Piracy. Japan to dispatch Aircraft

Japan on Friday ordered its navy to dispatch two aircraft to watch out for pirate activity off Somalia. Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada ordered the two P-3C surveillance planes to assist Japan's two Maritime Self-Defence Forces destroyers patrolling off the coast of Somalia in their anti-piracy mission.

The Defence Ministry said it plans to send about 40 people to neighbouring Djibouti Monday before the rest of the support team heads off later this month. About 100 personnel were expected to begin anti-piracy surveillance activities with the P-3C planes in June with Djibouti international airport as their base.

The two Japanese destroyers have escorted 55 Japanese-linked commercial ships, including some passenger vessels, in the Gulf of Aden since they began their mission in late March. Besides the planes patrolling over the gulf, Japan would dispatch ground forces armed with pistols and rifles to guard the aircraft, the ministry said. Countries including the United States, Russia, China and South Korea have sent their navies to the region to counter surging pirate attacks.
The Japanese parliament has been considering legislation to enable the Self-Defence Forces to protect foreign vessels and use force against pirates. But opposition politicians have protested because it could conflict with the nation's pacifist constitution, which limits Japanese military activities only to self-defence.

Source: Ecoterra Intl, May 15, 2009

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