16.
-
robbery at sea for financial purposes in the Philippines territorial waters. During the Group's visit to the Malacca Strait area one such attack was reported from Tawi Tawi in the Southern Philippines, when two Government officials and two bodyguards were killed by an explosion in a boat (2 March 1993)*. The precise motive remains unclear.
Attacks in the area of primary interest
(Malacca Strait and adjacent areas)
11 As will be noted from the figures in annex 5, there has been a marked decline in the numbers of attacks in the area of the Group's primary interest (Malacca Strait and adjacent areas) since June/July 1992. This trend has continued into 1993. Annex 5 statistics illustrate this decline vividly with overall totals of attacks reducing to minimal levels, while statistics provided by Indonesia show no attacks at all in the key areas of the Southern Malacca Strait, Phillips Channel and Singapore Strait for late 1992-1993. the Group's judgement this marked reduction is due to the following factors:
12
.1 the co-ordinated patrol and counter-measures implemented by the three States in the region since May/June 1992, the period that marks the point of downturn in the statistical evidence; and
.2
the improved protective measures taken by many ships navigating through the area, which appears to act as an obvious deterrent to the LLAR groups.
In
The effectiveness of the co-ordinated patrols and cross sea border co-operation is believed to have acted as a marked deterrent to LLAR groups, especially when arrests and convictions take place. The Indonesian authorities informed the Group they had detained a total of 63 robbers, 14 of whom have been convicted. The remainder are awaiting judicial process.
Modus operandi of LLAR groups
13
The modus operandi of these groups has been well documented and can be summarized as follows: groups of 4 to 10 robbers approach ships from the stern, match victim ship's speed before climbing aboard using grapnels, climbing ladders and other means. Attacks on ships have been achieved up to speeds of 18 knots and attackers display a skill and ability, which indicates seasoned seafarers or fishermen who are familiar with both ships and methods of assault. Their targets tend to be petty cash from the master's safe and other easily portable and resaleable valuables. As stated, these groups are not heavily armed but can be dangerous if opposed. They invariably attack at night, generally between 22.00 hrs and 04.00 hrs. Groups have been known to tie up masters and crews thereby incapacitating the ship and putting her "not under command", which obviously produces a situation of hazard to navigation in the crowded and restricted waters of the Straits, with catastrophic repercussions on the environment if the ship involved carries noxious or hazardous cargoes. Attacks in this type group have taken place both on
* Security Intelligence Digest of 22 March 1993.
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