Two crew of the Sea Shepherd who illegally boarded the Japanese whaling ship Yushin Maru No. 2 in the Antarctic have been captured. According to the Director General of the Institute of Cetacean Research, Mr Minoru Morimoto, Ben Potts and Giles Lane (both of the Sea Shepherd) attempted to entangle the screw of the vessel using ropes and threw bottles of acid onto the decks before boarding.
Ben Potts
Giles Lane
“Any accusations that we have tied them up or assaulted them are completely untrue,” Mr Morimoto said. “It is illegal to board another country’s vessels on the high seas. As a result, at this stage, they are being held in custody while decisions are made on their future.”
Acid Bottle Smashed on Deck
Acid Bottle Thrown by Pirates
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD is a critical thinker with expertise in the scientific method.
See http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/01/15/eawhale115.xml
for another view of the story. As SSCS videoed much of what took place it will be interesting to see if the two actually were tied to the mast, etc.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/16/2139306.htm
Perhaps he put the cable ties on himself?
Boarding a vessel illegally at sea is technically piracy, on my reading of the law.
Staging a stunt for the media in defence of whales the Japanese are illegally killing for their premium consumer market is fine, but I don’t think the protesters have any right not to expect to be detained on board. Ship’s safety is paramount and having unknown idiots running around on board is a hazard.
I note the Japanese have released the men, or have said they will.
They clearly know they’re on their own on this matter. Notional Australian control of the waters they’re in and Japan’s refusal to recognise that control are mutually exclusive opposite poles of the argument.
End of story.
One has to wonder if the “stunts” are not taking place on both sides.
Of course there was another story that broke yesterday:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/whale-watch/stop-whale-hunt-court/2008/01/15/1200159426046.html?s_cid=rss_news
These blokes are lucky.
If anyone had attempted to board my yacht, [a British registered ship] uninvited, at sea, I would have shot them, as was my legal right.
The only cowboys who impress me are the ones who ride buck jumpers.
Hi Libby, I plan to report on the court decision tomorrow – I want to do some background reading. And in the meantime I need to do some real work.
>The only cowboys who impress me are the ones who ride buck jumpers.
Don’t these horses often have the girth down around their genitals in order to have them buck for the crowd? Sounds like more stunts.
In Japan, chief cabinet secretary Machimura has slammed both the Australian court decision and the actions of Sea Shepherd at a press conference.
Popular discussion forums are running fairly wild with less than complimentary things to say of the Australian government.
The ICR has it’s name everywhere on this, giving the impressions that its concerned with science. According to the ICR, they whale for valid research purposes, (despite scientific consensus and IWC votes otherwise) so who and what to believe?
David if popular opinion isn’t a reason to stop whaling then opinions, whether minority or popular, count for nothing in a legal court decision. Try arguing the case instead but actually you can’t, it would need be tried internationally
Throw out the law for mob rule pinxii?
Australia has no right imposing its law outside of Australia and Sea Shepherd had no right boarding a foreign vessel in the open sea without prior invitation – an act of piracy
Lets see how Minister Garrett plays this one
As Sea Shepherd is refusing to take back their criminal mates and agree to cease their illegal activities, the Japanese have now requested the Australian government to take the trespassers off their hands.
Off topic but a little gossip. I have met Peter the Sea Shepherds second officer in the Swedish GP office. He was a Gp activist as well.
He told me about his adventures in the Southern Oceans. The time I met him I asked him if he would take part in the Greenpeace’s action against GMOs. No, he said , I’m going to protest against medical research on primates in Stockholm.
What’s the cook and an engineer doing delivering a letter to a ship’s captain. Anyway, haven’t they heard of semaphore, radio, sms, an email?
To answer proteus,
this all stems back to last year (I think) when the Japanese said they would hold any “invaders” and take them back to Japan to be tried as ecoterrorists.
The rebadged SS Steve Irwin claims their radio calls to SS Yushin Maru have gone unanswered. If this is true then the Japanese could have a case to answer; they must answer marine radio calls. However, if the SS Steve Irwin have been making nuisance calls then they also have a case to answer, one of improper usage of marine radio.
