Two activists held aboard whaling ship

[Judi Lynn]

Source: AAP (Australian Associated Press)

Two activists held aboard whaling ship
January 15, 2008 - 9:58PM

Two men - an Australian and a Briton - have been taken hostage and tied to the radar mast of a Japanese whaling vessel in the Southern Ocean, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society claims.

Australian citizen Benjamin Potts and British citizen Giles Lane, activists aboard the Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin, boarded the Japanese whaling vessel Yashin Maru No 2, a statement from the group said.

The statement, sent from aboard the Steve Irwin, said Mr Potts and Mr Giles had been taken hostage and have been tied to a radar mast.

The captain of the Japanese vessel has refused the demand of the Steve Irwin's captain Paul Watson to release the pair immediately.



Read more: http://news.theage.com.au/two-activists-held-aboard-whaling-ship/20080115-1m38.html

[Jennifer C]

1. Japanese confirm and deny

Japanese confirm capture of activists
January 15, 2008 - 11:03PM

Two anti-whaling activists are being held aboard a Japanese whaling vessel in the Southern Ocean, Japan's Institute for Cetacean Research has confirmed.

But institute director-general Minoru Morimoto has denied the men were tied up.

(snip)

The men boarded the vessel from a Zodiac boat to hand its captain a letter informing him that the vessel's crew was "illegally killing whales" in the Southern Whale Sanctuary.

Mr Vasic alleged the men were tied to a radar mast in freezing conditions for several hours before they were taken below.

Mr Morimoto confirmed the two men had been taken into custody, and said they were taken to a secure room.

"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," he said in a statement.

"The two boarded the Yushin Maru No 2 after they made attempts to entangle the screw of the vessel using ropes and throwing bottles of acid onto the decks."

http://news.theage.com.au/japanese-confirm-capture-of-activists/20080115-1m68.html

[The Doctor.]

4. Serious allegations. If they boarded BEFORE their crew attempted to disable the whaler,

then they seem to have a case.

If it's the other way around, then they really screwed up.

[ShaneGR]

6. Well, just from a legal standpoint, they could be in considerable trouble

I repeat, could be, and I'm not talking about the captain of the ship. It is illegal to board another country's boat in international waters without permission. Also, throwing acid onto the decks of the boats would constitute at least assault. Perhaps assault with a deadly weapon.

[Barrett808]

7. Sea Shepherd has it all on video

Taken from their helicopter. There won't be any doubt about what happened. And I expect the ICR will be shown to have lied again.

[HEyHEY]

33. As well as attempt to sabotage the vessel and sink it

[yewberry]

52. A heads-up on that 'acid'--

Sea Shepherd does throw 'acid' on the decks...but it's butyric acid, a fatty acid found in butter, some cheeses and vomit. (IOW, stinky but nor dangerous.)

http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?id=395

[lynnertic]

63. Absolutely. They boarded another vessel...bad move, permission or no

These guys are in direct conflict with each other and the Sea Shepherd isn't ready to play as ruthlessly as their adversaries are.

[Barrett808]

2. Japanese whalers take two activists captive

Source: AFP

SYDNEY (AFP) — Japanese whalers said Tuesday they are holding captive two activists who "illegally" boarded their vessel in the Southern Ocean, in a dramatic escalation in the battle between the two sides.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society said its members boarded the ship to tell the whalers of an Australian court ruling earlier Tuesday ordering them not to hunt around its coastline or off Australian Antarctic territory.

It accused the whalers of assaulting the pair, Australian Benjamin Potts and Briton Giles Lane, and taking them hostage.

"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," the group said in a statement.

Japanese Whalers holding two Sea Shepherd crew members hostage on whaling ship
ABOARD THE STEVE IRWIN – 15 January 2008 -- 0700 GMT

The captain of the Yushin Maru No. 2 is holding two Sea Shepherd crew hostage.

Australian citizen Benjamin Potts and British citizen Giles Lane have been tied to the radar mast of the harpoon vessel.

The Captain has refused Captain Paul Watson's demand for the release of the crew.

The two crew members boarded the whaler with a message to inform them that they were illegally killing whales in the Southern Whale Sanctuary.

Sea Shepherd is demanding that Australia and Great Britain demand an immediate release of these two crew-members.

The letter stated the following:

To: The Captain of any Japanese ship
Involved with poaching operations in The Australian Antarctic Territorial Economic Exclusion Zone.

Sir,

My name is Giles David Lane

I am a British citizen and an unpaid volunteer on the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel Steve Irwin

I have come onboard your ship because you have refused to acknowledge communication from our ship pertaining to your illegal activities in the waters of the Australian Antarctic Territorial Economic Exclusion Zone.

I am not boarding your ship with the intent to commit a crime, to rob you or to inflict injury upon your crew and yourself or damage to your ship. My reason for boarding is to deliver the message that you are in violation of international conservation law and in violation of the laws of Australia. It is my intent to deliver this message and then to request that you allow me to disembark from your vessel without harm or seizure.

I am empowered to act to uphold these laws in accordance with the United Nations World Charter for Nature and the laws of Australia.

