"To him, his actions had been in protection of his sea, the native waters he had known his while life: his hijackings, a legitimate form of taxation levied in absentia on behalf of a defunct government that he represented in spirit, if not in law" (26).
The "he" in this quote, is a pirate named Boyah that the author interviewed. Boyah and most pirates rely on piracy due to an ineffective government and view themselves as protectors of the seas.
Another important passage, I want to share is:
"Half the money went to the attackers, the men who actually captured the ship. A third went to the operation's investors: those who fronted the money for the ships, fuel, tracking equipment, and weapons. The remaining sixth went to everyone else: the guards ferried from shore to watch over the hostage crew, the suppliers of food and water, the translators (occasionally high school students on their summer break), and even the poor and disabled in the local community, who received some as charity. Such largesse, Boyah told me, had made his merry band into Robin Hood figures amongst the residents of Eyl" (199).
What I thought was interesting was that the author and the pirates view themselves as Robin Hood figures and the author refers the pirates as Robin Hood figures throughout the book. The pirates obviously pay themselves for their work but also contribute to the local community.
Everyday Somalian Pirates
Provided by Google