So what SS Steve Irwin are saying is that they made repeated legitimate calls to SS Yushin Maru advising them of the Australian High Court decision, which went unanswered and they then had to make physical contact to advise them. They used an Australian and a UK national, to trigger a foreign affair situation. Looks good so far except the Australian High Court cannot legitimately make a decision over actions in area over which they have no jurisdiction and the japanese are well aware of their rights, as they should be. So Japan now has the moral high ground, Australia has “cooked up” a scenario to invade Japanese sovereignty. Japan could now easily push Australia into a corner from which there is no escape thereby Australia would lose its legitimacy in diplomatic discussions.
Stupid Rudd and stupider Garrett
“The only cowboys who impress me are the ones who ride buck jumpers.”
Are you a buck jumper?
and lastly…
as of today public opinion in Australia (talk back radio etc) and the Govt (Tanya Pliberseck) is
1 anti whaling
2 anti activists
3 pro Japan
so it looks awfully like an own goal. eh?
” Japan accuses anti whalers for prolonging the release of hostage” – NZ Herald ( Sorry, the link doesn’t work).
The Japanese have tried to take contact with the Steve Irwing , but they don’t respond. According to the Japanese this is becuase the SS wants longer media attention on this case…the whale’s circus continues….
My personal opinion is that the Japanese have misjudged the situation and detained the SS crew.
This is exactly what activists groups want ( GP and SS) to create media attention. The Japanese are acting like Motty wants and has described here on the blog. The score is 1-0 to SS IMO after this Japanese action to detain activists…
Australian Foreign Minister:
“From the very first day I urged all parties in this matter to exercise restraint. It is quite clearly the case that restraint hasn’t occurred here,” he said.
Anyone who seriously thought that Sea Shepherd would heed such a request needs their head read. Australia ought have restrained Sea Shepherd themselves, same goes for Holland.
“CANBERRA – The Japanese whaling fleet says protest ship the Steve Irwin is deliberately avoiding its attempts to hand over two detained crew members”- NZ Herald
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10487091
Which talk back radio do you listen to Rog? One caller I heard suggested the Japanese were using the hostages for research.
>” Japan accuses anti whalers for prolonging the release of hostage”
And the ‘hostages’ weren’t restrained either…
>It is quite clearly the case that restraint hasn’t occurred here
Seems like restraint has occurred here, only the Japanese are denying it! Southern bluefin tuna quotas anyone?
Ann,
Japan has requested that Australia take the Sea Shepherd pirates off their hands several hours ago, after Sea Shepherd failed to respond.
If Australia has any sense at all it will cooperate with Japan on this much at least.
An important aspect to the boarding by Sea Shepherd is the location of the ships, especially in relation to the recent Federal Court Decision granting an injunction in relation to the whale sanctuary designated by Australia in relation to the 200 nautical miles from the coast of its Antartic Territory. The Japanese (see http://www.whaling.jp/english/release/japan's_research_whaling_and_the_IWC.pdf ) do not recognise this sanctuary, and state:
In regards to Australia’s designated sanctuary, many countries including the U.S. and
Japan do not recognize Australia’s Antarctic claim. The Antarctic Treaty, to which
Australia is a member, freezes all Antarctic claims. From the perspective of the
international community therefore, Australia’s claim and its sanctuary in Antarctic waters,
which it has declared under its domestic legislation, has no legal standing in international law and therefore no effect.”
Just what is the legal status of Australia’s claims and thus is there any justification of the boarding of the Japanese ship by Sea Shepherd?
Get a grip travis, it was the ABC
“Which talk back radio do you listen to Rog? One caller I heard suggested the Japanese were using the hostages for research.”
Good idea actually,test out this 2007 claim by Watson :
” no one squirted butyric acid into anyone’s eye, and even if they did, this is a simple non-toxic butter acid, basically rancid butter. It will not cause eye injury”
Pour some into the lads eyes and test / see what they say Paul? 😉 from the pics it looks like a bottle or two didnt break…
Boarding ships? they deserve whatever they get…
According to Reuters, “straw polls in Australia showed many people thought the activist group had gone too far.”
Unscientific poll in New Zealand:
Should Greenpeace share information with the more militant anti-whaling campaigners the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society?
