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Somali Pirates in the Philippines

Associated Press
updated 6:32 p.m. ET, Wed., April 15, 2009

MANILA, Philippines - Ruel de Guzman seemed destined for a life at sea.

Several relatives have served in the U.S. Navy, and growing up in the Philippines, he envied the nice houses neighbors were able to buy on a seafarer's salary, much more than he could make on land.

For 20 years, the sea was good as de Guzman married, then started a family. He had risen to second mate on the MT Stolt Strength, a chemical tanker, sending home nearly $2,000 a month to support his wife Vilma, their four children and his 81-year-old mother.

"In the province, people flaunt their wealth, and so he wanted a nice house, too. His father was a tailor and his mother was a teacher. He was the first to finish school," Vilma de Guzman said. "He became a seaman to help his family."

Then on Nov. 10, Somali pirates swarmed aboard as the tanker sailed through the Gulf of Aden while hauling a cargo of phosphoric acid destined for Japan. Since then, the 46-year-old de Guzman and 22 other Filipino crew members have languished for months with scant rations, little water and constant threats as negotiations for their release drag on.

For them, a military rescue like the one that freed American Capt. Richard Phillips is unlikely because the Stolt Strength is anchored in a pirate stronghold. Their only hope is that a ransom will eventually be paid.

Can't afford ransom
While sailors from richer countries get freed relatively quickly in exchange for multimillion-dollar ransoms, those from poorer countries like the Philippines, Bangladesh and Indonesia often wait for months, stuck in the middle because the companies they work for can't afford to make a big payoff.

Almost half of the nearly 300 seamen currently held by Somali pirates are Filipinos — a Greek-owned ship was snatched Tuesday with 22 Filipinos on board, starting a fresh ordeal for a new group of families.

Vilma de Guzman was at the shipping company with other hostages' wives when her husband called last Friday for only the second time since the pirate takeover and talked with their three daughters, ages 15, 10 and 7, and their 9-year-old son.

"He told them, `Take care of mommy, take care of your siblings, love each other,'" Vilma de Guzman told The Associated Press. "He was saying goodbye to his kids just in case he does not come out of this ordeal alive."

"I know when you are a seaman, it's really a high risk. But to say that you'd be taken hostage by pirates, we never imagined that would happen to him. We continue to receive his salary. He gets a big salary, but what will we do ... if we lose my husband?"

In a sign that the on-again, off-again negotiations between the pirates and the Stolt Strength's owner, Sagana Shipping Inc., might be picking up again, de Guzman called again last Saturday, trying to track down the phone number of the Philippine company's general manager.

"He said the pirates asked them to call to put pressure on the company to pay ransom," Vilma de Guzman said, adding that her efforts to get more details were met with a chilling reply: "Don't ask too many questions because we can be heard on the speaker.'"

Getting down to business
Relatives of the hostages say that during the five months their loved ones have been held, the pirates have lowered their ransom demand from $5 million to $2.2 million. But there's no sign any payoff will come, despite the pirates' threat to haul the tanker further out to sea and use it as a mother ship to seize other foreign vessels.

Relatives blame Sagana Shipping, saying they have been misled about efforts to free the captives, and their complaints have spurred a Philippine government inquiry into the handling of the case, according to a report last month on the Web site of the maritime industry journal, Lloyd's List.

Capt. Dexter Custodio, the spokesman for Sagana Shipping, denied suggestions the company hasn't been doing enough to free the hostages, saying it has tried to negotiate with the pirates but that has proven difficult.

"They don't want to talk to us. They would just slam the phone...The main thought is it's a business and discussions will go to that — how much ransom do they want?" Custodio said.

Hostage conditions
A spokesman for the ship's London-based charter company, Stolt-Nielsen, said arguments between different factions of pirates holding the vessel has hampered efforts to free it. "These disputes have made communication with those holding the ship and crew more difficult," spokesman Martin Baxendale said Wednesday.

And while the manpower companies that contract the seamen have to pay double-pay for hazardous duty in pirate zones and carry insurance for payouts to their families in case of injury or death, it's unclear whether that is enough for a multimillion-dollar ransom, said Nelson Ramirez, president of the United Filipino Seafarers union.

As the months drag on, the crew has been kept confined on the ship's bridge with little to eat or drink and wearing only the clothes they were seized in, according to relatives.
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Anything of value — including clothing, her husband's wedding ring and all the money he had saved to send home — were grabbed by the pirates, Vilma de Guzman said.

"They take a bath but can't change their clothes," she said. "He said they eat very little. My husband holds the medicines and takes care of the other crew because he has some medical training. He said, `Many of us are getting sick.'"

Mental torture
Among the ailing is 36-year-old Rodell Boretta, who was shot in the leg by a stray bullet during an argument between two of the pirates, according to his wife, Catherine, who said she feared the wound was now infected.

She and other relatives described mock executions and other psychological abuse when ransom negotiations break down.