I am boarding you with the request that you please refrain from any further criminal activity in these waters and cease and desist with the continued killing of endangered whales in this designated Whale Sanctuary in violation of the IWC global moratorium on commercial whaling and that you cease and desist in continued violations of Australian law by killing whales within the territorial waters of Australia without permit or permission from the government of Australia.

I am boarding you on the orders of Captain Paul Watson who requests that you treat me with respect and in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

http://seashepherd.org/news/media_080115_2.html

Read more: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h1Tdo7OCzNiMvoRCaAZgh9bU1DJQ

[Barrett808]

3. Update: Japanese Whaling Fleet On the Run With Two Sea Shepherd Hostages

Japanese Whaling Fleet On the Run With Two Sea Shepherd Hostages
Sea Shepherd News
News Releases
01/15/2008



The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's ship Steve Irwin is in full pursuit of five vessels of the Japanese whaling fleet including the Japanese supply vessel Oriental Bluebird.

The Japanese harpoon vessel Yushin Maru No. 2 has taken two Sea Shepherd volunteer crew members hostage. Benjamin Potts 28, an Australian citizen and Giles Lane, 35, a citizen of Great Britain are being held hostage onboard the whaling vessel. 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.

Both men boarded the Yushin Maru to deliver a message to the Japanese captain that the whalers were in violation of international conservation law by targeting endangered species in an established whale sanctuary in violation of a global moratorium on commercial whaling. They also notified the captain that Australia had just passed a court ruling barring Japanese whalers from the Australian Antarctic Economic Exclusion Zone.

All of this activity has taken place in the area of 60 Degrees South and 78 Degrees East. All activity has been documented from the Sea Shepherd helicopter and the fast moving Delta vessel. The Steve Irwin has dispatched a small fast Delta boat and a helicopter to attempt to persuade the Yushin Maru No. 2 to stop and release the hostages.

Captain Paul Watson has notified the Australian Federal Police that he would like to see kidnapping charges brought against the Japanese whalers. The Australian government and the British Embassy have been informed that their citizens are being held hostage on an illegally operated Japanese whaling ship in International waters.

The Japanese factory ship Nisshin Maru has fled over 700 miles to the Northwest and is heading towards South Africa accompanied by the Greenpeace ship Esperanza. The entire whaling fleet is on the run and outside of the whaling area with the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin in hot pursuit of five vessels of the Japanese fleet.

No whales have been slaughtered for the last four days and it does not look as if the whaling operations are going to begin again for another week at least, and not at all if the vessels are prevented from regrouping. The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin has a good supply of fuel and can remain in the area for some time and will continue to police the illegal whaling operations by the Japanese fleet.

Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson will turn over authority to the Australian government to enforce the court ruling against illegal whaling in the Australian Antarctic Economic Exclusion Zone upon request from the Australian government and an agreement that Australia will enforce the court's ruling to bar all Japanese whaling activities in the Australian Antarctic Territory.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. If you act like a pirate, expect to be treated like a pirate

[The Doctor.]

8. Apparently they made attempts at a 'citizens arrest'... or at least to inform

the whaler that it's activities were illegal.

That's not piracy.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Freddie Stubbs]

26. I suppose that name calling is easier than coming up with a cogent arguement

[LanternWaste]

64. Name calling... like 'pirate'?

Name calling... like 'pirate'?

[flvegan]

29. I agree. The Yashin Maru should be placed under arrest and her crew detained

for crimes on the high seas.

[Pavulon]

44. By Whom?

after 12 miles there is no legal jurisdiction. There is maritime law but boarding a vessel is very stupid.

These doofuses could spend 30 days locked in a closet with the rats now.

[xchrom]

9. i wish bad, bad things to happen to that whaling ship.

and some posters here are going eat their words about what the activists were doing.

[Barrett808]

10. Times Online: Whaling protesters 'held hostage' in Antarctic

Whaling protesters 'held hostage' in Antarctic
Leo Lewis of The Times, in Tokyo

Two British and Australian anti-whaling protesters are being held hostage in the brig of a Japanese harpoon ship after a dramatic high-seas encounter in the Southern Ocean, say environmental activists.

The incarceration of Giles Lane and Benjamin Potts, of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, follows their attempts to board the Yushin Maru No 2 — a vessel engaged on Japan’s hugely controversial “scientific” pursuit of minke and fin whales.

According to their fellow activists, watching from a helicopter, the two men endured a two-hour ordeal during which they were strapped to the mast of the Japanese vessel.

With the ship now steaming away, Paul Watson, the captain of the protestors’ flagship, the Steve Irwin, told The Times that it was now “very hard to imagine getting our two missing crew members back any time soon”. He called on the Governments of Britain and Australia to demand the immediate return of its citizens.

“We see no difference between what the Japanese fleet is doing and poachers in Africa — they are criminals, and what we are doing is stopping a criminal activity.”

(more)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3191297.ece

[Barrett808]

11. Whalers try to throw Aussie over side - "pictures clearly show"

JAPANESE seamen tried to throw an Australian anti-whaling crusader into the freezing ocean yesterday after he and another protester boarded their vessel.

