Antiwhaling protester to be brought to Japan for questioning

Hahah I hope they use him to feed the whales!

you can bet this interrogation will be recorded..

Gov't considers bringing antiwhaling protester to Japan for questioning

Wow - that would be a pretty bad idea, and would likely backfire on the Japanese Government. The Kiwis for one would be outraged (this would be their biggest news since the Rainbow Warrior incident), and Captain Bethune could be turned into a virtual Martyr. I can just see it ending up as yet another PR disaster for Japan, but I don't think it will come to that - a deal will soon be worked out.

once the dude boarded the boat he came under Japanese jurisdiction. He should have exercised his rights under whatever protections offered by maritime law, most likely in a court in one of those fancy cities in Europe.

I truly hope they bring him to Japan.

The ensuing circus would be the highlight of the year.

And the world's media focussing on the plight of the poor old whalers would surely bring lots of sympathy to their cause. lol

I can't wait.

"Japan’s Penal Code, which bans anyone from breaking into a residence of another person or into property, buildings or vessels guarded by another person,"Does anyone know what the correct law or procedure for a vessel on the high seas is regarding this matter.Because in international waters aren't the maritimes laws different.

His wife doesn't seem too worried. I'm sure that while he's away she can finally have a secret feast of whalemeat while the single issue nutter is on the high seas.

A US-based organization on a ship registered in New Zealand, where the local papers say it is a Dutch ship... pretty slippery eel, this one.

Just throw him overboard and keep on researching

oh christ, this is just getting better by the minute...what's gonna be next? waterboard tactics from the j-side?

Well, he might enjoy his minimum of 23 days chatting with the prosecutors. Let's see, his passsport (if he has it with him) will get him in here for 90 days but if he has no passport then Immigration can have him for illegal entry. If he does have his passport and the case drags on for more than 90 days then Immigration can have him again for overstaying.

Interesting case. Opens the question who is liable to pay the 3 Million USD boat the Japanese sunk and is a citizen arrest legal under international marine law?

She told the Australian Broadcasting Corp that her husband takes calculated risks and that he is prepared to die to protect whales.

Mental illness, yes indeedy.

‘‘Pete did know the consequences but what do you do when you’ve got no backing from your own government?’’ she said.

Move to the UK. PETA is pretty big there.

I bet they are really confused no how to treat this case. No matter what they decide, it will end up getting more and more attention. Attention will lead to people looking for the truth, and the truth is Japan's biggest enemy regarding this issue.

I would be surprised if they bring him to Japan. The way of the least attention is what they are looking for now. Perhaps they will drop him off at some small insignificant island nation?

So, guess what's for dinner on his boat of choice tonight! Sashimi, sushi or stewed whale meat. Wonder if they'll tell him or just hid it in another dish?

PR disaster - you got that right BurakuminDes. Do they really think the NZ govt won't stand up for his rights. I bet a deal will be worked out and he'll be quietly put on a plane / boat somewhere before reaching Japan with a slap on the wrists and a heroes welcome home. Be interesting to see whether the story generates much media attention here. A poll of public opinion in Japan would be interesting. Poor Japanese whalers (apologies - I mean reseachers), will their woes never end.

Wow a modern day POW, doesn't taking captured enemies back to Japan ring a bell...

Being detained and having the Japanese bring him to Japan was exactly the plan from the beginning. Now, it's a matter of how the Japanese handle it. He can be charged with piracy for illegal boarding of a Japanese ship. If convicted he faces a $1250(AUS) fine and up to three years in a Japanese pen. However, it will open a much larger can of worms because once he is here he will be able to pursue his case against the whalers and all the human rights groups will be watching his treatment very closely.

Do you think the Japanese are stupid enough to bring him here for prosecution? Of course they are. This will end up being a huge harpoon straight through the whaler's foot.

I am pretty damn sure they all sat down and figured it out on paper (SS crew) and a possible piracy charge. This smells of a set up for the Japanese.... as much as I resent the drama... all the power for this chap.

And his wife's comments - sounds like she doesn't really care too much what happens or when he gets back.

They should feed him whale meat and all kinds of fish until he decides to join the crew and become the spokesperson of the japanese whalers as well as a popular gaijin tarento.

he's a wild one !!! Does he speak Japanese ? The Japanese media is covering this ? I haven't seen anything on the news yet about this guy.

Perhaps they will drop him off at some small insignificant island nation?

like japan ?

What's the point in hauling him all the way to Japan? Just to have the pleasure of deporting him?

Pathetic case all round.

According to McCully, Bethune had boarded the Shonan Maru No. 2 ‘‘knowing there would be consequences from it and that he is not only not seeking to be removed, but is refusing to be removed.’’

