Rachel and Paul Chandler

Paul Chandler from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, who was seized with his wife Rachel when armed Somali pirates boarded their yacht, the Lynn Rival, in the early hours of 23 October, said he believed they could be killed in “three or four days”. David Batty, The Guardian.

The Somali pirates are demanding a £2m ransom for the release of Paul and Rachel – as they are not the crew of a ship containing an expensive cargo there’s little chance of anyone paying their ransom. This is what happens when wealthy oil companies and the like keep paying ransoms – it encourages more pirates – as these companies believe paying ransoms is the best course of action then they should dip into their pockets an pay Paul and Rachel’s ransom – it’s their actions that have encouraged the lawlessness that’s infesting the seas around Somalia – and perhaps instead of paying millions in ransom they might divert their millions to alleviating the abject poverty that’s driving some Somali’s to becoming pirates.