Benjamin Potts and fellow campaigner Giles Lane, a Briton, tried to deliver a petition calling for an end to whaling to the crew of harpoon ship Yushin Maru.

They were taken hostage and after Mr Potts was almost thrown into the freezing Antarctic they were lashed to a radar mast.

Confirmation of the drama was made last night by Paul Watson, skipper of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship Steve Irwin, from which the protesters had launched their daredevil mission.

Last night, Japan's Institute for Cetacean Research also confirmed the incident.

Institute director-general Minoru Morimoto said the men were being held in a secure room.

"Any accusations that we have tied them up or assaulted them are completely untrue," said Mr Morimoto.

However, pictures clearly show that one of the men has been cable-tied to a railing.

The drama unfolded shortly after 6.30pm when the two men tried to board the ship.

A scuffle ensued before the men were taken hostage and tied up.

Mr Watson said the two were assaulted as they climbed aboard the Japanese ship.

"They tried to throw Benjamin overboard before they tied him up," said Mr Watson.

...

"If that isn't enough to make the Australian Government act then I don't know what is."

(more)

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2008/01/16/6836_gold-coast-news.html

[HEyHEY]

12. Paul Watson is a liar and a hypocrite, I have a problem believing this

[Barrett808]

13. And ICR is the picture of probity

:eyes:

[HEyHEY]

14. I'm not saying they are great... but, Watson is a douche

He makes shit up all the time. If I see photos of all these alledged actions I'll believe it.

[WittyUsername]

16. lol... you again...

[Barrett808]

17. Welcome to DU, Witty!

:hi:

[HEyHEY]

18. "You again" you only have 17 fucking posts. What the hell are you talking about?

PS, I love how any kind of critical thinking against someone who is a leftie is discouraged. You people piss and moan about the media and your fellow citizens. But, in reality you're just as bad as them only you're on the other side. As long as you think the way you do, this planet will always be fucked.

[EstimatedProphet]

20. Critical thinking is only allowed when it agrees with your agenda

A substantial number of posters will not be able to see the irony inherent in that statement too.

[HEyHEY]

22. Makes it nice and easy for anyone in power to gain a swath of followers

[WittyUsername]

23. lol.... me again....

It's not the post count that matters, it's how you use it.

Anyways, I just recall that you're always on these Sea Shepard talking about how this guy is a total liar because he said one untruth about something years ago... You may be right, I don't know... I was just making an observation.

[HEyHEY]

24. I don't think I've ever discussed Watson here

But it's nice to know there are other people on this board familiar with his BS.

[WittyUsername]

25. Oh... Well, I could very well be mistaken.

As much as I like to pretend to know everything, I sadly know very little and am often times wrong...

Don't tell anyone though.

[Barrett808]

28. "Any accusations that we have tied them up or assaulted them are completely untrue"

And here are the sea Shepherd crew members, tied up:





"Any accusations that we have tied them up or assaulted them are completely untrue," Mr Morimoto said. -- "Japanese whalers seize protesters" (http://stuff.co.nz/4357738a10.html)

[Barrett808]

30. And here they are tied to the radar mast:

http://seashepherd.org/migaloo/photos.html

[HEyHEY]

32. Good, now that I've seen it, I can believe it

[Barrett808]

34. Excellent

:toast:

[Judi Lynn]

31. Thanks for posting the photo. It's a completely ugly moment. Hope these two men can be retrieved.

Hoping this ill advised seizure of the men will come back to bite them with conviction.

[Barrett808]

15. Photos and bios of captive Sea Shepherd crew:

Giles Lane (England)
(Engine Room) Since I first became involved in radical ecological direct action, Sea Shepherd has been a constant source of inspiration for me. While other organisations gave up, compromised or floundered around in bureaucracy, Sea Shepherd volunteers have continued to put themselves on the frontlines fighting for the future of marine life. It has long been a desire of mine to crew on a campaign; and I am very proud and excited to be heading to the Antarctic this winter to take on the illegal whalers in a battle to stop their carnage on the high seas.



Benjamin Potts (Pottsy) (Australia)
(Helicopter Assistant) I'm sick to death of living in a society which is so engrossed in the trivial and obsessed with the individual, that in its quest for unlimited wealth and convenience is sacrificing the future of not only its own children but of all life on this planet. We are not separate from the natural world. We don't own the land, the animals, plants or other people. Life is not a commodity. When we murder, rape, poison and pillage our planet we do so to ourselves. Time is short for those facing extinction, and I implore you to stop what you are doing and act in the defense of the planet.

http://seashepherd.org/crew-main.html

[Barrett808]

19. Japanese Whalers Kidnap Two Sea Shepherd Whale Defenders

Japanese Whalers Kidnap Two Sea Shepherd Whale Defenders
Sea Shepherd News
News Releases
01/15/2008

Despite repeated demands by the captain of the Steve Irwin, the Japanese whaler Yushin Maru No. 2 has refused to release the two Sea Shepherd crewmembers he took hostage.

The much faster harpoon vessels have eluded pursuit from the Steve Irwin and have disappeared from the radar screens.

