Japan hunts anti-whaling activists - August 19, 2008
Japan has stepped up its fight with anti-whaling protestors, announcing yesterday it will seek international arrest warrants for three people who attempted to stop its hunt in Antarctica.
“Whatever opinions they have over whaling, it is impermissible for them to take such violent measures which risk the lives of the people involved,” said chief cabinet secretary Nobutaka Machimura (AFP and others).
The allegations centre on three members of the controversial Sea Shepherd group – named as Jon Batchelor, Ralph Koo and Daniel Bebawi. Japanese news sources say those sought by the authorities are suspected of ramming Japanese ships and throwing ropes to jam their propellers (eg Yomiuri Shimbun).
Sea Shepherd says it was their ship that was rammed by a Japanese vessel. Captain Paul Watson said in a statement:
It’s a mystery to me why the Japanese police would target three relatively minor crewmembers. As captain, all Sea Shepherd crewmembers act in accordance with my orders. All activities opposing the illegal actions of the Japanese whaling fleet are my responsibility, yet no charges have been filed against me. This is absurd and makes no sense at all.
Previously on The Great Beyond
Shooting claim in whaling fight
Acid attack on Japanese whaling ship
Pictures spark new whale row
Whaling fight turns ugly
Japan abandons humpback hunt
Why shouldn’t we eat whales?
