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| Japan arrests whaling activist for boarding ship |
Sun, Mar 14, 2010 - The Yomiuri Shimbun/Asia News Network
 The Japan Coast Guard arrested an activist of the antiwhaling group Sea Shepherd Conservation Society on Friday in Tokyo on suspicion of trespassing on a security ship belonging to the Japanese research whaling fleet.
Peter Bethune, a New Zealand national, had been detained on the Shonan Maru No. 2 for allegedly boarding it while the vessel was in Antarctic waters last month. The ship, which provided security to the fleet, entered Tokyo Port on Friday morning and Bethune, 44, was handed over to the JCG.
It is the first time Japanese authorities have arrested a member of Sea Shepherd, which has repeatedly obstructed Japanese whaling research ships. The JCG plans to question Bethune over allegations including having a small vessel collide with the Shonan Maru No. 2.
Bethune was the skipper of the Sea Shepherd's high-tech powerboat, the Ady Gil. The JCG served him with an arrest warrant while he was still on the Shonan Maru No. 2 at about 11:15 a.m.
According to the JCG, Bethune approached the ship on a personal watercraft in the Antarctic Ocean on Feb. 15, and climbed aboard by using a knife to cut through a net on the ship that was set up to prevent people from accessing the deck illegally.
Bethune was detained on the ship as the Mariners Law allows a ship's captain to take necessary measures to avoid harm if a person performs an action that could cause danger on the ship. The Shonan Maru No. 2 suspended its mission to surveil vessels trying to obstruct Japanese research whaling ships and sailed more than 10,000 kilometers to Japan on its own.
According to the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, which has jurisdiction over research whaling, the Ady Gil was crippled after it collided with the Shonan Maru No. 2 on Jan. 6. After Bethune climbed onto the ship, he reportedly told the ship's crew that he sought compensation for the Ady Gil. He also reportedly admitted that he had lobbed bottles filled with butyric acid, which emits a strong odor, at the ship.
The JCG plans to question Bethune over these allegations on suspicion of assault or forcible obstruction of business.
The Criminal Code stipulates penalties for trespassing on a vessel in the same section that causes unlawful entry into a building. Under the Criminal Code, if a person makes an unlawful entry onto a vessel that is capable of accommodating a person, the intruder will face up to three years in prison or a maximum fine of 100,000 yen (S$1,540).
Sea Shepard Website |
| Sea Shepherd hails arrested activist as 'international hero' |
Posted Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:48am AEDT
The Sea Shepherd ship has docked at Hobart. |
The captain of an anti-whaling Sea Shepherd ship believes the arrest of a fellow activist by Japanese authorities will make him an international hero.
Peter Bethune was arrested by Japanese police after the Shonan Maru Two docked in Tokyo on its return voyage from the Southern Ocean.
The New Zealand anti-whaling activist has been detained on the ship after sneaking on board about a month ago.
Paul Watson, captain of the Steve Irwin vessel, says the group has had no contact with Mr Bethune but they expect his arrest will lend greater support to their cause.
"I think that this whole thing is going to make Peter Bethune an international hero, certainly a national hero in New Zealand," he said.
"And I think with Peter Bethune they've got themselves a hot potato that they're probably going to want to let go of pretty soon."
Sea Shepard Website
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