Tigers violate international maritime laws

LTTE Sea Tigers forcibly boarded a Jordanian Merchant Vessel named FARHA iii around 3.30 am today (23) which had been drifting off Mullaitivu seas due to a technical failure.

A maritime distress message which was released by the vessel indicating that the ship is under armed pirate attack was received by the Maritime Rescuing Coordinating Centre, Falmouth in UK and this has been conveyed to the Sri Lankan naval authorities.

Attempts made by the Naval units to establish communication with the vessel have failed as it is believed the Sea Tiger pirates have disconnected communication.

At the time of the incident the 150m long vessel carried about 14,000 tons of rice from Kakinada, India to Durban in South Africa.

The crew (25) comprising of Jordanian and Egyptian nationals were onboard at the time of the incident. The situation has been informed to the officials of the Jordanian Embassy in India.

Meanwhile the local agent of the ship has directed a "Tug" to avoid further drifting of the ship towards the Mulaitivu coast.

The vessel is presently drifting about 3Nm off the Mullaitivu coast where the LTTE sea tiger bases are located. Sea tiger boats too were seen in the vicinity of the ship. This armed pirate act by the LTTE is a clear violation of the International maritime laws and the Navy has found it difficult to react due to the presence of the ship's crew.

This is a indication by the LTTE of expanding its so called sea Tiger wing to the level of international sea pirates and there is a high possibility of the Tigers using the cargo and the vessel to conduct future arms shipments. Government officials are in the process of making all possible attempts to rescue the crew and the ship from the LTTE.

The incident has been informed to the SLMM