"Needless to say we are worried about our two crewmembers," said Captain Paul Watson. "The Japanese ship has not responded to a single message from Sea Shepherd and we have no way of knowing just how they are being treated. They have been kidnapped and they are being held against their will by outlaw whalers."

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has lodged a complaint with the Australian Federal Police, with the Australian government and with the British Embassy. The two missing crewmembers are Benjamin Potts 28 from Melbourne and Giles Lane 35 from Brighton, England.

The Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin found the Japanese whaling fleet at 0015 GMT Hours on January 15th, 2008. It was the entire Japanese whaling fleet minus the factory ship Nisshin Maru. The ships scattered as the Steve Irwin approached going in different directions. The Steve Irwin decided on focusing pursuit on the Yushin Maru #2, a large hunter killer vessel.

Benjamin Potts and Giles Lane boarded the Yushin Maru No. 2 to deliver a letter informing the Japanese captain that Japan was in violation of international conservation law by targeting endangered whales in an established whale sanctuary in violation of a global moratorium on commercial whaling. Both men were assaulted, tied to the rails and then taken and tied to the radar mast of the ship. A few hours later they were taken inside the ship. The Japanese ship did not respond to a single radio call in English and Japanese from the time of interception onward. Their radios have been silent.

Last year the Japanese whalers vowed to bring any captured whale defenders back to Japan to place on trial under charges of "eco-terrorism."

The good news is that there has been no whaling in the Southern Ocean for the last five days and with the Nisshin Maru over 1,000 kilometres to the northwest heading towards South Africa, there will be no resumption of whaling for at least another week. There are no whaling ships in the whaling area south of the sixty degrees south line of latitude. The whaling area has been effectively cleared and the whaling ships are scattered.

The Steve Irwin will remain in the area to continue to pursue whaling ships with the objective of preventing the resumption of whaling activities. There are 32 crewmembers remaining on the Steve Irwin. The Sea Shepherd ship and the whaling vessels are in the area of 60 Degrees South and 78 Degrees East about 2500 miles southwest of Fremantle, Western Australia and 2800 miles southeast of Cape Town, South Africa.

http://seashepherd.org/news/media_080115_4.html

[HEyHEY]

35. Is it really "Kidnapping" these guys boarded a vessel without permission

The japanese are probably holding them as pirates to take them to authorities. I'm not saying I'm for whaling, far from it. But this spin of calling it "Kidnapping" is bullshit.

[Pavulon]

57. Correct

you can not just board a ship on the high seas. Even for moral reasons.

[flvegan]

27. In other news, an Australian judge has ruled whaling in the sanctuary illegal.

So, short of illegal poaching and taking hostages, what next whalers?

Some ships just need a scuttlin'.

edit to add link:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4357618a11.html

[Barrett808]

36. Japan: We haven't tied up whaling activists

Japan: We haven't tied up whaling activists
By Julian Ryall in Tokyo
Last Updated: 5:01pm GMT 15/01/2008

Japanese whalers captured a British environmental campaigner today and held him on a harpoon vessel just off Antarctica.

Giles Lane, 36, from Cuckfield in West Sussex, was captured with an Australian colleague, Benjamin Potts.



Benjamin Potts is restrained with rope and cable ties as he watches crewmen surround his colleague Giles Lane aboard the Japanese whaling ship Yushin Maru No 2

Japan's Institute for Cetacean Research denied that the men had been assaulted and tied up, a statement which appears to contradict photographs of the incident.

The men, from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, were seized by the crew of the Yushin Maru No 2 when they took a small inflatable craft to deliver a letter to the ship informing the captain he was killing whales illegally.

The campaign group issued photographs showing one of the two activists tied up and attached to a railing on the outside of the ship.

The environmental group's vessel, the Steve Irwin, has been shadowing the six-strong Japanese fleet for three days.

With the help of the Greenpeace ship Esperanza it had forced the whalers to leave their hunting grounds off Antarctica.

"They have been out there for a couple of hours already and it's freezing," said Jonny Vasic, international director of Sea Shepherd's operations, based in Melbourne. "The wind will be getting to them and it will be very uncomfortable."

Mr Lane and Mr Potts were not allowed to leave the Japanese boat and Sea Shepherd contacted the Australian Federal Police and the British Consul General in Canberra to protest that a British national was being held against his will on a Japanese whaling ship. Mr Lane, 35, is an engineer aboard the Steve Irwin, Mr Potts, 28, is the ship's cook.

Mr Vasic said the men were tied up for up to three hours in freezing conditions before they were taken to a locked room below decks: Earlier today the Federal Court in Sydney banned Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha Ltd, the company that carries out the whale hunting, from operating within an area of the southern Pacific that Australia has declared to be a wildlife sanctuary.

(more)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/01/15/eawhale115.xml

[Barrett808]

37. Video: "Be advised: they're attempting to throw Pottsy overboard"

Video Clip 1
Steve Irwin crew members board the Yushin Maru No. 2 and are taken hostage


http://seashepherd.org/migaloo/video.html

[Barrett808]

38. Interview with Capt. Paul Watson

Captain Paul Watson, live on board the Sea Shepherd's Steve Irwin:
http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200801/r216755_844616.mp3

Whale protestors held captive on Japanese ship
Last Update: Wednesday, January 16, 2008. 7:49am AEDT

Australian man, Benjamin Potts, and British citizen, Giles Lane, were working with the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd when they boarded the Japanese boat yesterday. They were trying to convince the whalers to stop their cull in the Australian Whale Sanctuary.

