Posted:
April 15, 2010
President Obama on April 12 issued an Executive Order invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and other federal laws to prevent the use of privately held U.S. assets to provide financial support to terrorists, insurgents and pirates in Somalia.
The Executive Order - which declared a "national emergency," and which also cited several United Nations Security Council resolutions - made no specific reference to potential ransom payments to Somali pirates by owners of hijacked U.S.-flagged merchant ships for the safe release of officers and crews and the return of vessels and their cargoes. Legal analysts were reviewing the Executive Order and its maritime implications.
AMO National Vice President at Large Mike Murphy will represent our union at an inter-agency meeting on this issue in Washington on Friday, April 16, and we will report to you on the outcome.
Tom Bethel
National President
Important notice on the piracy crisis off Somalia
President Obama on April 12 issued an Executive Order invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and other federal laws to prevent the use of privately held U.S. assets to provide financial support to terrorists, insurgents and pirates in Somalia.
The Executive Order - which declared a "national emergency," and which also cited several United Nations Security Council resolutions - made no specific reference to potential ransom payments to Somali pirates by owners of hijacked U.S.-flagged merchant ships for the safe release of officers and crews and the return of vessels and their cargoes. Legal analysts were reviewing the Executive Order and its maritime implications.
AMO National Vice President at Large Mike Murphy will represent our union at an inter-agency meeting on this issue in Washington on Friday, April 16, and we will report to you on the outcome.
Tom Bethel
National President