Intro: Piracy and maritime terrorism on the high seas are not a new phenomenon; the scourge of piracy has been active in every era.
Pirate-hunting Navies have successfully destroyed the activities of pirate organisations, but it has never been fully eradicated. Historically, maritime powers curbing piracy, laid the grounds to establish their presence in the region. This ‘presence’ was followed by subsequent subjugation of the regional powers. Establishment of Roman Empire in Cilicia (modern Turkey), French occupation of Algeria, and the nationalist operations of Kanhoji Angre along the Konkan coast led to British Navy’s sustained presence and subsequent rise of Colonial India. In the present scenario, Indian Ocean is being viewed as more “active” ocean than the Atlantic and Pacific due to wide spectrum of activities e.g., extensive trade, and energy transfer of larger scope and size. Nearly 100,000 ships transit her expanse annually. It is a trade busy ocean, and its SLOCs (Sea Lines of Communication) reach out to the entire world. Also, most important choke points and narrow passages which provide access to the Indian Ocean have associated vulnerabilities. Increasing globalisation has also brought attendant security concerns. Thus, with rising trajectory of sea borne trade, there is corresponding increase in asymmetric threats. As a result, incidents of transnational maritime crime such as modern piracy, terrorism and drug running are manifestations and bane of the seafarer. These are security challenges of asymmetric nature. And there have been calls for effective law enforcement and maintenance of maritime order. Growing importance of sea borne trade, and attendant rise in transnational threats has led to the adoption of enhanced cooperative approaches amongst littoral countries. But challenge still remain, as usage of sophisticated technologies are being used by non-state and state sponsored actors. Some of the reasons for the said are-
(a) Massive increase in commercial traffic at sea.
(b) Passage through maritime choke points necessitating reduced transit speeds.
(c) Financial crisis in many coastal countries.
(d) Difficulties associated with maritime surveillance.
(e) Lax coastal and seaside security.
(f) Corruption and dysfunctional systems of national criminal justice encouraging official complicity.
(g) Global proliferation of small arms.
(h) Lack of national and international laws and institutionalised framework in most countries.
The concept of maritime security is one of the most recent additions to the vocabulary of international security. If security at sea used to be discussed in the frame of concepts such as seapower, maritime safety, or less frequently maritime terrorism, maritime security offers a new umbrella term, which to some degree replaces the older terms and discussions. The salience of maritime security is related to the significant challenges that issues such as maritime terrorism, and, perhaps most prominently, piracy has the potential to become a terrorist act. India remains very concerned about WMD proliferation. Some years ago, a North Korean ship was intercepted and arrested whilst carrying centrifuges to Pakistan. This highlights the need for an internationally accepted understanding of what is meant by maritime terrorism. India is also concerned about drug trafficking, as it is also clearly linked to arms smuggling, which is in turn linked to terrorism.
Emerging Threats
Somali Pirates relocate base closer to India
Making a strong pitch for creation of a common platform for the Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on March 22 said India is trying to build good relations with its neighbours. Stating that the country’s strength lies in non-violence, Parrikar said a strong person can dictate peace. “I believe in good relationship with my neighbours and I am already exchanging a lot of joint exercises, discussions and training with neighbouring countries,” Parrikar told reporters after addressing the concluding session of the three-day international conference on ‘India & the Indian Ocean: Renewing the Maritime Trade & Civilisational Linkages’ in Bhubaneshwar. Calling for greater cooperation between the neighbouring countries, Parrikar said, “We are facing many traditional and non-traditional maritime threats. While traditional threats have been minimised, non-traditional threats like Somali pirates have shifted their locations to the Indian Ocean,” he said. Somali pirates, after being neutralised by navies of several countries, are now shifting their base towards India. But the country is watchful to deal with such threats, Parrikar said. The Defence Minister emphasised on creation of a group of IOR countries which will deal with the traditional and non-traditional issues. Stating that the Indian Ocean region is very important for the country, Parrikar said it accounts for about 57 per cent of the world’s oil reserves and more than 45 per cent of the world’s gas reserves. Besides, two-thirds of the oil trade and one-third of the cargo trade of the globe were done through the Indian Ocean, he added. Parrikar said the bed of the Indian Ocean is rich with mineral resources which are yet to be exploited. The ocean could be harnessed for non-renewable energy to meet the increasing energy needs of the country. Pitching for a creation of a common platform for the Indian Ocean rim region, he further said, “We are in a common grid and are tied to each other. If India strengthens, being the focal point and located strategically, it can facilitate others.” Somali pirates have been a threat to international shipping in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, especially in the Gulf of Aden, which is a busy route, and have made millions of dollars in ransom by seizing ships. In 2011, there were 439 pirate attacks and 45 merchant vessels hijacked worldwide, of which 237 attacks and 28 hijackings occurred in the Gulf of Aden, off the Somali coast. The increasing threat posed by piracy has been a matter of concern for India since most of its shipping trade routes pass through the Gulf of Aden. Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said the country is prepared to play a leading role in the affairs of the Indian Ocean region for the larger benefit of all countries ‘in our region.’ Governor S C Jamir said that the Indian Ocean, which is the world’s third largest ocean covering an estimated one-fifth of the earth’s water surface, offers a plethora of opportunities. —Panchanan Agrawalla from Bhubaneswar
Now, as far as terrorism is concerned, it is motivated by political goals beyond the immediate act of attacking a target at sea. They are not influenced by money. Due to the psychological impact post an attack against energy targets, offshore platforms, pipelines and coastal cities, the groups achieve strategic objectives and therefore these groups are spending time, energy and resources. They always intend to hit a Government and to impact economies and civilian population to create fear. Five main factors which have encouraged terrorism at sea
(a) Trade through sea has increased.
(b) There is more understanding of commercial enterprises for seaborne trade and the nuances are better understood.
(c) An alternate to land route for causing mass economic and humandestabilisation.
(d) Offers a way to inflicting coercive punishment of enemy audiences.
(e) Global container-shipping complex offers terror groups a viable conduit for facilitating covert movement of weapons and personnel. Maritime trading system is designed to be easily accessible and flexible ( for low cost and high volume turnover), as such there is no strong incentive to enact stringent and disruptive regime of security measures. Weapon manufacturing big countries did not wish to include small arms in the Arms Trade Treaty and therefore Indian draft was vetoed out in the UN. And even India did not sign the treaty in protest.
What needs to be done in India?
(a) Our shortcoming is coordination in the Governmentt of various agencies. The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) needs to have an arm with Dy NSA (Maritime) as the head. It could have JS and Director level officers as stake holders to be able to co-ordinate a national response.
(b) Navy’s role is at far seas. With the growing stature of India in Indian Ocean Region, it is a near compulsion that India assumes leadership. At present, with the US withdrawal, China is in the process to occupy the vaccum of leadership in these oceans. Maritime Silk Route will provide legitimacy. Hence, India needs to protect its national interest. And for this Navy’s strong assets should be deployed.
(c) Coast Guard along with Marine Police, Fisheries, Shipping, Intelligence agencies should form part of this structure.
(d) The draft act which is with MHA needs modification and immediate tabling in the parliament.
(e) NCI cube system should have a node at NSCS; only maritime professionals can provide the domain expertise.
(f) Surveillance, both satellite, technical and human needs to be strengthened.
(g) The laws for preventing floating armouries needs immediate Enactment to avoid another Italian Marine situation.
Shekhar Sinha (The writer is Former Commander-in Chief, Western Naval Command and, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff)
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