Two crew of the Sea Shepherd who illegally boarded the Japanese whaling ship Yushin Maru No. 2 in the Antarctic have been captured. According to the Director General of the Institute of Cetacean Research, Mr Minoru Morimoto, Ben Potts and Giles Lane (both of the Sea Shepherd) attempted to entangle the screw of the vessel using ropes and threw bottles of acid onto the decks before boarding.
Ben Potts
Giles Lane
“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.”
Acid Bottle Smashed on Deck
Acid Bottle Thrown by Pirates
Yep, that the "Aussie mass media" for you.
"propaganda from Japan"?
Two examples from Australian news sites (not to mention Reuters reporting the same bollocks themselves)
"Sea Shepherd international director Jonny Vasic said the released pair were in good spirits despite having gone on a hunger strike while being held on the Japanese ship."
http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=452332
"Whaling activists were on hunger strike"
http://www.scopical.com.au/articles/News/2144/Whaling-activists-were-on-hunger-strike
More 'fascinating stuff': Government of Japan
'Meanwhile, the Japanese Whaling Association says Australia's decision to help anti-whaling protesters goes against a resolution agreed to at last year's International Whaling Conference (IWC) meeting.
The association says the use of the Oceanic Viking to pick up two activists released from a Japanese whaling ship is akin to providing a "limousine service" for "two violent pirates". It says the Australian Government has rejected and spoiled the IWC's efforts to ensure safety at sea.
A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith says the transfer of the men from the Oceanic Viking to the Steve Irwin was done at the request of the Japanese Government.' (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/19/2142202.htm)
Following:
'Also this morning, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith confirmed that the Japanese Government had formally approached Australia to assist in the return of the two activists'. (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/17/2140406.htm)
And:
'A spokesman for the Japanese whalers, Glenn Inwood, says it is a good outcome' (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/18/2141185.htm)
Oops...
Facinating stuff : Watson
01/15/2008
"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."
"Paul Watson, captain of the Sea Shepherd's vessel the Steve Irwin, and the activists claimed that they were mistreated, almost thrown overboard, tied to the whaler's rail, tied downstairs with freezing water up to their knees and later on tied up to a radar post on the upper deck in below freezing temperatures before being locked up in a cabin downstairs."
01/18/2008 three days later :
" Both men reported that although they were roughed up when they first boarded the whaling ship, that they were treated well during their time onboard. The only injury was a bruised wrist suffered by Giles Lane."
Oops ...
"Yet the Aussie mass media eagerly reported their "hunger strike" ;)"
The only mention of a hunger strike I heard was on one TV news bulletin which said Ben Potts had been considering one. The net, print, radio and other TV bulletins have mentioned nothing and I have been reading, listening and watching throughout the day. Sounds like more propaganda from Japan. Were you expecting the whalers to starve them? Seriously? Of course they were going to be fed.
It's as ridiculous as the howls about the Australian tax payer's having to pick up the bill for their transfer to the Oceanic Viking. The vessel was supposed to be with the fleet anyway, and as Bob Debus said, would normally be in southern waters patrolling. Of course the public now has every reason to question the practicalities of this routine.
Welcome back Pagmatic and Pinxi.