Police ‘consider’ whale row charge
AUSTRALIA’S Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has told Tokyo that
federal police are “considering” prosecuting members of the
militant anti-whaling Sea Shepherd Conservation Society when its
vessel docks in Melbourne today.
Mr Smith discussed the possibility in a meeting with Japan’s
Foreign Minister, Masahiko Komura, who has repeatedly urged
Australia to charge crew from the ship, the Steve Irwin, who
boarded a Japanese whaling vessel in the Southern Ocean last
month.
Two Sea Shepherd crew members an Australian, Benjamin
Potts, and a Briton, Giles Lane were held by Japanese
whalers after climbing aboard the Yushin Maru No. 2 in mid-January
without permission.
They were later turned over to an Australian Customs ship.
Mr Smith said yesterday, while stressing that Australia was
“disappointed” with Japan’s “scientific whaling” program, that “one
of the things which was clear (during the meeting on Thursday) was
that what’s occurred are matters for individuals they’re not
the responsibility of the Australian Government.
“Whatever consequences flow from whatever people did on the high
seas, the cards will fall where they may,” Mr Smith said. “In the
first instance it’s a matter for the Australian Federal Police to
evaluate that, and that evaluation is ongoing,” he said.
“(They) are evaluating whether anything untoward, unlawful or
illegal occurred in the recent incident.”
The Steve Irwin will dock about 2pm today to refuel, undergo
engine repairs and to get a fresh crew.
In Thursday’s meeting, in which the ministers also discussed the
bilateral security agreement signed last year by the two countries,
Mr Komura told Mr Smith that Japan’s research whaling program had a
sound scientific basis. The pair agreed that the dispute should not
hinder the otherwise strong ties between Australian and Japan.
Japan’s Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, also called for calm over
the issue after a meeting with Mr Smith yesterday. “The whaling
issue is a matter of each country’s circumstances,” Mr Fukuda said.
“It should not negatively impact on diplomatic relations.”
The visit by Australia’s Foreign Minister coincided with a
symposium in Tokyo attended by anti and pro-whaling nations to
discuss the future of the deadlocked International Whaling
Commission.
Symposium chairman Judge Tuiloma Neroni Slade, former presiding
judge of the International Criminal Court, told media afterwards
that the best outcome would, in his view, “one: reflect or
recognise the consensus of legitimate claims by coastal whaling
communities in Japan; second: suspend so-called research whaling
and respect the integrity of the sanctuaries in the Southern Ocean;
and three: define a finite number of whales that can be taken”.
But Joji Morishita of Japan’s Fisheries Agency, who also
attended the symposium, said this was “not a consensus” view among
those who attended.
Meanwhile, Sea Shepherd activists arriving in Melbourne today
are committed to returning to chase the Japanese whaling fleet in
the Antarctic again this season, their leader, Paul Watson, said
last night.
He said the group was certain it would be able to refuel, repair
an engine on the Steve Irwin, and head south again in 10 days with
fresh crew and provisions.
Captain Watson said this was going to be “a never-ending trip to
the dentist” for Japan.
“We intend to remain a constant, nagging, festering pain to
their intentions to continue to illegally kill whales.”
He said Australian Federal Police had told him they wanted to
interview crew members on Sunday, and Sea Shepherd would
co-operate.
“(The AFP) said they are not pursuing any charges right now,”
Captain Watson said.
A federal police spokeswoman said it was conducting preliminary
inquiries into the incident at this stage.
Since the boarding, a Japanese trawler has shadowed the Steve
Irwin, keeping a check on its position while the whaling fleet
returned to its hunt.
Captain Watson said the trawler turned away yesterday at
Australia’s 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone.
With ANDREW DARBY
Posted
on
Saturday, February 2nd, 2008 at 1:05 am under