UN welcomes release of Thai hostages by Somali pirates

The UN Mission in Somalia on Friday welcomed the release on Thursday of Thai crewmen taken hostage at sea by Somali pirates in 2010.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG) Nicholas Kay said in a statement released in Mogadishu that the crewmen were released to Somali Regional Administration in Galmudug in central Somalia.

"This is the longest period of captivity by any hostages of Somali pirates. I am grateful to see the longest held hostages released from Somalia, and thank all those involved who made it happen, especially the regional authorities in Galmudug," Kay said.

The mission to recover the hostages was conducted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), funded by the Contact Group for Piracy off the Coast of Somalia's Trust Fund.

The four were from FV Prantalay 12, a fishing vessel. After being seized by the pirates in 2010, it was used by the pirates as a mother ship, before it eventually capsized in July 2011. The remaining crew was then taken ashore.

Of the original 24 crew members, six succumbed to illness at various stages of captivity, and 14 Myanmar crew members were released to the Puntland Maritime Police authorities. They were repatriated by the UNODC's Hostage Support Program in May 2011.

Kay also called for immediate release of the another 26 hostages abducted from another vessel, FV Naham 3.

"I remain deeply concerned that 26 crew members are still being held hostage in Somalia, and urge their release without further delay," he said. Endi