The Japanese have claimed their actions amount to piracy, and the men are being dealt with fairly.

Captain of the Steve Irwin, Paul Watson defended the tactics of the Sea Shepherd on 702 Breakfast with Adam Spencer. Click on the links under the photo to hear the full conversation.

http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/stories/s2139266.htm?sydney

[Barrett808]

39. Japan agrees to free Sea Shepherd activists

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith says the Japanese Government has agreed to free two Sea Shepherd anti-whaling activists who are being held on board a Japanese whaling ship in Antarctic waters.

Australian Benjamin Potts and British man Giles Lane were detained after they boarded the whaling ship yesterday.

They said they wanted to give the whalers a letter telling them they were whaling illegally in a protected zone.

Mr Smith says the Federal Government asked the Japanese to release the two campaigners from the ship as soon as it heard of the incident.

He says that request was agreed to late last night, but the handover has not yet taken place.

"The most important thing here is the safety and welfare of the two men concerned and we do, as the Australian Government, want their immediate release," he said.

(more)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/16/2139306.htm?section=justin

[Barrett808]

40. Japan ship refuses to release activists

Japan ship refuses to release activists
Edmund Tadros
January 16, 2008 - 8:30AM

The captain of a Japanese ship is refusing to release two anti-whaling activists until the safety of his vessel is guaranteed, the Japanese government says.

Benjamin Potts, 28, a helicopter assistant from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's vessel, the Steve Irwin, and Giles Lane, 35, a Briton, were detained yesterday after boarding the moving whaling catcher boat the Yushin Maru No. 2 in the Antarctic.

The Japanese crew "tried to throw them overboard, then they tied them to a bulkhead and were beating them," the leader of anti-whaling organisation Sea Shepherd, Captain Paul Watson, said.

But an official from the Fisheries Agency of Japan said "nobody took violent action against the two illegal intruders".

"They are treated very, very humanely and they are provided with a warm, delicious hot meal." the Chief of the Whaling Section of The Fisheries Agency of Japan, Hideki Moronuki, said.

"They have warm, nice bath and they are provided nice bed with clean white sheets so they are in very good condition."

He said that hostage was "not a proper word" to describe the men held on the Japanese ship.

Mr Moronuki said that the captain of the Yushin Maru No. 2, Yasuaki Sasaki, refused to release the men until the safety of his vessel was guaranteed.

"Immediately that Paul Watson has accepted the conditions of the safety of the Japanese vessel, they will release the two illegal intruders," Mr Moronuki said.

He said he knew nothing about comments by Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith that the Japanese Government had said late last night that the two men would be released.

(more)

http://www.smh.com.au/news/whale-watch/japan-ship-refuses-to-release-activists/2008/01/16/1200419835177.html

[KingOfLostSouls]

41. Arr matey

keel haul the land lubbers, arrrr....

[Barrett808]

42. Update: Activist handover stalled: whalers

A spokesman for the Japanese whalers who are holding two Sea Shepherd activists on board their ship say they cannot contact the men's vessel to organise their return.

Australian Benjamin Potts and British man Giles Lane, from the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin, were detained after they boarded the whaling ship yesterday.

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith says the Japanese Government has agreed to a request to return the men to their ship.

But a spokesman for Japan's Institute for Cetacean Research, Glen Inwood, has told Sky TV that the handover is proving difficult, and accused Sea Shepherd of dragging the affair on to get extra publicity.

"Attempts have been made overnight to negotiate or to contact Sea Shepherd, but they're not answering phone calls or emails at this stage," he said.

"I believe that they want to continue this for a long as possible. They're obviously getting a fair amount of media coverage on this, but we're still making attempts to contact them."

Sea Shepherd spokesman Ian Campbell is urging the Japanese whalers to return the men to the Steve Irwin immediately.

The former Coalition environment minister says the whalers should face penalties for detaining them on board.

"They mean the Japanese whalers no harm, they should not have been deprived of their liberty," he said.

"If there are laws in place that would see the people who have deprived these people of their liberty , then they should be subject to those laws."

Earlier the Steve Irwin's captain Paul Watson said he had not been informed about plans for the release of the men.

He said Sea Shepherd would not accept conditions he said had been demanded by the Japanese in return for the release of the men.

"The Institute for Cetacean Research contacted us and said that there was a condition on us getting the men back and that condition was that we would refrain from harassing and interfering with their whaling operations," he said.

"That's certainly a condition we're not going to meet."

(more)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/16/2139538.htm?section=justin

[Pavulon]

43. They boarded the ship

a really dumb thing to do. Now they may get to stay locked in a closet until it puts in.

At that point they could be handed over through their embassy.

It is really dumb to board a ship at see like you are buck rodgers. Even if they are assholes.

