality against pirates. The bill must now go to the Upper House for deliberation and confirmation, but because of the strong protests of opposition parties it is likely that it may be rejected and sent back to the Lower House. Nevertheless, if this happens, the Lower House is expected to vote on it again and pass the bill into law.