Greenpeace activist to be tried for piracy in Japan?

**Oakie** · 16th February 2010, 14:50

I'm against whaling as I guess most people are.
I'm also not impressed by the antics of the activists in the southern ocean.

So an activist sneaks on board a whaler in the dark with the intention of arresting the skipper. He get's caught and the Japanese say they'll take him to Japan and try him for piracy (think Somalian pirates sneaking onto vessels at night). Greenpeace say that he wanted to talk to the skipper regarding the recent collision of their two vessels. Now if you hit someone else's car anywhere in NZ do you think it's OK to sneak into their house in the middle of the night to discuss the matter. I think not!

Now I don't seriously think they'll take him back to Japan ... it's all posturing and I'm sure an agreement for his release will be made after a suitable period of time. (Hmmm, I wonder if they'll feed him whale meat while he is their guest?).

Perhaps given the charge of 'piracy' it may be appropriate for them just to make him 'walk the plank' so his mates can pick him up.

The charge of piracy may also be appropriate too given that the activist's vessel 'Steve Irwin' has a large skull and crossbones painted on the front of the superstructure.

What say you?

**Mully** · 16th February 2010, 14:57

Save the whales - collect the whole set.

I like that he tried a citizen's arrest of the Captain, and then presented him with an invoice for the sunken boat.

Certainly points for optimism:
"Here's an invoice for my sunken boat"
"Dreadfully sorry, old chap. Let me just grab my cheque book"

Did you hear the spokesman on the radio; "We aren't going to pull alongsie for a transfer cos we'll end up with all the cockroaches from their boat coming over"

Actually, I think, by definition, he is a pirate (illegal boarding and so on).

**Tank** · 16th February 2010, 14:59

What he has done is illeagal (boarding a boat in international waters).

BUT - It needs to be noted that he is not being kept on the boat - He is actually not wanting to leave. I think this fucker deserves anything he gets - preferably 10 - 12 years in a Jap prison.

"New Zealand skipper Peter Bethune appears to be refusing to be transferred from the whaling ship Shonan Maru which he illegally boarded in Antarctic waters yesterday, says Foreign Minister Murray McCully."

from http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/austral...n-whaling-boat

**The Pastor** · 16th February 2010, 15:00

yeah, and what country owns the water they are in?

**JimO** · 16th February 2010, 15:01

did he pay for the fishing boat he ran down when the Ady Gill was called Earthrace and was he charged with murder for the fisherman that drowned..the japs should chuck the cunt over the side

**JimO** · 16th February 2010, 15:02

Originally Posted by renegade master

yeah, and what country owns the water they are in?

craplacastan??

**onearmedbandit** · 16th February 2010, 15:06

Committed a crime in international waters, he can face the music. What gets me is that Sea Sheppard Pie are saying, 'oh if it was us that sank their boat the NZ Govt etc would have prosecuted us, yet when it's the other way around they do nothing'. Well Mr Pie, from what I understand they are not breaking any laws as such, just going about their business, whether it's morally correct or not. You on the other hand are interfering with their business, causing lives to be risked and boats to be sunk. So yes, I admire you for standing up for what you believe in, but we're all not quite as crazy as you.

**Swampdonkey** · 16th February 2010, 15:18

They will be feeding him whale meat sushi.....hope he enjoys it.
His boat was for the scrapyard in Helensville,it was rooted.All of a sudden its worth millions.

**Swoop** · 16th February 2010, 15:58

Originally Posted by Swampdonkey

His boat was for the scrapyard in Helensville,it was rooted.All of a sudden its worth millions.

Remarkable that it made it all the way around the world and a bit more, then eh?
Composite boats are like that.

**davereid** · 16th February 2010, 16:14

Originally Posted by Swampdonkey

They will be feeding him whale meat sushi.....hope he enjoys it.

Yeah, the Japs have a good sense of humour... Minke or Right Whale steaks tonight... you choose..

**Laava** · 16th February 2010, 16:19

He's no pirate that's for sure! A Pirate doesn't jump onto another boat waving a piece of paper! He should have sabotaged it somehow and jumped over board.

**Swampdonkey** · 16th February 2010, 17:30

Originally Posted by Swoop

Remarkable that it made it all the way around the world and a bit more, then eh?
Composite boats are like that.

Yeah and he only killed some poor old fisherman in Peru.... slowed him down for a day or two

**rainman** · 16th February 2010, 18:32

Pete is a top bloke and a true hero. He's not a direct close friend but I'm proud to count him in my extended social circle, and I'm glad he has the balls to do what he believes in - he's braver than me, and I suspect, most of you lot too. Sure the citizen's arrest is a stunt but it's a high-stakes way of getting an issue he believes in into the international debate. He deserves much more support that this government will give him. Unfortunately Murray "Useless" McCully is FM at the moment, and, as usual, won't do his job.

Originally Posted by Swampdonkey

Yeah and he only killed some poor old fisherman in Peru.... slowed him down for a day or two

Yeah, 'cos you were there, right? At least read his book before you spout crap on here.

**Skyryder** · 16th February 2010, 18:36

It’ pure street theater or in this case ‘sea’ theater. I’d better say from the outset that the ‘actor’ is in the wrong and has acted unlawfully in boarding a vessel on the high sea.

But again the Nips have got this all wrong in the PR stakes. At present they are the bad guys in world opinion on whaling. Now they have come up with some cock and bull story on pirating. Compare that to Sea Shepherd’s reason for the boarding, in that Key has made no protest whatsoever over a NZ registered vessel being rammed and you can begin to see where this is leading. Couple this with the Sierra Club concerns over mining in our National Parks and put the two together and any half decent propagandist could make us look pretty silly.
It’s anyone’s guess just how far the Nips will go on this. SS should have realized that they have given the Japs a hostage. Still a dumb move on their part (SS) too. Street theater usually is and has little bearing on reality

Key to his credit has finally spoken out on this but 'late' as usual. Perhaps he was waiting for a call from his mate Lord Ashcroft on what to do. Oh by the way doubt if many know this but Ashcroft is a whale watcher. Might explain Key's position now.

Skyryder

**Skyryder** · 16th February 2010, 18:40

Originally Posted by rainman

Pete is a top bloke and a true hero. He's not a direct close friend but I'm proud to count him in my extended social circle, and I'm glad he has the balls to do what he believes in - he's braver than me, and I suspect, most of you lot too. Sure the citizen's arrest is a stunt but it's a high-stakes way of getting an issue he believes in into the international debate. He deserves much more support that this government will give him. Unfortunately Murray "Useless" McCully is FM at the moment, and, as usual, won't do his job.

Yeah, 'cos you were there, right? At least read his book before you spout crap on here.

I've mentioned much the same on other issues. It takes guts and committemt to do what these guys do.

Skyryder