There is no jurisdiction there to protect them.

[Barrett808]

45. Sea Shepherd Crew Continue to Be Held Hostage by Japan

Sea Shepherd Crew Continue to Be Held Hostage by Japan
Sea Shepherd News
News Releases
01/16/2008

Sea Shepherd volunteers Benjamin Potts 28, of Australia and Giles Lane 35, from Great Britain continue to be held hostage onboard the Japanese whaling vessel Yushin Maru No. 2.

The harpoon vessel has fled from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship Steve Irwin and is now beyond radar range. The location of the crew being held hostage is presently unknown.

Captain Paul Watson has had a few conversations with the Australian Federal police but has not heard anything from the Australian government.

The Japanese have denied that the two crew members were tied up to the mast of the ship despite video and photos proving that they were indeed tied up. The Japanese claim that the two had attacked the ship. They did not. Sea Shepherd crewmembers did toss stink bombs onto the deck of the Yushin Maru No. 2 and did try to stop the whaler with fouling lines in order to free the hostages. The two men being held did not participate in any confrontations with the whaling ship.

The Sea Shepherd crew have been chasing the whalers for six days and during that time not a single whale has been killed. The entire whaling fleet is scattered and running from the Steve Irwin.

"Every day we stop the whaling is a victory for the whales and us," said Captain Paul Watson.

http://seashepherd.org/news/media_080116_1.html

[tekisui]

46. Update: Japan Agrees to Free Two Anti-Whaling Activists

Australia's foreign minister says Japan has agreed to free two anti-whaling activists being held aboard a Japanese whaling vessel in Antarctic waters.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told Australia's national radio early Wednesday that Japan has not yet handed the men back to their own ship.

Smith added that Australian police are investigating whether there had been any unlawful activity.

Japanese crewmembers seized the men - an Australian and a Briton - Tuesday when they boarded a vessel belonging to Japan's Institute for Cetacean Research. The Japanese research institute says the men attacked their vessel with bottles of acid after illegally boarding it.

An Australian court issued a ruling earlier Tuesday that bans Japanese whaling in an area near Antarctica that Australia has designated a whale sanctuary. Japan does not recognize the sanctuary and has said it will ignore any such injunction.

link: http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-01-15-voa70.cfm

[Barrett808]

47. BBC video: Whaling activists detained

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7190000/newsid_7190700?redirect=7190790.stm&news=1&bbram=1&bbwm=1&nbwm=1&nbram=1&asb=1

Jonah Fisher's whale diary
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7171409.stm

[superconnected]

48. This is so fucked up I feel like Peta must be behind it...

I'm a vegetarian animal lover who supported and ran away from supporting peta years ago for being fucked up like this. I hope these "activists" that are giving activists a bad name go to prison for attempted sabotage and possible attempted murder, if they were trying to sink the vessel.

[Judi Lynn]

49. Please take time to read the article. They were in no way "trying to sink the vessel."

"Attempted sabotage and possible attempted murder?" You are an embarrassment to what would be your fellow "vegetarian animal lovers!"



World Bank President, State Department official, former U.S. trade representative Robert Zoellich holds a very young vegetarian animal. It goes to show ya that even a "vegetarian animal lover" can be a right-wing asshole. It's doubtful Zoellich would be in the dark about whether or not these two men were attempting to murder the crew of the Japanese whaler.

You're trying to do too many things at once. You don't need to give anyone a personality profile on yourself in order to be "heard" on a message board. It won't give your message any more seriousness whatsoever. You need to concentrate on actually having something to say which is reality based.

[superconnected]

65. Not reading the article makes me uninformed, not the rest of your attack.

Geesh. Just saying read the article would have been enough...

[LeftyMom]

50. OMFG.

1. This has NOTHING to do with PETA (hint: it's almost certainly not a peta stunt if nobody invited the media.)

2. They were delivering a letter informing the whalers that they are in violation of international law, and demanding that they leave the sanctuary. Where I come from, hand delivering a letter is a pretty peaceful action.

3. It's pretty shitty to suggest people are attempting murder and deserve to be sent away based on no evidence at all of a crime that only happened in your head.

[Barrett808]

51. Sea Shepherd: Japanese Whalers Make Demands for Return of Hostages

Japanese Whalers Make Demands for Return of Hostages
Sea Shepherd News
News Releases
01/16/2008

The Institute of Cetacean Research, the front group for the illegal Japanese whaling operations are making demands for the release of the two Sea Shepherd crew being held hostage onboard the Japanese whaling vessel Yushin Maru No. 2.

The whalers said they will return the hostages in return for Sea Shepherd agreeing to no longer interfere with their whaling operations.

“The Institute of Cetacean Research is acting like a terrorist organization,” said Steve Irwin’s 1st Officer Peter Brown. “Here they are taking hostages and making demands. Our policy is that we don’t respond to terrorist demands.”

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has heard reports from the media that Japan has agreed to release the hostages but the Steve Irwin has not heard anything official from either the Australian or Japanese governments.

