Activists confront Japanese whalers

[Guest guest]

The Australian

December 22, 2005

 

Activists confront Japanese whalers

 

Greenpeace campaigners have confronted a Japanese whaling fleet in the

Southern Ocean, sparking Japanese accusations the activists are engaging in

piracy in trying to block the annual hunt.

Two Greenpeace ships are trying to obstruct the Japanese operation which

yesterday resulted in a minor collision between vessels.

Although opposed to whaling, the Federal Government has questioned the

activists' tactics in Antarctic waters.

The anti-whaling campaigners found the fleet yesterday morning about 160km off

the coast of Antarctica, more than 2000km south of Australia.

Greenpeace said the collision happened when its vessel Esperanza was trying to

block access to the Japanese processing ship Nisshin Maru.

A Japanese catcher vessel carrying a dead whale had tried to nudge the

Esperanza out of the way.

" That process happened twice, and on the third occasion the Esperanza pulled

out of the way because we were starting to get concerned about safety, "

expedition leader Shane Rattenbury said from the second Greenpeace ship Arctic

Sunrise.

" There was no damage to our vessel, other than a bit of lost paint, and we

don't believe there was any damage to the Japanese vessel.

" We were very surprised at how strong the response was. We'd only been with

the whaling fleet for perhaps an hour at that stage. "

Mr Rattenbury said the Japanese manoeuvre was a clear breach of international

navigation rules.

Japan's fisheries agency has condemned Greenpeace's actions.

" It seems like piracy, " an agency spokesman told ABC radio.

" I hope that Greenpeace refrains from such kind of dangerous actions

immediately. "

Australian Environment Minister Ian Campbell said Greenpeace's actions could

be counterproductive.

He urged activists to respect the law of the sea.

" The fundamental law is that you avoid collision and you avoid bringing ships,

and the personnel on the ships, into a position where they can endanger human

life, " Senator Campbell told ABC radio.

One of the whaling ships, the Kaiko Maru, has been granted port access in

Hobart to get medical treatment for a crewman suffering acute appendicitis.

Senator Campbell said while Australia remained opposed to whaling, it would

also help in an emergency at sea.

Greenpeace said it would not interfere with the crewman's treatment, but urged

the Government to prevent the ship from returning to the whaling operation after

it arrives on Christmas Eve.

" We think this is time for the Government to really show where it stands on

this issue, " Mr Rattenbury said.

" The vessel will need to refuel while it's in Hobart, it needs to clear

Australian Customs and various other procedures. We're just researching now what

the government can do. "

Japan plans to take more than 900 minke whales and 100 fin whales this year

for what it claims are scientific purposes. Greenpeace believes it is a

commercial hunt.

The Opposition today urged the Australian Government to take much tougher

action to stop the kill.

" Australia must take Japan to the International Tribunal for the Law of the

Sea to end the barbaric slaughter of whales once and for all, " Labor's

environment spokesman Anthony Albanese said.

 

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17639945%255E1702,\

00.html

 

 

Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.