Canada Negotiating to have Kenyan Authorities Prosecute Pirates

Canada, looking to make a shift from current policy, is in negotiations to have Kenyan authorities prosecute pirates apprehended by the Canadian navy, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Thursday.

The Canadian government has maintained it cannot prosecute pirates captured by Canadian forces, as it lacks jurisdiction under international law. Pirates intercepted by Canadian forces off the coast of Somalia until now have been disarmed and then released, a policy that has sparked criticism from legal experts.

But MacKay, speaking aboard the HMCS Winnipeg off the coast of Oman, stressed the importance of countering piracy. "Let's be clear — this is financial terrorism," MacKay said. "This is not unlike acts of terrorism that we see in other parts of the world, whether it be kidnappings, whether it be issues related to fanaticism and extremism in places like Afghanistan," he said after presenting medals to navy personnel.

Kenya has similar agreements with other countries.

The HMCS Winnipeg, on two separate occasions this month, has apprehended pirates, but released them on both occasions.

Source:Ecoterra, May 21, 2009

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