HISTORY OF PIRATES: David Cordingly (translated by Yoshirou Masuda)
‘Kaizokutaizen’, Touyousyorin , 2000 by Kakeru Fujiwara
I study history of pirates. I read ‘Kaizokutaizen’ which was written by David Cordingly and Yoshirou Masuda translated it into Japanese. In the last term, I researched and introduced 3 topics – “the Golden Age of Pirates”, “Libertaria- country of liberty” and “modern pirates” which I was interested in, particularly. This term, I am going to pick up “the Golden Age of pirates” and especially, “modern pirates”. First, I want to introduce the presentation of my last term.
1．the Golden Age of pirates
1 war produces the member of privateer and peace produce pirates.
During the war, seamen were brought concessions and could commit piracy legally. But when the Peace of Utrecht was concluded in 1713 and War of the Spanish Succession ended, the member of privateer joined the ranks of the unemployed and became pirates. The difference between the member of privateer and pirates is having concessions or not.
2 doom of seamen around 1700 and the privilege of pirates.
The crews of warships or merchant ships were the people who were captured against their will or who were levied forcibly. For them, encounter with pirates is a chance of escape. And pirates often invited prisoner to become pirates. To become pirates is happiness because privileges of pirates are liberty and equality. For example pirates divided supplies which they robbed and enjoyed freedom as a partner that share danger.
3 rules of pirates.
The captain was selected by all crews and he worked along the crews. If he didn’t work so, he was dismissed from the captain. All crews participated in the meetings of pirates. The meeting is the top authority and they decided where they would go, what they would do and the disposal of various problems. And in the clauses of pirates, they professed democracy, equality and regulations.
2．Modern Pirates
1 present condition and the issue.
Now many pirates plunder around the world. For example, at Strait of Malacca, because of the excessive concentration of the merchant ships, many ships are caught in the traffic jam and are obliged to crawl. So these ships are targets of the coastal residents who want to rob the ships of supplies. The issues are following two points. The first is that the comprehensive definition of pirates don’t exist. The second is that we can’t get information about what pirates do.
2 international efforts
Movement to find the way to solution has being thought by the international groups such as United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and International Maritime Organization. But difference among countries, cultures and so on is the obstacle to solution. International Maritime Bureau is the institution which makes the best effort to solve the problem of pirates. IMB established pirate regions center in Kuala Lumpur. The center chases the state of pirates and warns about them not only to Southeast Asia but also around the world.
3 vista to the future.
How can we extirpate pirates? Trends of modern pirates are various in terms of the method of attack and geographical range. And the power of the state sometimes behaves as if they didn’t look the piracy even if they looked it. So we can’t and will be able to solve the problems of pirates by simple methods. The companies of the merchant service which are utmost victims hold the key to success. They can find the solutions by having help from mounting the international consensus.
This is the summary of my last presentation.
About modern pirates, I researched more specific incidents of each country and the question- why a lot of vessel companies don’t report damages from pirates?
Why a lot of vessel companies don’t report damages from pirates?
1. while crews of the ship are interrogated, the ship is held and it is dangerous and requires many cost.
2. there are many doubt that officers of the area concern with pirating.
Then I want to introduce modern pirates specifically.
1. pirates of 1980’s
a. Phillip Channel (between Indonesia and Singapore)
Pirates in this area transferred to the merchant ship from their high speed ship in the night and took away money and valuables without violence.
b. East Africa seashore
Pirates in this area used excessive violence when they attacked ships, and they robbed not only money and valuables but also facilities of the ship and shipments.
c. The South East Asia
Attacks of the pirates in this area planed well and were carried out with speed and address. In this area, pirates targeted oil tanker because broadsides of the oil tankers are low and it was easy to transfer. And the case that the oil tankers are attacked by pirates and stranded, it comes up environmental and commercial problems, seriously.
2. Strait of Malacca
The area of Strait of Malacca is one of the highest areas which damage from pirates. But provision against pirates which Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia began was effective and attacks of pirates are decreasing. But at Phillip Channel, because of the excessive concentration of the merchant ships, many ships are caught in the traffic jam and are obliged to crawl. So these ships are targets of the coastal residents who want to rob the ships of supplies.
3. The South and East China Sea
Inside ob the triangle which connects Hong Kong, Hainan Tao and Luzon is the most dangerous place in the world. From 1991 to 1993, according to IMO, pirating in this area occupied half figures of the incident which was reported around the world. The report that “Officers” who worn uniform of China transferred from the ships which clearly have marks of China and hijacked them, crowded into IMB. Chinese officers of border patrol bureau did most of these attacks without permission of government in order to benefit.