Great, so leave him squatting where he is and give him rancid whale-blood showers every 3 hours. He'll love it. Or, to play safe, make it butyric acid showers.

Somehow I doubt he'll be brought to Japan, but it would serve him right if he was. Meanwhile I'm not sure if he's what would be classified as a squatter or a stowaway, but he's surely in dire need of an accidental plunge into the briny. Those whalers will have to tie him up to make sure he doesn't top himself. After all, his wife says quite clearly he's willing to die to try and stop the whaling, and if he can frame the whalers for his own death then it would certainly put the dampers on things. Wouldn't stop the whaling though, but it would become even less popular.

And for spudman on the other thread about the coca cola ad,

at 08:34 AM JST - 16th February; Dammit, on the whaling thread the pro whalers are claiming no one in New Zealand cares about whaling so which is it? Not Japan bashing cause there was similar uproar over a British soccer club ripping it off. Get your facts to line up with your opinions.

Well, this bloke is from New Zealand, his rep wants to support him if he's brought to Japan, and he's certainly going to get at least some support from his people. So who says NZ doesn't care about whaling? No-one on any of the threads on JT I've been on.

kyoken "who is liable to pay the 3 Million USD boat the Japanese sunk(sic)?" ...Check 'sank'.

Whoah, prejudice! Step back a minute. "The Japanese" didn't sink it.

The two boats collided, or collided harder, partly because whoever (the captain?) was at the wheel of the Ady Gil accelerated at the wrong moment. They came together and the Ady Gil's pointy bits got scrunched off.

It was the Bob Barker that sank the Ady Gil by towing it for 40 kilometers, gradually filling it with water until it was too heavy to tow any longer. Think water balloons. The BB then made the decision to let it sink.

It's disgusting. Even less reason to like the Japanese authorities and their outdated understanding of conservation, international relations and what is generally inportant for the human race.

If nothing else, this could put NZ back on the map: no one has heard anything about NZ since they finished the last of the Lord of The Rings movies! Captain Bethune could well end up the most famous Kiwi of all time...

Never bring him back to Japan; media attention, publicity are what he is looking for. He is knowing quite well that a very civilised country like Japan will not harm him. Just feed him whale burger, whale stew, whale gyoza...and send some experts quickly down South to give him moral lectures, good behaviours at sea ..etc before trying to release him or keep him at Senkaku island. Its just BIZARRE.

Enough already of the "feed him whale meat" calls! Funny the first few times...not any more fellas! Time for new material!

Okay let's assume the Japanese bring him here and there is a big to do about it. What happens if each country boycotts the other? NZ loses a major market for aluminium, cheese and fruits, Japan loses a market for used cars.

Oh yeah, and NZ loses 100,000 tourists a year and Japan loses 33,000. Great deal!!

Okay let's assume the Japanese bring him here and there is a big to do about it. What happens if each country boycotts the other? NZ loses a major market for aluminium, cheese and fruits, Japan loses a market for used cars.

I really could never understand arguments like these. HELLO? Because one country has a better economy than another does not mean it is right. This is the same kind of stupid reasoning I see from guys saying "but we have a bigger army than you!". How old are you? 10?

Ya figure Sea Shepherd timed this to steal the thunder of Green Peace in Japan? They're just having their day in court. (Prime publicity opportunity).

No it mens NZ has more to lose. I don't think there are going to put that at risk for the sake of a criminal.

No it mens NZ has more to lose. I don't think there are going to put that at risk for the sake of a criminal.

If the Japanese are going to target an entire country because of the actions of 1 single man, I think the correct conclusion is that Japanese are idiots. IF.

If he is brought to Japan, he will be liberated by Commando Raiders sworn to uphold justice and respect for all life on Earth!

He is a hero!

Praise him!

Down with miscreants!

I wouldn't be surprised if NZ is quiety asking Japan if they wouldn't mind dropping him off in Australia or somewhere. Anywhere BUT Wellington. They don't seem to want to deal with his demands for criminal charges against the Shonan Maru.

This is win-win for the whalers. If they take the man back not only is the ship out of the whaling race, but the NZ/Aussie government's will be outraged, possibly paving the way for them to start capturing and bringing the Japanese ships back to their own waters for trials. What can the Japanese possibly charge him with that would fly in international court an negate the man's own claims? They can't beat him or treat him badly, and they're in a pickle if they take him to a port outside Japan.

Either way, he threw an interesting move into the mix. Methinks this is going to get even MORE media attention, and I hope that out of this the IWC will finally decide to revise laws and close the loopholes.

(And when I say NZ above, of course I refer to the NZ government.)

She told the Australian Broadcasting Corp that her husband takes calculated risks and that he is prepared to die to protect whales.

he needs to get his priorities straight.

the real question - is he prepared to go to japanese prison for whales?

