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1. Jim Nicoll - Member

   MY COMMENT:
   The agony of a pirate’s mother
   Somalia Report 02/15/2012

   Buraan is a small town in eastern Sanaag and home to one of Somalia notorious pirates Fuad Warsame Seed, known as Hanaano. Somalia Report interviewed his mother, Asha Urad.

   Please tell us who is Hanaano?

   He is a first born son and one of my six children. He is now 46 years old and a father of seven children.

   When did you discover that Hanaano was a pirate?

   Initially, my son was a fisherman in Lasqoray district. He had a small boat which he used to go fishing with. He was happy with his wife and his two sons and was taking care of them. Suddenly he got a new car, a house in Bossaso and married another wife. Then everything changed, my son used to be a peaceful man, but I noticed many changes in him within a few months, then I heard from the people that he is a pirate.

   Did you ask him where he gets all this money and what people say about him?

   Yes, of course. But he told me he works with Lasqoray tuna fish factory, and that the company lent him some money and he will pay them later, and he said people are lying.

   You said he was a peaceful man, and you saw many changes in him, tell us more please

   My son never carried weapons in front of his kids, he had only one AK47 to guard his boat. But he started arming militia and he became like a warlord. He used to respect elderly people, he used to listen to his family, but he stopped doing all that.

   Hanaano was one of two pirate leaders in the United Nations (UN) report in march 2010, were you aware of that? What was your reaction to the news?

   At the time, I was more concerned about his situation and before the UN report some elders told me that my son is a pirate man. Before the UN report I never imagined my son could be so dangerous. I don\'t know how to read and write but I heard about it from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and I only knew of it from there. I am a mother I don\'t like to see my son suffering, also I don\'t like to see my son hurting others, I felt very bad.

   The UN report said Hanaano has contributed $200,000 to Puntland’s interior minister at the time Ilkajiir was contesting for Puntland presidency. What do you know of relations between your son and Ilkajiir?

   I don\'t know whether my son contributed that money, but before the elections Ilkajiir visited Buraan and met the people of the district. At that time my son was here in and he met Ilkajiir that day. After the elections, Ilkajiir and my son met in Buraan again and they left together. Another day, my son was arrested by the police in Bosaso, Ilkajiir had him released from jail.

   Do you know where your son is? Have you met him since his imprisonment? Is there anyone from his militia in jail with him?

   I was told he was arrested in Yemen. But I have not seen him since. I don\'t know anything else really.

   Have you met Mr. Ilkajiir since your son was arrested?

   Yes, Ilkajiir himself told me where my son is, and he promised that he will free him. He sent two guys to Yemen, my nephew and one of his employers to convince the Yemen authorities to release my son, but the authorities have only accepted to reduce his sentence to five instead of 15 years.

   Where is the money that Hanaano generated from piracy operation?

   I don\'t know and I don\'t want to know. I lost my daughter because of that money, my other son murdered a young man because of that money and one of my nephews is in jail in USA.

   What happened to your daughter?

   Another pirate group which Hanaano was working with before his imprisonment attacked my daughter. They wanted to steal her car, unfortunately she was killed during the robbery and one of my sons was wounded.

   How did your son murder another man, and why?

   In the summer of 2009, my son and three other Hanaano militia men disagreed over some money and my son tried to kill them all, but unfortunately a young man in the street was the hapless victim.

   What would you advice Somali youth who are trying to become like Hanaano?

   Please stay away from it. It would be better for you to die instead of becoming a pirate

   Posted 3 months ago #

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