"When the pirates and the office have a disagreement during negotiations, the hostages are asked to line up and the pirates scare them by firing their guns near their heads," Catherine Boretta said.

Catherine Boretta says her husband was shot in the leg by a stray bullet during an argument between two pirates.

The wife of the ship's 62-year-old captain, Abelardo Pacheco, said that during the brief phone conversations she has been allowed with her husband, she hears pirate voices in the background, dictating what to say.

"The crew has been there for a long time now and are mentally tortured," Asuncion Pacheco said.

For the wife of Carlo Deseo, the ship's 31-year-old third mate and a father of 4-year-old and 5-year-old daughters, the hardest part has been the distress she hears in her husband's voice.

"We talked only twice, on Nov. 26 and last Friday," Doris Deseo said.

On Friday, "Carlo was sobbing. He asked me not to cry and wanted me to be strong. He told me that their homecoming is in the hands of their office," she said.

"The office people told us that all the hostages' accounts could be scripted and could be part of a psych war. I asked them: 'Is the crying part of the script? I know my husband, and he is not an actor.'"

LETTER OF INTENT DUE TONIGHT @ 11:59 PM!

LETTER OF INTENT DUE TONIGHT @ 11:59PM
please email wesley huynh to huynhwe@bc.edu with name, year, interested position, and preferred interview time.

OPEN POSITIONS:

director of social and political affairs:The Director of Social and Political Affairs is responsible for researching news and issues that pertain to the Southeast Asian community, sharing these findings at e-board meetings, and updating the blog with these findings bi-weekly. He/she is also in charge of finding new strategies to educate e-board, SEASA members, and the greater BC community, as well as proposing events that SEASA could hold that may share these social/political issues with the BC community.

ahana caucus rep: The AHANA Caucus Rep is the liaison between SEASA and the AHANA Caucus. The Caucus Rep attends weekly AHANA Caucus meetings, serving as the voice and contact for SEASA at these meetings and promoting any issues/events relevant to the club. Similarly, the Caucus Rep reports any news from the AHANA Caucus and the AHANA Leadership Council back to the e-board. Additionally, the Caucus Rep will represent this organization by attending the events of other cultural groups to show support. The Caucus Rep should also work to promote solidarity within the AHANA community and the entire BC community through co-sponsorships and other collaborative programs.

culture show coordinator: The Culture Show Coordinator is responsible for coordinating, organizing, and overseeing SEASA's annual culture show in the spring semester. In addition to brainstorming themes and ideas, the Culture Show Coordinator is the main resource for researching different dances and performances. He/she also plans out practices and is the main contact for the performers in the show.

webmaster: The Webmaster is responsible for the maintenance of the SEASA website, keeping consistent updates and accessibility for its visitors. The Webmaster may also serve as a resource for publicity needs, such as designing flyers and other promotional tools.

interview info:
interviews will be held this FRIDAY april 17th from 2-4 PM. please pick a time within the 2:00-4:00 time frame when sending in your letter of intent.


please contact christine chung (chungcd@bc.edu ) or wesley huynh (huynhwe@bc.edu ) with any questions.
thank you.

ELECTION TIME!!!!!

HEY EVERYONE!

SEASA 09-10 elections is Tuesday April 14th 7:00 in Devlin 010.

Eligibility:

- Candidates must have attended 2 SEASA events in 08-09 school year

- Candidates can not study abroad during 09-10 school year

- Candidates can only hold 1 position in a culture club board

- Anyone who has interest in a leadership position for SEASA is eligible to run

If interested: please email Wesley Huynh at huynhwe@bc.edu by Monday April 13th 11:30 PM

Please draft a speech of 3-5 minutes during the election time.  

Following is a description of positions:

President:  President: The President is responsible for the well-being of its club officers and its members, and is responsible for directing the club towards its goals and mission. The President is responsible for facilitating meetings, delegating tasks and duties to other officers, and overseeing all the events that the club holds. The President is also a member of the Asian Caucus cabinet and attends meetings with the AC cabinet and AHANA Leadership Council.

Vice President: The Vice President assumes the responsibilities of the president in his/her absence. In addition, the Vice President fills that gap left by any other position on the e-board and provides support for these tasks and responsibilities. The Vice President also serves as a directory of freshmen outreach and perspectives students.

Treasurer: The Treasurer is primarily responsible for the Student Organization Funding Committee (SOFC) budget proposal for the upcoming academic year, as well as any additional allocations that may follow. The Treasurer also maintains the budget throughout the year, providing account updates and acting as the liaison between SEASA and the ODSD budget office. He/she is also responsible for filing related paperwork and processing payments and reimbursements for the club.

Secretary: The Secretary is responsible for keeping minutes during every e-board meeting and documenting all SEASA events, activities, and programs. The Secretary is also the liaison between the e-board and the SEASA membership, maintaining the listserv and sending updates to the members.