Yes, they’re both trying to stop Japanese whaling (152 votes, 13.9%)
No, Sea Shepherd’s tactics are too violent (939 votes, 86.1%)
>Get a grip travis, it was the ABC
My quote re SS crew comes from the ABC. And it was not JJJ. Relax your grip Rog, you’ll go blind.
So how come the Japanese, who seemingly want to return these crew to their vessel, steamed off in the opposite direction and are only now (allegedly) turning back around to where they left the Irwin?
As Watson points out, the Aus Gov chased a Uruguay Patagonian toothfish vessel around the the Southern Ocean, at great expense and for what? The only difference here is that Uruguay is third world and Japan is our most important trading partner.
Games by all sides, but hopefully the whales can dine in peace.
Off topic but connection to whales activists and Sea Shepherd.
As I have previously written on the blog, the Norwegian whaler ” the Willassen Senior” was scuttled by animal rights activists in Norway in August.
Now the whaler is substituted with another whaling boat , the Radek, according to Norwegian media:
http://www.fiskaren.no/incoming/article159191.ece
The owner of the whaling boat has got money to replace the sunken whaler ( worth 20 million NOK).
The owner stated that he was unsure if the whaling vessel could participate in this year’s hunt but , but would be ready for the whaling season in 2009.
” Games by all sides, but hopefully the whales can dine in peace. ” – Travis
Yeah Travis, me neither want any whales killed, but the question is ” do these actions help saving whales or are they just for fundraising?”
Rant, rant…why I pose this question is because the SS accuses GP actions in the Southern Oceans as motivated by fundraising and GP does the same re SS…
And finally , prominent anti whalers in Iceland and Norway don’t want any direct actions against whalers and hope that SS & Co stay out of Nordic waters….
the japenese should just put the two of them off in their own little boat with 2 weeks of food, water and a radio and say, “good luck, go find your mates”. bet the sea shepherd would appear from just out of sight in no time.
“So how come the Japanese, who seemingly want to return these crew to their vessel, steamed off in the opposite direction and are only now (allegedly) turning back around to where they left the Irwin?”
Sea Shepherd is a dangerous organization and the Japanese don’t want to take actions that put the lives of their crew or their property at risk in the fragile Antarctic environment. I’m sure you can accept that much Travis.
Meanwhile a Sea Shepherd activists reportedly dropped $9,000 worth of camera equipment into the pristine Antarctic environment during a media exercise, not to mention rope that they had tried to damage the Japanese vessels with.
SS activists have not ruled out invading SS Yushin Maru to free the “hostages” – should this happen it would be an act of war by a terrorist organisation against a sovereign nation. None of this will help the situation, by ratchetting up the hype they will ensure that japan will take defensive action.
SSCS is flagged by the Dutch, so as far as I can make out Japan would already have a very valid protest to lodge with the Dutch about the actions of SSCS.
I am expecting the Dutch will strip the SSCS of their flag; If they don’t I’ll be rather surprised, but not completely – the Dutch agreed to flag this organization in the first place. The definition of “protest” evidently differs quite a lot between the east and west.
SSCS won’t attempt to send their commando chefs in though, because the YM2 can outrun Steve Irwin. They’ll just keep pumping out their propaganda instead. Japan is looking to offload to the Australians anyway, then get back to work.
Media Release from Whalers: RELEASE OF SEA SHEPHERD INTRUDERS
Since the night of the 15th of January (Antarctic time), the Institute of Cetacean Research in Tokyo has been attempting to contact the Sea Shepherd vessel, the Steve Irwin, to return the intruders to their group.
Mr Minoru Morimoto said today that transfer must be done in a manner that ensures the safety and protection of the crew and scientists aboard the Yushin Maru No.2, and therefore the ICR has prescribed the conditions for the handover.
During the handover, the Steve Irwin must remain at least 10 nautical miles away from the Japanese vessels. The men are to be transported using the same method for their illegal boarding – by zodiac boat.
The Steve Irwin must remain in a static position as instructed and the helicopter is to remain on deck of that vessel during the handover.
The decision to return the men is without prejudice to follow-up legal action that might be taken by the ICR or another Japanese organisation in relation to the men’s illegal boarding of the Japanese flagged vessels.
Mr Morimoto said that while efforts have been taken for the last two days to communicate with the Steve Irwin through the ICR in Tokyo, Sea Shepherd has yet to formally respond to us. The organisation has, however, distributed to media false and misleading information on these conditions and is misrepresenting the ICR letter.