The best move Japan could do is drop the guy off at the nearest NZ port or hand off to another ship. But then you have the pickle I mentioned -- they are taken away from the whale slaughter while the SS boats can still pursue the Japanese fleet.

So the NZ Nutjob is himself under arrest on a vessel that boarded illegally...Good on Japan...

Best scenario: had him over to a third party vessel......how 'bout a Norwegian?

The Japanese have absolutely no idea how STUPID they are going to look if they bring him to Japan on some BS charge. The words "establish a criminal case" seem to be a translation of "fabricate something now matter how ridiculous it looks to the rest or the world!"

Sea Shepherd is scoring a MAJOR media victory with this move and can probably raise enough money from donations to buy a battleship! Nothing the Japanese do can save them from a PR sh$$-storm and further humiliation.

sharky1, I agree with you for once. He crossed the line boarding the Japanese ship.

Here is a point being missed by everyone: If they do take him into Wellington or even an Australian port it is quite likely the captain of the Japanese ship will be arrested and put to trial for the collision, regardless of guilt he still has to answer to an inquiry. I would not be surprised if the the NZ coast guard is waiting for the opportunity to do so.

Of course he is refusing to leave the ship. If he does, then there is no story and not enough media attention. And Japan has hopefully finally woken up enough to catch on to their media games and will play them too. They will bring him back to Japan but will let him go as some sort of gracious gesture of goodwill to the protesters.

No matter what the outcome, what few Japanese who will have caught wind of this story, will undoubtedly see all anti-whaling protesters as bad guys and thus there will still be no progress made with educating the general public as to why whaling needs to be reconsidered. Thanks for nothing, SSCS. Again, lots of attention for their own glory, whaling not stopped, and 10 more steps backward with regard to the public's attitudes toward other conservation societies that are working so hard for real causes and not their own 15 minutes of fame. So sad.

is a citizen arrest legal under international marine law?

I expect it would be the captain's OBLIGATION to detain any boarder who came aboard without permission.

Japan's impulse to play the heavy will backfire in this case. The Japanese system is ill-suited to deal with high-profile martyrs.

I am so proud of my countryman taking the stand he is against the Japanese whalers. Yes,he is a little nutty and definetely a publicity hound,but in a good way.How long till the whaling season finishes? End of the month?

Am sure he has heard "Baka yaro" "Ahoya" and "Jamma daro omaeya wa" more than a few times already.

The Japanese govt should throw the book at this guy, and the rest of SS. Its time for govts to crack down on these pirates, deny them access to ports and expose them for the rat bags they are. I am not in favour of commercial whaling, but SS actions only inflame the issue and prevent any meaningful resolution through lawful means. The unlawful actions of SS on the high seas are not helping, merely fulfilling their own quest for attention. I'm glad that more people out there (including Aussies) are starting to see this nowdays and question SS antics.

YuriOtani---we agree on many things, just have a different vantage points...I like your style...Feed this guy a steady diet of whale meat and see if he chooses to eat what he is trying to protect in order to save his own life...

@peachy871 Disagree. Publicity of any sort is required. Majority of Japanese people do not even know that they still hunt whales. Those that do probably do not know how much of their taxes go towards it. Nor do they know about how much mercury is in the meat.

The other thing that they have no idea about it is how much the world is opposed to it. It seems that even the Japanese government have no idea about this

As for "whaling not stopped" well it has been. No whales caught for about 2 weeks now

It's all fun and games until the alien probe from outer space tries to talk to the whales, doesn't hear them, and tries to destroy Earth. God forbid we let William Shatner put his girdle and hairpiece on, go back into time and try to save the whales when Sea Shepperd can do it now.

I can think of three charges off the top of my head: Criminal Damage (he cut the nets) Trespass Assault Not to mention the fact he boarded with a knife so something along the 'carrying a dangerous weapon' could be added as well.

He should be pretty fluent in Japanese when he gets out in 10 years or so. But it would appear to be his choice, by refusing to leave the boat the Shonan Maru has no option but to return him to Japan. Where he will feel the full force of Japanese law.

Majority of Japanese people do not even know that they still hunt whales

Yet it's widely available in sushi shops.

Majority of Japanese people do not even know that they still hunt whales.

What are you baseing this on?

Nor do they know about how much mercury is in the meat.

Do you? Maybe that's what they are scientifically researching.

I agree with you michaelqtodd...it is great that he is taking a stand.

However, I still wish SSCS had the savvy to stop whaling long-term. They save a handful of whales each year at the cost of many more whales' lives. The reason I say this is that, what they are doing is extremely short-term and for their own glory. They hinder the whale hunt each year but they don't seem to have any plan to actually stop it altogether. If they did, they would be clever enough to win the Japanese public over to their side.

