Britain wishes for swift resolution to Japanese detainment of anti-whaling activists

Britain called Wednesday for a swift resolution to the detaining of two anti-whaling activists on a Japanese ship, one of them a British citizen, Kyodo reports.

“Obviously we wish to see the detained members handed over to the proper authorities and we hope that this can be achieved safely and without further delay,” Britain’s Minister of State for Sustainable Food and Farming and Animal Health Jeff Rooker told the House of the Lords.

The two anti-whaling activists, members of the controversial environmental organization Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, were Australian Benjamin Potts and Briton Giles Lane. Crew members of the Japanese ship Yushin Maru No. 2 detained and tied up the two after they had illegally bordered their ship.

The two claim they intended to deliver a letter to the crew demanding Japan to stop whaling in the Antarctic, according to the Kyodo News report.

Japan’s Fisheries Agency said Wednesday it has decided to release two anti-whaling activists, but the Sea Shepherd claims the agency only intends to hand over the detainees if the group agrees not to partake in any direct action against Japanese whalers.

Paul Watson, captain of the ship involved in the boarding said it was an “unreasonable demand” and smeared Japanese authorities, saying they act like “terrorist organizations.“

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Japan News Review
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5 responses to “Britain wishes for swift resolution to Japanese detainment of anti-whaling activists”

Taylor D, Jan 17 at 3:52 am :

I heard they tried to throw one of them overboard, then tied them both to the mast in freezing conditions. The shippers are insane. Seems they’re going on a manhunt, more than anything.

bruce williams, Jan 17 at 8:37 am :

You don’t need to kill 900 + whales in 3 months for research , what a farce. Own up to breaking international laws. the Yushin Maru No. 2 should be sunk with all other Japanese “research” vessels

Surinder, Jan 17 at 6:26 pm :

Thanks for the opinion, Bruce, but how about the fact that the morons boarding the ship broke laws too?

Tom, Jan 18 at 5:45 am :

Laws on the ‘high seas’ are different. You don’t board some one else’s vessel without permission, whether or not you agree with what they are doing. “throw ‘em in the brig”

Another Tom, Jan 22 at 5:50 pm :

Any meat eater who gets all het up over whales being killed is a hypocrite.

Why are westerners so effin righteous about this topic?