“The transfer of the two intruders can only be done in the manner as prescribed by the ICR and which is designed to secure the safety of our crew and research vessels. The protection of the Japanese crew is paramount, and Sea Shepherd must agree not to conduct harassment activity while this is being carried out,” Mr Morimoto said.
“Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has called on the Japanese government and environmental activists to exercise restraint to allow the safe return of two men being detained on a Japanese whaling vessel.”
This is not what Mr. Rudd should be saying.
According to Japan’s Fisheries Agency, the 2 men have been given 3 meals a day plus snacks, and as they said “we would like to eat tempura”, they cooked them tempura on the ship and fed them with it. Good little puppies.
>Sea Shepherd is a dangerous organization and the Japanese don’t want to take actions that put the lives of their crew or their property at risk in the fragile Antarctic environment. I’m sure you can accept that much Travis.
So then why be so provacative and keep the two men, along with publicly lashing them to outside structures? Seems like a another publicity stunt, hence the quick release of the images we see here. It is amusing to see how the Japanese spin operates vs that of SS.
>Meanwhile a Sea Shepherd activists reportedly dropped $9,000 worth of camera equipment into the pristine Antarctic environment
Yeah, and a researcher I know of had his camera gear as well as a whole heap of other equipment go into the ‘pristine’ waters too during rough weather. Where do you think the Japanese whalers put their cigarette butts David? Are you sure SS left the rope there, or relying on ‘facts’ from the whalers?
>They’ll just keep pumping out their propaganda instead.
Yeah, the Japanese are good at that. There is nothing to say that what the Japanese are telling us with regards to SS not contactng them, etc, etc is true. For a start, this post begins with “Any accusations that we have tied them up or assaulted them are completely untrue,” Mr Morimoto said. Yes, completely Mr Morimoto. Seems the Japanese are good at looking like the victims in all this.
Anyone care to speculate on how SSCS heard about the “conditions” for the release of their “hostages” considering that:
“We have not received a single call or email from the Japanese government or the whalers at all. The Japanese media have been able to get through to us but we haven’t heard anything from the Japanese government or whalers at all,” says Paul Watson.
http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/WeatherNews/Japanesewhalersyettoreleasecaptives/tabid/422/articleID/43679/cat/76/Default.aspx
Travis, I believe Morimoto was refering to the circumstances in which the illegal trespassers were being held, which is probably why the photo images were released. What do you believe?
From the headiness of the 2007 election campaign the neophyte ALP govt are now clearly floundering; Foreign Minister Smith just spent 10 minutes waffling on about their no1 priority – ensuring safety of “captured” Sea Shepherd persons.
Forget the original pledge to use the Aust. Navy to monitor whale catching operations and use foreign trade as a weapon; now its about beating a hasty retreat.
“If it wins office, Labor plans to use military resources, such as surveillance aircraft, to monitor the whaling vessels and gather evidence to mount a case against their so-called scientific research.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Robert McClelland believes Australians are “offended and distressed” by Japan’s killing of whales and dolphins, which often end up on their dining tables.
“It’s a live issue out there and that has to be communicated to the Japanese representatives,” he told reporters.
“That is going to be a really strong point of emphasis for a future Labor government.”
Mr McClelland said the issue could even be up for discussion during free trade negotiations between Australia and Japan.
“The issue is of such significance to Australians that everything has got to be on the table,” he said.
Labor would begin its campaign by trying to get international rulings against whaling – using evidence gained through monitoring – but ultimately wanted to convince the Japanese that it was wrong.
“We are going to use, if appropriate, military resources to monitor the activities of the whaling vessels,” Mr McClelland said.
“Currently there is no monitoring. We are dependent upon the reports that they provide, from their self-interest point of view.”
My understanding is that GP has been roped in to deliver messages.
>The Japanese media have been able to get through to us
So it is perfectly reasonable that they got the info from here.
>I believe Morimoto was refering to the circumstances in which the illegal trespassers were being held, which is probably why the photo images were released.
