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Monday, April 13, 2009 | 1:54pm
K’naan Respects Somali Pirates Gangsta
rapper/ activist blames the media and says the situation is “complicated”
Were you as surprised as I was at the news that modern day PIRATES were on the prowl in the Gulf of Aden? This is something you envision in Hollywood with Johnny Depp playing the lead.After all, the incident marks the first such pirate attack of a U.S. ship in some 200 years. But now that Captain Richard Phillips has been rescued from the captivity of Somali pirates, folks are chiming in about their thoughts on the very peculiar ordeal including the entertainer K’naan.
A Somali native himself (via Canada) K’naan has been very outspoken his homeland, specifically piracy calling the issue “complicated.” In his blog published by the Huffington Post, K’naan is not as celebratory in tone as most. He instead is more critical of the media’s handling of the incident citing “lopsided journalism. ” and explains that the situation with piracy in Somalia is “complicated.”
“It’s true that the constant hijacking of vessels in the Gulf of Aden is a major threat to the vibrant trade route between Asia and Europe. It is also true that for most of the pirates operating in this vast shoreline, money is the primary objective. But according to so many Somalis, the disruption of Europe’s darling of a trade route, is just Karma biting a perpetrator in the butt.”
Though K’naan blames poor Somali economics for the hijackings he cites an unstable government and the dumping of toxic waste also fuel pirate attacks.
“In 2004, after a tsunami washed ashore several leaking containers, thousand of locals in the Puntland region of Somalia started to complain of severe and previously unreported ailments, such as abdominal bleeding, skin melting off and a lot of immediate cancer-like symptoms
K’naan says he wants American’s to realize the Philips kidnapping wasn’t an isolated incident.
But this wasn’t just a passing evil from one or two groups taking advantage of our unprotected waters. The UN envoy for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, says that the practice still continues to this day. It was months after those initial reports that local fishermen mobilized themselves, along with street militias, to go into the waters and deter the Westerners from having a free pass at completely destroying Somalia’s aquatic life.”
FILED IN News
I frankly don’t care where this person is from. When you approach a ship with guns, hold the captain and crew hostage, and demand money for their safe release, there really is no “other side” that the media is covering up.
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Frankly, I am entirely pleased that the President had the balls to authorize the mission which resulted in 3 dead pirates and one freed hostage.
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This really was the only solution. Had he done nothing, or even worse – paid off the terrorists, we would have been fighting 20 new pirate attacks in a matter of weeks.
Very good point. I was reading it like he’s in some way justifying pirate attacks? Like oh we should allow slavery some places because we have to understand the culture of that country/ region.
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Good job Mr. President for putting an end to any future shenanigans.
WOW!!! protect one and kill millions…hm. i think that is what K was gettin at. i would think he SUPPOSED to feel the way he does. If i was from there i would too. Maybe hijackin is the only way they can get attention to what is going on over there and for someone to HELP do something about it. think about it. if i was dumping toxic chemicals in your water such as say…um chlorine, flouride etc wouldnt you try n do something about it??
I feel where ya’ll coming from. However, I understand K’naan. Many multinational companies act like the law doesn’t apply to them and they stomp on poor people of color all over the world. Now, these pirates may not be going about it the right way, but they probably feel unprotected and like they are not getting any justice, so they do what they know. Caucasians lives have always been worth more than Black people’s lives and their media puts out whatever message they want out, to influence and even form public opinion. Like the man said: “it’s complicated.”
Good post Juan
No one is excusing the actions of the pirates, I believe neither is K’naan. The somali pirates are truely coming from desparate situations to attempt such dangerous operations at sea. The boats they are using alone are a direct indication of the risks they will take to escape a dismal exsistance. A country ravaged by war, political corruption and poverty it’s no surprise these attempts end the way they do. The people of Somalia need to be given hope just as the US recently was.