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| 'It's a pirate's life for me' | 'It's a pirate's life for me' |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| A 25-year-old Somali pirate has told the BBC's Mohamed Olad Hassan by telephone from the notorious den of Harardhere in central Somalia why he became a sea bandit. Dahir Mohamed Hayeysi says he and his big-spending accomplices are seen by many as heroes. | A 25-year-old Somali pirate has told the BBC's Mohamed Olad Hassan by telephone from the notorious den of Harardhere in central Somalia why he became a sea bandit. Dahir Mohamed Hayeysi says he and his big-spending accomplices are seen by many as heroes. |
| I used to be a fisherman with a poor family that depended only on fishing. | I used to be a fisherman with a poor family that depended only on fishing. |
| The first day joining the pirates came into my mind was in 2006. | The first day joining the pirates came into my mind was in 2006. |
| A group of our villagers, mainly fishermen I knew, were arming themselves. | A group of our villagers, mainly fishermen I knew, were arming themselves. |
| One of them told me that they wanted to hijack ships, which he said were looting our sea resources. | One of them told me that they wanted to hijack ships, which he said were looting our sea resources. |
| 'National service' | 'National service' |
| He told me it was a national service with a lot of money in the end. Then I took my gun and joined them. | He told me it was a national service with a lot of money in the end. Then I took my gun and joined them. |
| Now I have two lorries, a luxury car and have started my own business in town Dahir Mohamed Hayeysi | |
| Years ago we used to fish a lot, enough for us to eat and sell in the markets. | Years ago we used to fish a lot, enough for us to eat and sell in the markets. |
| Then illegal fishing and dumping of toxic wastes by foreign fishing vessels affected our livelihood, depleting the fish stocks. | Then illegal fishing and dumping of toxic wastes by foreign fishing vessels affected our livelihood, depleting the fish stocks. |
| I had no other choice but to join my colleagues. | I had no other choice but to join my colleagues. |
| The first hijack I attended was in February 2007 when we seized a World Food Programme-chartered ship with 12 crew. | The first hijack I attended was in February 2007 when we seized a World Food Programme-chartered ship with 12 crew. |
| I think it had the name of MV Rozen and we released it after two months, with a ransom. | I think it had the name of MV Rozen and we released it after two months, with a ransom. |
| One last job | One last job |
| I am not going to tell you how much it was, or three other hijackings I have been involved in since. | I am not going to tell you how much it was, or three other hijackings I have been involved in since. |
| Pirates have stepped up attacks on shipping in recent weeks | Pirates have stepped up attacks on shipping in recent weeks |
| My ambition is to get a lot of money so that I can lead a better life. | My ambition is to get a lot of money so that I can lead a better life. |
| Now I have two lorries, a luxury car and have started my own business in my town. | Now I have two lorries, a luxury car and have started my own business in my town. |
| I only want one more chance in piracy to increase my cash assets, then I will get married and give up. | I only want one more chance in piracy to increase my cash assets, then I will get married and give up. |
| Piracy is not just easy money - it has many risks and difficulties. | Piracy is not just easy money - it has many risks and difficulties. |
| Sometimes you spend months in the sea to hunt a ship and miss. | Sometimes you spend months in the sea to hunt a ship and miss. |
| Sometimes when we are going to hijack a ship we face rough winds, and some of us get sick and some die. | Sometimes when we are going to hijack a ship we face rough winds, and some of us get sick and some die. |
| Sometimes you fail in capturing and sometimes you come under threat by foreign navies, but all we do is venture. | Sometimes you fail in capturing and sometimes you come under threat by foreign navies, but all we do is venture. |
| Heroes | Heroes |
| Let me give you a good example. | Let me give you a good example. |
| Thousands of young desperate Somali [migrants] continue to risk their lives in the sea in search of a better life abroad. | Thousands of young desperate Somali [migrants] continue to risk their lives in the sea in search of a better life abroad. |
| Dahir Mohamed Hayeysi says foreign navies will not stop piracy So it is no surprise to see us in the same water, pirating in search of money - there is no difference. | Dahir Mohamed Hayeysi says foreign navies will not stop piracy So it is no surprise to see us in the same water, pirating in search of money - there is no difference. |
| We have local support; most of the people here depend on pirates directly or indirectly. | We have local support; most of the people here depend on pirates directly or indirectly. |
| Because if there is a lot of money in the town they can get some through friendship, relatives or business. | Because if there is a lot of money in the town they can get some through friendship, relatives or business. |
| Also our work is seen by many in the coastal villages as legal and we are viewed as heroes. | Also our work is seen by many in the coastal villages as legal and we are viewed as heroes. |
| The only way the piracy can stop is if [Somalia] gets an effective government that can defend our fish. | The only way the piracy can stop is if [Somalia] gets an effective government that can defend our fish. |
| And then we will disarm, give our boats to that government and will be ready to work. | And then we will disarm, give our boats to that government and will be ready to work. |
| Foreign navies can do nothing to stop piracy. | Foreign navies can do nothing to stop piracy. |