Indian Ocean states unite against piracy

摘要

Mauritius is the latest country to declare that it is willing to put captured Somali pirates on trial and, if necessary, imprison them on its territory. It joins the Seychelles, Kenya and Tanzania in being prepared to prosecute suspected pirates caught within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).rnThe announcement by Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam on 12 June appears to reverse the Mauritian government's earlier opposition to building a 'pirate prison' on its soil. He added that EU funding would be needed to construct a special prison, to keep convicted pirates separate from Mauritian prisoners. Quoted in Le Mauhcien newspaper, foreign minister An/in Boolell said: "We are preparing a regional action plan." Mauritius had reviewed its Merchant Shipping Act and strengthened its "legal arsenal" to ensure it could try suspected pirates in its EEZ, Boolell added.