“The activities of the Japanese whaling fleet are illegal under international conservation law. The Japanese are poachers and should be treated in the same manner as elephant or tiger poachers,” said Captain Paul Watson.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society will not negotiate with poachers and demands that the Japanese whalers release Benjamin Potts and Giles Lane as soon as possible.

The location of the Yushin Maru No. 2 with the hostages onboard is not known presently. The vessel is no longer in sight or within radar range of the Steve Irwin.

http://seashepherd.org/news/media_080116_2.html

[Barrett808]

53. Whale hostages used for 'blackmail'

Whale hostages used for 'blackmail'
By Lauren Williams
January 16, 2008 01:25pm

CAPTAIN of the Steve Irwin, Paul Watson, says Japanese whalers are blackmailing environmental group Sea Shepherd into releasing two crew members held on board a Japanese whaling ship in the Southern Ocean.

Australian Benjamin Potts and British National Giles Lane have been held hostage on the Japanese ship Yushin Maru for over 18 hours now, since the pair boarded the ship in protest last night.

The two crew members were last night tied to the radar mast of Japanese harpoon vessel Yushin Maru after the pair tried to hand over a petition calling for an end to whaling. Read more on their dramatic capture here.

Mr Watson said The Institute for Cetacean Research - the whaling body in charge of the whaling fleet have issued an extraordinary five point list of demands to Sea Shepherd, detailing the terms under which the two hostages will be released.

The letter, adressed to Captain Watson, says the hostages will be returned if Sea Shepherd agree to cease violent action.

It says the Steve Irwin must stay in position at least 10 nautical miles from the Yuishin Maru and not move. Stating that no helicopter or photgraphic equipment may be used during the transfer and that the transfer must take place using the Zodiac, one of Sea Shepherd's inflatable boats.

Mr Watson has refused to responded to the demands.

"I am not going to send an inflatable on its own, from ten miles in these conditions," Mr Watson said.

"When you hold hostages and make these sort of demands, that is an act of terrorism."

(more)

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23061178-5001021,00.html

[maddezmom]

54. Japan to release anti-whaling activists By ROHAN SULLIVAN, Associated Press Writer

SYDNEY, Australia - Australia said Wednesday that Japan has agreed to release two activists being detained going aboard a Japanese whaling ship near Antarctica, as whale hunters and defenders traded accusations of piracy.

The Japanese whalers accused the activists of attacking their vessel with bottles of acid and illegally boarding the Yushin Maru No. 2 on Tuesday, and denied claims the men had been assaulted and tied up on deck.

The anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd said the pair — Australian Benjamin Potts, 28, and Briton Giles Lane, 35 — boarded the ship to deliver a letter demanding an end to the hunt, but had been roughed up and were being held against their will.

The standoff drew criticism from Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, whose officials contacted their Japanese counterparts late Tuesday to seek the release of the two activists.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080116/ap_on_re_au_an/antarctica_whaling;_ylt=AkiqgmNb_KTCtx9HKSgJUddw24cA

[BreweryYardRat]

55. Charming.

They'd better hand them over -- and not under those ridiculous conditions they requested. (Wanting the Irwin to stand off and send a Zodiac 10 miles in the friggin' Southern Ocean?! No way in hell. That's asking for an accident that would probably kill both the prisoners and the guys retrieving them -- assuming the fucking whalers wouldn't just arrange one.)

What I don't get is why nobody's simply bombed the Japanese whaling fleet while it's in harbor and empty. (As I recall, this did happen to the Iceland fleet back in the 1980s.) That'd be much more cost-effective and less risky than chasing them all the way down to the ass-end of the world every couple of months.

(No, Agent Mike, I'm not advocating anything. Just wondering.)

[Pavulon]

56. All sides are nuts

need a 3rd party to pick up the personnel. They should not have boarded. The Japanese should not attach conditions other than safety.

[LeftyMom]

58. The Iceland thing wasn't a bomb, they went on board and broke shit and opened hatches.

Presumably the Japanese have better security, and a pretty good idea of what would happen to their whaling fleet if they don't.

Hold on, my smarter half posted an account of the thing from one of the participants a while back, I'll go find it. Oh, there it is: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/flvegan/155

[BreweryYardRat]

59. Nice. Very professional of them. n/t

[Barrett808]

60. Sea Shepherd Crew Remain Hostages On The Japanese Whaling Ship

Sea Shepherd Crew Remain Hostages On The Japanese Whaling Ship
Sea Shepherd News
News Releases
01/16/2008

ABOARD THE STEVE IRWIN - 16 January 2008 -- 0500 GMT

Twenty-four hours later, Sea Shepherd crew members Giles Lane from the U.K. and Benjamin Potts from Australia remain hostages on the Yushin Maru No. 2.

Media Reports that the hostages have been released to the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin are false. Reports that the Steve Irwin will not accept calls from the Japanese vessels or authorities are false. No calls have been received. The Yushin Maru No. 2 has refused to return radio calls from the Steve Irwin.

No one from the Japanese or Australian government has contacted Sea Shepherd to organize the transfer of the hostages from the Japanese whaler back to the Steve Irwin.

