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76
043573
MDLOAN 6668
RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO ROUTINE MANILA
TELNO 312
OF 181314Z SEPTEMBER 92
หร
YOUR TEL 393: PIRACY
HKC
175/1
pa.
см
1. IN TUR YOU EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT OUR ADVICE TO MOD ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PHILIPPINES LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN COMBATING PIRACY. THIS ADVICE WAS BASED ON OUR ASSESSMENT OF ALL THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US INCLUDING REPORTS FROM THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY, THE PRESS AND YOUR PREVIOUS REPORTING.
2-
WE NOTED YOUR COMMENTS ON THE PERCEIVED INADEQUACY OF THE COASTGUARD (CHATTERTON-DICKSON'S LETTER TO WILLIAMS (AMD) OF 13 FEBRUARY 1992) BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NO ATTACKS ON MERCHANT VESSELS OF ANY FLAG IN PHILIPPINE WATERS SINCE EARLY 1991 (YOUR TELNO 211). WHILE WE RECOGNISE THAT THERE IS LESS INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IN THE PHILIPPINES AREA THAN IN SOME NEIGHBOURING AREAS IT IS SURELY TO THE CREDIT OF THE PHILIPPINE AUTHORITIES THAT THEY HAVE MAINTAINED A CLEAN RECORD DURING A TIME WHEN ATTACKS HAVE BEEN INCREASING ALARMINGLY IN THE REGION. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN PRESS REPORTS ABOUT THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF A PIRATE GANG IN MINDANAO IN MAY 1991. THE BAND, LED BY CAPTAIN EMILIO CHANGO, WAS SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IMPRISONMENT. REFERRING TO THIS INCIDENT THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME BUREAU COMMENDED THE PHILIPPINES FOR TAKING TOUGH AND EFFECTIVE ACTION AGAINST PIRACY. CHANGO ESCAPED WHILE ON BAIL BUT, (ACCORDING TO A REPORT IN THE INDEPENDENT ON 25 AUGUST 1991), HAS SINCE BEEN PURSUED BY THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL INVESTIGATION BUREAU (PNIB), WHO, HAVE NOW ISSUED ORDERS FOR HIM SHOT. OTHER ARRESTS OF PIRATES IN THE PHILIPPINES WERE REPORTED IN MAY 1991.
3.
PRESS ARTICLES, SHIPPING COMPANIES AND VICTIMS OF PIRACY IN THE REGION HAVE REPORTED THAT A HIGH PROPORTION OF THE PIRATES OPERATING IN THE MALACCA/SINGAPORE STRAITS AREA ARE THAI, INDONESIAN OR FILIPINO NATIONALS. THE INVOLVEMENT OF LARGE NUMBERS OF THAIS AND FILIPINOS HAS BEEN PARTLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THAILAND AND THE PHILIPPINES.
4.
THE UNHCR ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THAILAND IN 1982 TO
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