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पा
122420
HKC
1775/1
MDLOAN 8479
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FM FCO
TO PRIORITY CANBERRA
TELNO 212
OF 16170OZ JUNE 92
CM
AND TO PRIORITY TOKYO, WASHINGTON, BONN, OSLO, THE HAGUE, PARIS INFO PRIORITY ASEAN POSTS, BRASILIA, MODUK, ODA
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, ACTOR
pa.
ODA FOR WARBOYS
OUR TELNO 157 PIRACY IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA
SUMMARY
1.
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AS OUTLINED IN OUR TUR WE BELIEVE THERE IS A NEED FOR AN INITIATIVE TO COMBAT THE GROWING PROBLEM OF PIRACY NOT ONLY IN SE ASIA, BUT WORLDWIDE. GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD SEEK THE VIEWS OF YOUR HOST GOVERNMENTS DRAWING ON THE SPEAKING POINTS IN
MIFT.
BACKGROUND
2. THE PROBLEM OF ARMED ATTACKS ON SHIPPING IS PARTICULARLY ACUTE IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA, NOTABLY THE MALACCA STRAITS AND PHILLIPS CHANNEL. BUT THERE ARE ALSO PROBLEMS IN LATIN AMERICA (PARTICULARLY OFF BRAZIL) AND WEST AFRICA. REPORTS OF ATTACKS HAVE BEEN INCREASING OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
3. ILLEGAL ACTS OF VIOLENCE OR DETENTION ONLY CONSTITUTE THE OFFENCE OF PIRACY IF THEY TAKE PLACE ON THE HIGH SEAS OR OTHER PLACES OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE. IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW ALL STATES HAVE THE RIGHT TO INTERVENE. HOWEVER, IF SUCH ACTS TAKE PLACE WITHIN TERRITORIAL WATERS THE COASTAL STATE HAS JURISDICTION. THIS IS THE SITUATION IN MANY OF THE CASES, PARTICULARLY IN SE ASIA. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WE COULD NOT INTERVENE UNLESS EXPRESSLY INVITED TO DO SO BY THE AUTHORITIES OF THE COASTAL
STATE.
.
THERE IS GROWING PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL PRESSURE HERE TO BE SEEN TO TAKE ACTION TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND PIRACY HAS RECENTLY BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A PQ AND MPS LETTERS. THE OPTION OF SEEKING AUTHORITY FOR RN ACTIVITY IN SE
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