France boosts navy powers to arrest pirates

French navy commanders patrolling in pirate-infested waters are to be given new powers to detain suspects in international waters, under the terms of a bill unveiled Wednesday.

"In a context of rising acts of piracy, particularly in the Indian Ocean, an efficient fight against piracy requires us to strengthen the French state's capacity to intervene, especially on the high seas," reads the cabinet bill.

Under the bill, navy commanders "acting under the control of the judicial authorities, will be able to record piracy crimes and offences and to arrest their perpetrators with a view to bringing them to trial," it reads.

Fifteen Somali pirates are being held in France after being captured by the French navy in the Gulf of Aden. They are accused of taking part in the hijacking of two French yachts.

Presented to President Nicolas Sarkozy's cabinet by Defence Minister Herve Morin, the bill aims to provide a judicial framework for France's anti-piracy efforts.

It aims to "enable the commanders of the navy ships, while at sea and in waters that do not depend on any state jurisdiction, to take measures adapted to the exercise of the state's police powers at sea."
"French jurisdiction will apply for acts of piracy when the perpetrators and accomplices are arrested by French agents and that no other state exercises its competence," the bill adds.
France, Russia, China and other nations have deployed dozens of warships in an anti-piracy task force off Somalia. Despite involvement by more than 20 countries, attacks are still regularly reported.

France has also begun deploying marines on boats in its tuna fishing fleet off the Seychelles to help them fight off pirate attacks.

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