The Institute for Cetacean Research, the front group for the illegal Japanese whaling operations did send a letter with demands to be met prior to a release. Sea Shepherd is not interested in any demands based on the holding of hostages.

"Using hostages to make demands is the hallmark of terrorism and Sea Shepherd has no interest in negotiating with terrorist groups," said Captain Paul Watson. "The hostages must be released unconditionally."

http://seashepherd.org/news/media_080116_3.html

[Barrett808]

61. Croc Hunter's widow lends support to Sea Shepherd

Croc Hunter's widow lends support
By Lauren Williams
January 17, 2008 01:00am

THE WIFE of late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin yesterday championed the anti-whaling protest group Sea Shepherd as the tense stand-off between the Australian vessel and Japanese whalers intensified.

Terri Irwin's support for the renegade protesters came as Benjamin Potts and Giles Lane prepared to spend another night hostage onboard Japanese whaler Yushin Maru No.2.

"I'm very proud of (ship captain) Paul Watson for doing something so actively positive to save whales," Mrs Irwin told The Daily Telegraph.

An international standoff developed yesterday as efforts to release the two men drew to a stalemate.

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith last night revealed he had contacted the Dutch owners of the Yushin Maru in order for them to contact the vessel and urge them to "act within its obligations".

Japanese Fisheries Agency's chief of whaling Hideki Moronuki said the pair would not be released unless the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society boat agreed to the conditions.

According to Sea Shepherd, these include agreeing not to take any action against the whaling activities, including filming or photographing the hunt.

(more)

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23063173-2,00.html

[Barrett808]

62. Rudd urged to help protesters

Rudd urged to help protesters
By Brian Williams, Michael Madigan and Hiroshi Osedo
January 17, 2008 01:00am

TWO protesters remain imprisoned on a Japanese whaling ship as Australia began exerting pressure to end the deepening crisis in Antarctic waters yesterday.

The Federal Opposition urged Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to seek discussions with the Japanese as protesters Benjamin Potts, 28, of Sydney, and Giles Lane, 35, from Britain, apparently remained tied up on the Yashin Maru No 2.

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said the Federal Police were looking into circumstances around the alleged capture while the Department of Foreign Affairs was engaged with the Japanese in Tokyo.

A Japanese government spokesman yesterday strongly condemned the environmental activists for illegally boarding the ship.

"It was an extremely dangerous act against legal activities," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura.

Another government official categorically denied that the two activists had been assaulted and tied up with ropes to the radar mast for a few hours. "They have made up the story," he said.

But the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society accused the Japanese of using the protesters as pawns to blackmail activists.

Society spokesman Dean Jefferys said the Japanese had said they would release the men if protest ship Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson agreed to stop taking photographs or videos of whaling ships or interfere in whaling activities.

"That's the whole reason why we are there so Watson has refused to agree to the demands," Mr Jefferys said. "We are down there for legitimate causes, to uphold the UN Law of the Sea Convention (which relates to maritime zones) and to hand them a letter and we are within our rights.

"Our people did nothing violent."

(more)

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23063894-2,00.html

[Barrett808]

66. Whalers threaten to take activists to Japan

A spokesman for the Japanese whaling fleet says it will have no choice but to take two detained activists back to Japan if a dispute over their release is not resolved.

Australian Benjamin Potts and Briton Giles Lane have been held for two days since boarding the Japanese ship the Yushin Maru in the Southern Ocean.

Glenn Inwood from the Institute of Cetacean Research says the activists may have to be taken to Japan.

"Two men have committed a breach of international law by illegally boarding a flagged vessel," he said.

"So really, at the moment, nobody wants those men, but they'll be taken back to Tokyo if they don't get off the boat."

The Japanese have offered to return the men, but only if their Sea Shepherd anti-whaling group stops its protests.

Sea Shepherd has rejected the demand.

The Brisbane-based mother of Mr Potts, Marianne Potts, says she is hoping for the safe release of her son but does not want to say anything which might inflame the situation.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/17/2140406.htm?section=justin

[Barrett808]

67. Japanese government must act, says Sea Shepherd director

SYDNEY - Someone from the Japanese government must step in to take charge of "the hostage situation" in the Southern Ocean, Sea Shepherd international director Jonny Vasic says.

Mr Vasic said he was unable to confirm reports the Japanese harpoon vessel, Yushin Maru No 2, which has detained two crew members of the anti-whaling ship the Steve Irwin, was on its way back to Japan.

"We have lost the Yushin Maru on our radar," he said.

"We feel they're probably in the area. We have heard the reports they are heading back to Japan but we can't confirm them. We're currently in the Southern Ocean in the (whale) sanctuary. We're hoping the Japanese government will step in and do the right thing."

...

"They (the Yushin Maru No 2) are making demands of us and holding two of our crew members hostage. That's extortion and we have no interest in negotiating with criminals. They are out there breaking the law. We want someone official from the Japanese government to take charge.

"Last I knew, when someone was taken hostage the government negotiates on their behalf, not the Institute for Cetacean Research, which doesn't hold any power or authority for the Japanese. The reality is that the ICR is a front for the government to try to resume commercial whaling and we have no interest in talking to them."

(more)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10487333