4. The Philippines
Pirating in The Philippines is increasing against the fact that pirating in the South East Asian countries are decreasing. But many of incidents took place only around Mindanao where troops of the government fight against Muslim separatists. In this area, pirates target fishermen who come from General Santos and rob fish, fishing implement and ships. The reason of increase of the pirates in The Philippines is the compulsion moving to the fisherman society which comes from the result of the deals to the poverty and unhealthy environment. Moreover, decay and ignorance take root in the government deeply and some officers concerns with pirates.
5. Africa
In 1981, The Nigerian coast was declared that it was the most dangerous area in the world by IMO. But now, the area is not dangerous so much. In Africa, new place of pirating is Somalia. In Somalia, civil war was continued and the government has lost their forces. The pirates of this area use heavy armaments such as hand grenades when they attack ships. Pirates act as if they were coast guard and actually, rotten officers pirate, in some case.
6. South and Central America
Pirating in the south and central America is especially outstanding in Colombia, Costa Rica and Ecuador. But the biggest problem is occurred in Santos and Rio de Janeiro which are two important ports in Brazil. The problem is attacks of pirates to the ships which are at anchor in the port.
Then I want to compare the modern pirates with the pirates who lived in the Golden Age of Pirates in terms of the aims of pirates.
Both modern pirates and pirates who lived in the Golden Age of pirates pirated because of poverty and due to benefit. And pirating becomes active only in the place and case that the authorities permit pirating. But pirates who lived in the Golden Age of pirates become active because of war and weakening of the country. While modern pirates become active because of civil war and corruption in government. Only pirates who lived in the Golden Age of pirates became pirates to seek liberty and equality
I’m going to research the changes from the pirates of the Golden Age of the pirates to modern pirates and compare from many sides. Moreover, I want to research pirates of various era and place and compare modern pirates with them.
A student made a mistake, so not available.
Studying about the sea and pirates seems much more difficult than picking out a country and studying the history of that country. But it is interesting to know about the area which the power of law cannot be reached and where the borders of countries are unclear. I think we can have a broader and global view of the history by looking at Mr. Fujiwara's study. I'm sure Prof. Akita would enjoy this.
By 4th grade Yamano Chiemi
I couldn’t ask questions at the class, but I have some questions. First, is there any peak of incidents of pirates? Before 1980s, are there any pirates? If there is increasing or decreasing of pirates act at one point, why? Second, how big the influences of pirates are in each period and area? Third, who is “pirates” in modern world? And is it possible to identify pirates?
He said that he wants to compare the modern pirates(1980s~) and the Golden age pirates(17th century), but I think comparing that two periods is not necessarily meaningful, because they are too different, for example, their social and economical backgrounds, systems of their countries, technique of sailing, international relations, and so on. He should think about comparing them well.
After the class, He said there are not many studies about pirates, and he is interested in the South and East China Sea pirates. If the studies are written in Chinese, he can’t read them well. So, this summer, first he should research about historians or researchers of pirates. I think his presentation was interesting.
By Hiroe DOI
As for Mr. Fujiwara's, I didn't know much about pirates so I was interested in it very much. The other day I watched "Pirates of the Caribbean; at the world's end ". Now I realized that I saw many pirates of "the Golden Age of pirates". However, I didn't understand much about the difference or relationship of other kind of pirates. So I think I want to get more information.
By Sakamoto Yoko, U4 student
The theme was very unique, so I enjoyed listening to Mr.Fujiwara's presentation. I'm interested in the pirates of the Golden Age, the 17th century, because I'm studying on the 17th century in my graduation thesis. Pirates, especially privateers were the major means of wars on the sea in the early modern age when there weren't the orderly navys. So the pirates in those days were not necessarily illegal. In the Dutch Republic in the 17th century, for example, pirates could be merchants or captains of trading ships, and some of them were admitted by the government. I think it is interesting to pay attention to the relation between pirates and the governments and to research what kind of people became the pirates.
By Kazuha Okimoto
I think his subject is interesting, because personally I am interested in pirates. His presentation, however, dealt with pirates very widely both in time and space. I wanted to know a little more minutely about activities of pirates of particular period and area. For my part, especially I wanted to know the relation between old pirates and navies or traders like the East India Trading Company. In any case, I am interested in how such a subject as pirates will become a graduation thesis.
By U4 Rika Kobata
I was interested in Mr. Fujiwara's presentation about 'History of Pirates'. I was surprised he had already a specific interest. I don't know about pirates much, but by his presentation I think study of pirates can be subject as historical study. I hope he will continue his research and focus what he really want to know.
By U4 Kanenari Akiko