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The front of the Ady Gill is seen ripped open after its collision with Japanese whaling ship Shonan Maru 2 - Source: ONE News -
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Foreign Affairs says they are in talks with their Japanese counterpart over a New Zealander being held on a Japanese whaling ship in the Southern Ocean.
Anti-whaling protestor Peter Bethune is being detained on the Shonan Maru Number 2 after boarding it to try to make a citizen's arrest .
He claims the Japanese ship deliberately destroyed his protest boat, the Ady Gil , in a confrontation last month and wants the whalers to face attempted murder charges.
Prime Minister John Key says the government is concerned about any citizen who finds themselves in trouble and consular assistance is being offered to Bethune.
He says our Ambassador in Japan has met with Japanese officials and Foreign Minister Murray McCully has also discussed the situation with the Japanese Ambassador.
"The incident was regretful. We have not yet clarified his (intruder's) intention. Once we confirm this fact and the nationality of the ship he belongs to, we will post a strong protest and will take appropriate action," says Tetsuro Fukuyama, Japanese State Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
McCully says it might be possible for the Japanese to take Bethune to Japan and prosecute him there.
He says legally it may well be something the Japanese can do and he has officials seeking further legal advice on the matter.
Japanese State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Tetsuro Fukuyama says Japan will take strong action.
"We have not yet clarified his (Bethune's) intention. Once we confirm this fact and the nationality of the ship he belongs to, we will post a strong protest and will take appropriate action."
McCully also says information he has received is that Bethune isn't opposed to his detention on the ship.
His understanding is Bethune went on board to make a point knowing there would be consequences.
McCully says Bethune is not seeking to be removed from the vessel and is actually refusing to leave it.
Bethune's wife Sharon last spoke to to her husband Pete on Sunday.
She says he does take risks, but he is a calculated risk taker.
"Pete has a right to be on there and serving papers. They ran over his boat and nearly killed 6 members of his crew ... what do you do when you've got no backing from your own government?," she says.
Spokesman for Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research, Glenn Inwood, says Bethune is being kept in a room and will be fed, watered and given any necessary medical treatment.
But he says if he can't be transferred back to the vessel he came from, Bethune may have to go to Japan with the Shonan Maru.
The Japanese whaling fleet and protesters have been locked in a tense struggle in Antarctic waters this summer.
Commercial whaling is banned internationally, but Japan is
allowed to hunt hundreds of whales a year in the name of scientific
research.
What do you think of Peter Bethune's actions? Let us know on the messageboard below:
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Post new commentSupercity said on 2010-04-10 @ 10:34 NZDT: Report abusive post
The issue is legal and moral, on both counts of the issue Peter is Justified in his actions. TheJapanese whalers are breaking legal and moral law. Whether you believe that Whales are sentient beings or not is unimportant. The fact that they communicate thousands of miles apart and are the largest and oldest remaining species is not a mistake. What is the mistake is the fact that no research is being done by the Japanese to confirm their sentience. We are being blind. Peter is not. The crime bein
Layman said on 2010-04-06 @ 10:41 NZDT: Report abusive post
Interlinking the whaling issue with the criminal act committed by Mr. Bethune is out of context. The whaling issue concerns international protocol that does'nt include criminal actions to be tolerated in furtherance with it's compliance. Soveriegn countries has it's own laws to be respected. Mr. Bethune is bound to it. Let the Japanese justice prevail on him. If the Japanese committed illegal acts in international waters, they should be tried in the International Court of Justice.
Layman said on 2010-04-05 @ 22:34 NZDT: Report abusive post
Mr. Bethune is trying to accomplish a foolish political acrobat. His actions are obviously a stunt to attract media attention and show himself an environmental martyr. he must not forget and should ought to know that performing a criminal act in the name of a purported good cause cannot decriminalize the act. So why put pressure to the country where he came from to bail him out ?
Page Turner said on 2010-04-05 @ 09:37 NZDT: Report abusive post
What does Mr Bethune expect? A knighthood? When you start doing things that look a lot like acts of terrorism you are playing with fire - don't complain if you get burnt.
andrew91 said on 2010-04-04 @ 22:39 NZDT: Report abusive post
It is interesting to note that when a Sea Shepard is arrested or their boats are damaged and sunk they complain bitterly and try to take the Japanise to court, but they prowdly wear t shirts with a list of Japanise ships damaged and sunk by the Shepards, It is perfectly reasonable for Mr Bethune to be imprisoned just as he would expect if the Japanise boarded his ship. The Sea Shepards are no more than Ecopirates and should be treated as such.