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30 May 2009
Somali pirates overjoyed to be captured by the compassionate Dutch
Elsevier reported (18 May) that five Somali pirates were overjoyed to be captured and taken away from their disagreeable task of hijacking tankers along the African coast and extorting millions out of a lily-livered West - only with the occasional murder or imprisonment in unimaginable squalor.
"My client is really happy to be in Holland, " said one of the pirate's (Dutch) lawyers. The pirate comes from a poor village where Sharia law prevails. "Now he is well fed. He can play football and watch television. He thinks the toilet in his cell is fantastic."
The lawyer explained to his client that he can count on a four year sentence, but after that he has a good chance of scoring a residential permit The pirate received this news joyfully. He wants to follow a course while in jail and after that wants to have his family come to join him."
One eminent (Dutch) academic pointed out that for reasons of safety the pirates could not be sent back after they had sat out their comfortable stay in the Dutch prison.
Refugee advocate groups brushed away tears, overcome by a demonstration of how well their political agitation and legislative manipulation can work, if only given the chance.
The joyful capture of a Somali pirate
comment: gerard@gerardcharleswilson.com