Culture Show Coordinator: The Culture Show Coordinator is responsible for coordinating, organizing, and overseeing SEASA's annual culture show in the spring semester. In addition to brainstorming themes and ideas, the Culture Show Coordinator is the main resource for researching different dances and performances. He/she also plans out practices and is the main contact for the performers in the show.

AHANA Caucus Representative: The AHANA Caucus Rep is the liaison between SEASA and the AHANA Caucus. The Caucus Rep attends weekly AHANA Caucus meetings, serving as the voice and contact for SEASA at these meetings and promoting any issues/events relevant to the club. Similarly, the Caucus Rep reports any news from the AHANA Caucus and the AHANA Leadership Council back to the e-board. Additionally, the Caucus Rep will represent this organization by attending the events of other cultural groups to show support. The Caucus Rep should also work to promote solidarity within the AHANA community and the entire BC community through co-sponsorships and other collaborative programs.

External Representative: The External Rep promotes SEASA outside of the Boston College community. The External Rep is responsible for finding and establishing contact with other Southeast Asian organizations (both student and non-student groups).

Director of Social and Political Affairs: The Director of Social and Political Affairs is responsible for researching news and issues that pertain to the Southeast Asian community, sharing these findings at e-board meetings, and updating the blog with these findings bi-weekly. He/she is also in charge of finding new strategies to educate e-board, SEASA members, and the greater BC community, as well as proposing events that SEASA could hold that may share these social/political issues with the BC community.

Webmaster: The Webmaster is responsible for the maintenance of the
SEASA website, keeping consistent updates and accessibility for its visitors. The Webmaster may also serve as a resource for publicity needs, such as designing flyers and other promotional tools.

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU everyone for coming to our culture show!!

thank you to: all the participants, VSA, PSBC and the audience!

We could not have done this with out each and one of you!!

Thank you!!!

*highlights from the show coming soon! stay tuned!!

CULTURE SHOW TONIGHT!!!

SEASA culture show TONIGHT!!!

GASSON 100 @ 6:30!

FREE FOOD!   FREE ENTRY!!!

come see your amazing friends perform!! 

love,

your seasaeboard08-09

Dying, and Alone in Myanmar

International Herald Tribune
A 49-year-old man in the advanced stages of H.I.V. has not told friends about his situation because of the social stigma attached to the disease. "The worst thing for me is the loneliness," he said. Two weeks after this photograph was taken, he died.


Dying, and Alone, in Myanmar
April 1, 2009
By SETH MYDANS

BANGKOK — The most heartbreaking moment for doctors and nurses treating people with H.I.V./AIDS in Myanmar is the arrival of a new patient. Running short of funds and medications, clinics have started turning dying people away.

“They continue to knock on our doors, even though we can’t take in most of them,” said Joe Belliveau, operations manager of the international aid group Médecins Sans Frontières.

The 23 clinics run by the group, also known as Doctors Without Borders, are the primary dispensers in Myanmar of the antiretroviral drugs that can prolong the lives of those infected with H.I.V., the virus that leads to AIDS. So most of the people it cannot treat are likely to die.

The people of Myanmar, a country that seems to have been marked for suffering, receive little foreign assistance — the country ranks among the lowest per capita for such aid in the world. The same is true for assistance for people with H.I.V./AIDS.

Médecins Sans Frontières estimates that 240,000 people are currently infected with H.I.V. in Myanmar and that 76,000 are in urgent need of antiretroviral drugs. Every year, about 25,000 people with the virus die.

The group’s clinics have been providing 11,000 people with the antiretroviral drugs that keep them alive. The longer they live, the more treatment they need. The group says it is unable to increase its budget there without taking money away from people in need elsewhere.

Last year it made the difficult decision to stop accepting any new patients in order to continue treating the old ones. It has opened its doors a little bit this year, accepting 3,000 new patients, still a fraction of those in need.

“When we stopped last July it was devastating for the staff,“ Belliveau said. “They couldn’t even treat the ones dying on their doorsteps.”

This year, the United Nations-backed Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has applied for government permits to bring antiretroviral drugs into Myanmar, and the number of people receiving treatment is likely to rise.

But that will only be one step. Fewer than 20 percent of those who need the drugs receive them, either from international groups or, in very small amounts, from the government, Médecins Sans Frontières said in a report released in November.

When a photographer visited a clinic a few months ago, he found anguish and fatalism among the people who had not received the drugs.

“I can only live longer if I have ART,” said one 28-year-old woman, referring to the antiretroviral treatment she needs. “Most of the money and possessions I had are already gone. My family sends me food from the village, but they cannot support my treatment. If I get ART I will be able to live, if not, I will die.”

In one room the photographer found a 49-year-old man, gaunt and weak, sitting on the side of a bed. He had no family, and because of the stigma of the disease he was ashamed to tell his friends or co-workers about it.

“The worst thing for me is the loneliness,” he said.

Two weeks after his picture was taken, he was dead.