Sorry David, don’t follow you.
rog,
Very much so. This has worked out good for Japan – had that Australian spy vessel not been dispatched when it was, the Japanese wouldn’t be able to request it’s cooperation to get rid of these illegal trespassers so easily. So the spies are now aiding Japan in getting it’s whaling operations underway again. I hope the Japanese at least oblige them with some “evidence” for their trouble, gotta save face for Australia since they are friends with Japan.
I said before the election that I hoped the Rudd govt be elected and I’m certainly glad of that now, now all I hope for things to be perfect is for Australia to take a case to court in accordance with advice from guys like Professor Rothwell, who sure seems to know a thing or two about law, but (to my mind) jack-all about the scientific issues involved in the dispute, which is ultimately why his legal advice will fail (same with the SBT case).
for some light relief:
http://www.highnorth.no/Cartoon/th-gr-in.htm
Don’t be sorry Travis, I got a laugh out of it.
I’m glad you find your illogical rantings funny David. They provide some entertainment for others too!
Have a good look!
http://oceans.greenpeace.org/raw/image_full/en/photo-audio-video/photos/the-yushin-maru-catcher-ship-o.jpg
Jennifer why do you post press releases from the single-minded Institute for Cetacean Reductions but not from the SS pirates? Has the political banner for this blog replaced all pretense at even handed debate?
More than 3,000 messages at 2ch on the story of “Sea Shepherd activists (terrorists) treated with ‘Tempura’. Their own room, and even a ‘3 pm snack’ each day’. (Plus thousands more messages on other similar threads)
Yet the Aussie mass media eagerly reported their “hunger strike” 😉
“Yet the Aussie mass media eagerly reported their “hunger strike” ;)”
The only mention of a hunger strike I heard was on one TV news bulletin which said Ben Potts had been considering one. The net, print, radio and other TV bulletins have mentioned nothing and I have been reading, listening and watching throughout the day. Sounds like more propaganda from Japan. Were you expecting the whalers to starve them? Seriously? Of course they were going to be fed.
It’s as ridiculous as the howls about the Australian tax payer’s having to pick up the bill for their transfer to the Oceanic Viking. The vessel was supposed to be with the fleet anyway, and as Bob Debus said, would normally be in southern waters patrolling. Of course the public now has every reason to question the practicalities of this routine.
Welcome back Pagmatic and Pinxi.
Facinating stuff : Watson
01/15/2008
“Both men were assaulted and then tied to the railings of the whaler. They were then moved and tied to the radar mast by the whalers.”
“Paul Watson, captain of the Sea Shepherd’s vessel the Steve Irwin, and the activists claimed that they were mistreated, almost thrown overboard, tied to the whaler’s rail, tied downstairs with freezing water up to their knees and later on tied up to a radar post on the upper deck in below freezing temperatures before being locked up in a cabin downstairs.”
01/18/2008 three days later :
” Both men reported that although they were roughed up when they first boarded the whaling ship, that they were treated well during their time onboard. The only injury was a bruised wrist suffered by Giles Lane.”
Oops …
More ‘fascinating stuff’: Government of Japan
‘Meanwhile, the Japanese Whaling Association says Australia’s decision to help anti-whaling protesters goes against a resolution agreed to at last year’s International Whaling Conference (IWC) meeting.
The association says the use of the Oceanic Viking to pick up two activists released from a Japanese whaling ship is akin to providing a “limousine service” for “two violent pirates”. It says the Australian Government has rejected and spoiled the IWC’s efforts to ensure safety at sea.
A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith says the transfer of the men from the Oceanic Viking to the Steve Irwin was done at the request of the Japanese Government.’ (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/19/2142202.htm)
Following:
‘Also this morning, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith confirmed that the Japanese Government had formally approached Australia to assist in the return of the two activists’. (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/17/2140406.htm)
And:
‘A spokesman for the Japanese whalers, Glenn Inwood, says it is a good outcome’ (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/18/2141185.htm)
Oops…
“propaganda from Japan”?
Two examples from Australian news sites (not to mention Reuters reporting the same bollocks themselves)
“Sea Shepherd international director Jonny Vasic said the released pair were in good spirits despite having gone on a hunger strike while being held on the Japanese ship.”
http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=452332
“Whaling activists were on hunger strike”
http://www.scopical.com.au/articles/News/2144/Whaling-activists-were-on-hunger-strike
Yep, that the “Aussie mass media” for you.