JAPAN: Foreign Ministry labels anti-whaling activists dangerous, lodges official protests

Record ID: 462891

  • Title: JAPAN: Foreign Ministry labels anti-whaling activists dangerous, lodges official protests
  • Date: 8th January 2010
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JANUARY 7, 2010) (REUTERS) FOREIGN MINISTRY NEWS CONFERENCE LOGO OF JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTRY (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY, YASUHISA KAWAMURA, SAYING: "The series of those sabotage, taken by Sea Shepherd were very dangerous acts which would risk the life and safety of the Japanese crew members and these acts should be strongly condemned. I underline that the collision took place at the end of the incessant and continued dangerous acts taken by the Sea Shepherd's boat." MAP SHOWING AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY, YASUHISA KAWAMURA, SAYING: "Japan made protest against the New Zealand government about the collision while we did also Australia and Holland in the similar context in the past." REPORTERS LISTENING TO NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 23rd January 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: International Relations,Environment / Natural World
  • Reuters ID: LVACUJEV39YT2IUKT4933T56ZR0L
  • Story Text: Japan's Foreign Ministry formally condemned the Sea Shepherd Conversation Society for what it called "dangerous acts" following a collision in the Southern Ocean on Wednesday (January 6) between a Japanese vessel and protest boat, Ady Gil.
    "The series of those sabotage, taken by Sea Shepherd were very dangerous acts which would risk the life and safety of the Japanese crew members and these acts should be strongly condemned. I underline that the collision took place at the end of the incessant and continued dangerous acts taken by the Sea Shepherd's boat," Yasuhisa Kawamura, Japan's Foreign Ministry deputy press secretary told foreign media in English on Thursday (January 7).
    "Japan made protest against the New Zealand government about the collision while we did also Australia and Holland in the similar context in the past," he added.
    Australia's government came under pressure on Thursday to send a patrol vessel to the Southern Ocean after a high seas collision between an anti-whaling protest boat and a Japanese whaling ship that injured one activist.
    Canberra has called for restraint by all sides after the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's futuristic powerboat Ady Gil had its bow sliced off by the Japanese security ship Shonan Maru No. 2 and was left foundering near Antarctica.
    Confrontations between whalers and activists have become an annual feature of the hunt in Antarctic waters claimed by Australia but not recognised as Australian by Japan.
    Both countries have in the past agreed to quarantine their differences over whaling from wider diplomatic relations to avoid damaging close security ties and long-running free trade talks.
    Japan's Fisheries Agency said the collision took place when Ady Gil suddenly slowed down as it crossed in front of Shonan Maru, which had warned the boat of impending danger.
    All six crew were rescued from the Ady Gil, but the collision left one activist with two broken ribs and the A$1.5 million ($1.37 million) carbon-fibre trimaran foundered. Sea Shepherd expected the powerboat to be unsalvageable.
    Commercial whaling was banned under a 1986 moratorium, but Japan continues to cull whales, saying it is for research purposes, deflecting criticism from anti-whaling nations.
    Japan says whaling is a cultural tradition and while most Japanese do not eat whale meat regularly, many are indifferent to accusations that the hunting is cruel.
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