Arrest of whaling activist a major diplomatic incident

The Alliance Party says the arrest and trial of Peter Bethune by the Japanese is a major diplomatic incident for New Zealand.

Alliance Party co-leader Kay Murray says it is outrageous that a New Zealand citizen has been arrested and will be tried in Japan as a result of the skirmish between anti whaling protestors Sea Shepherd and the Japanese whaling fleet in Antartic waters in mid February.

The incident occurred in a complex situation in which the legality of the actions of both sides could be questioned. The Japanese fleet allegedly committed serious acts of aggression against Mr Bethune's Sea Shepherd vessel Ady Gil. The Ady Gil was so severely damaged that the vessel eventually sank.

Ms Murray says it is very unlikely that Mr Bethune will get a fair trial in Japan given the strong nationalist pro whaling sentiment in Japan and the Japanese government's insistence on carrying out whaling in the Antartic in face of an international moratorium.

"Mr Bethune should be returned to New Zealand and whole incident reviewed by an independent body."

The Alliance believes New Zealand should align themselves with the Australian government who have threatened to take Japan to the international court unless they halt their annual whale hunt.

In the meantime New Zealand could exercise some leadership and deploy our naval vessels to the Southern Oceans while the Japanese whaling fleets are down there to prevent similar incidents of lawlessness. This is one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the world. Unchecked clashes in these waters will inevitably lead to serious loss of life.

ENDS

© Scoop Media