Activists promise ‘aggressive’ action over hostages

Of course they do. It’s a part of the overall PR scheme to get coverage; first harass the Japanese until they make an error of judgment, or, as happened in this case, illegally board the vessel and force the Japanese to defend themselves. Two activists boarded the vessel with a view to handing the Captain something or other. It doesn’t matter what it was – the intention was to put themselves in such a position on the vessel that the Japanese would be forced to react. They did – they secured the activists and apparently wont let them go. I think ‘ (the activists)were tied to the rails of the ship and immersed up to their waists in freezing seawater after an attempt to throw one overboard.’ owes more to the radical politics of Sea Sheppard rather than the truth. I can imagine the Japanese were very upset at being boarded in the high seas and are entitled to secure the radicals until they can be safely got rid of. I would secure them in the brig in protective custody just to shut them up and to ensure the crew don’t take them apart or have to listen to their rantings. Still, all the luvvies are lapping it up. The younger set were recently trying to tell me that the Japanese really have a surplus of tons and tons of whale meat in cold storage in Japan and are only doing this to wind us up. Given that this is obviously a commercial enterprise I can’t see it but as they believe everything they read then how can rational thought get a guernsey. Meanwhile the lawyers have got into the act as The Federal Court yesterday handed down a landmark judgment ordering Japanese government-backed company Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha out of the Australian Whale Sanctuary. It’s landmark alright as a very few select countries recognize Australia’s Sanctuary and the Government aren’t going to actually enforce the landmark decision because it’s unenforceable in international law. Notwithstanding all of this, it’s a very good PR exercise for Sea Sheppard as millions will respond with donations while governments and media organizations queue up to dance to their tune. Diplomacy is the answer, not piracy on the High Seas, but that would never suit a radicals agenda. UPDATE: This just in;

The Japanese whaling fleet says protest ship the Steve Irwin is deliberately avoiding its attempts to hand over two detained crew members. Japan’s Institute for Cetacean Research claims the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel is trying to prolong the controversy.

Tactics, Sea Sheppard haven’t milked it for all it’s worth yet. UPDATE II: The next page in the Sea Sheppard pre-written script goes like this;

THE Japanese whaling ship holding two activists, including an Australian, will release the men only if a list of conditions is met, the Sea Shepherd conservation group says.

No proof, just a statement. I wonder if the media carrying this story has bothered to ask for their source. And this raise a few questions;

A witness said the pair were tied to the rails of the ship and immersed up to their waists in freezing seawater after an attempt to throw one overboard.

As the whole ‘boarding the Japanese whaler’ is a Sea Sheppard tactic to excite the media are we expected to believe that the activists didn’t have a camera on their boarding party? Where are the pics proving the ‘immersion in freezing sea water and tying up stuff’? I’m sure they’ll be along soon.