JAN 28th 2004 - The Jakarta Post

Worldwide piracy attacks surge in 2003, Indonesia most dangerous


KUALA LUMPUR (DPA) : Piracy attacks on seafarers hit a new high last year, with Indonesia accounting for 27 percent of total attacks on increasingly dangerous worlds waters, an international maritime watchdog said.

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) annual piracy report said there was a total 445 attacks or attempted attacks on ships last year compared to 370 cases in 2002. The highest ever number of pirate attacks was in 2000 where 469 cases were recorded.

The figures show an increase in the numbers and violence of the attacks," said Pottengal Mukundan, London-based IMB director said in the report.
"We call upon the countries with piracy problems, to give greater priority to policing their waters."

The annual report said that violence used in piracy attacks continued to surge, with 21 seafarers killed, 40 assaulted and 88 injured in 2003 compared to 10 killed, 9 assaulted and 38 injured the previous year.

The number of attacks using guns rose to 100 from 68 and the number of hostages taken nearly doubled to 359 seafarers. Ships were boarded in 311 instances and a total of 19 ships were hijacked.

The IMB noted that Indonesia continued to record the highest number of attacks with 121 reported incidents in 2003. Bangladesh ranked second highest with 58 attacks.

The Malacca Straits, one of the busiest shipping lanes separating Indonesia and Malaysia, recorded a rise in attacks to 28 cases from only 16 the year before.

The IMB called on Indonesian authorities to increase their efforts in patrolling the waters, adding that "a reduction in the attacks in Indonesia can dramatically change the situation in Southeast Asia".