If enough Japanese were won over and would stand up and shout out against their gov't's whaling policies, that would be far more effective than constantly making the whalers look like martyrs in the eyes of the Japanese.

@HedaMadness The Japanese public that are into whale meat think that they buy it from Iceland. That is what their government tell them.

This is an article from the NZ Herald updated 15 mins ago http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10626523

Those that do probably do not know how much of their taxes go towards it.

That is so true, michaelqtodd!! And there is a bloody good angle at which to attack. Tell the average taxpayer where his/her money is going when it could be used for so many other things and there will be a stink for sure! That is one chink in the armour that the SSCS are either not thinking of or don't want to use because it would mean lower ratings on the boob tube. Handing out flyers or spreading info like that just doesn't make for as good TV as "Smash'em Up Derby" at sea.

I would like to see major changes made to the whaling program, such as a return to this "tradition" they say is so dear. That would entail whaling sustainably in local waters; not killing thousands of whales thousands of kilometers away.

Having lived in Japan for 15 years I can assure you that I have never heard a single Japanese person say that they get their whale from Iceland. Afterall it's reported on the news every year when the Sea Shepherd attack, presumably the news stories mention that they aren't attacking Icelandic boats.

I don't think Bethune was brave, courageous, or a maryter, or what ever honorable word that s out there for him. I don't even think what he did was stupid. He did it because he knows he could get away with it. And that's smart. He and the rest of the world knows Japan has never been able to stand up for anything.

Try boating on one of the chinese boat(china consume over 80% of the world shark fin) and see what they do with Bethune in china. When Iran and North Korea starts whaling, I doubt Bethune dare to mess with them.

@peachy871 I intend finding out asap what exactly the cost of all this whaling is to us taxpayers. I imagine it would run into the tens of millions of dollars. Besides the actual fishing operations in the Antarctic and the Arctic they routinely bribe a lot of countries to vote with them at the IWC.

I have to agree with Heda_Madness...I would dare to argue whatever Japanese believe that only Icelandic whale is eaten in Japan are those in the minority...a very small minority. Knowledge that Japan whales (be it for pretend "research" or not) is pretty much common knowledge in Japan.

I think this guy was an idiot for doing this and if he thinks he will get publicity from it other than the first few days then he is even a bigger idiot!

The world press may write about it but the Japanese press will bury it and IF there is a trial in Japan don't expect much form it, even the biggest trails are closed to the public and very controlled so again no big news locally an that is where they need to get there point across not to the rest of the world because most of they already agree on whaling!

On another note My daughters public school served whale meat this month (they do it once in a while as "cultural" day) she refuses to eat it and it is usually just her, but this year when other students heard she was going to refuse about half her third year classmates also decided to refuse! This has never happened before (yes the school was P!ssed off at her!) But maybe things will change with the next generation!

@michaelqtodd...I haven't got a clue how to find out something like that. I hope you can! You would definitely be my hero! :-)

I think that Bethune would not get anything from Japan whatever he tried to do about AG sunken. He broke the maritime law and international law anyway, therefore he definitely can not get anything. What he can get is a conviction from the court in Japan. Finally he would have to pay lots of fine or go to jail and would return to New Zealand months later.

If he's looking for PR he should have done a little more research himself into Japanese law and he;s right under them.

He does not have the right to a lawyer present during questioning and the police rarely release statements by the accused.

He will not have a big, sympethetic audience at the trial as only about 100 spectators are allowed and that is by lottery. The chances of getting his "crowd" in are very slim.

He has a radio with him but the Japanese captain (within his authority) is not allowing him to broadcast.

Just now on the news the Japanese government announed that the vessel will remain in the arctic waters until the end of the season (about one more month) and then return to Japan with the fleet.

Hope he can see the other ships hauling carcuses abord from his cabin.

$720,000,000 per year to the fisheries dept, $20,000,000 per year directly to the Antarctic hunt...

According to Rueters Iceland exported about 1500 tons of whale meat (mainly to Japan) in 2009. Soooooo. there appears to be a market.

& if you have not seen "The Cove" already it shows were a LOT of the other money goes,& how, in bribes...

This incident has changed my view of Sea Shepard from protectors of marine life to the criminally insane or impaired. What in the frack are these people smoking?

& kwatt, I am not even going to waste my time anymore explaining how the SM2 is responsible & culpable for the ramming of the AG, & how & what maritime laws it broke to do so. Maybe you would just be better reading maritime laws & safe navigation at sea rules for yourself so you can educate yourself, & understand. We are all waiting for the Captain of the SM2 to front up to 2 inquires currently going on into the collision, & both have which requested his presence & account. & if he has done nothing wrong then I guess he has nothing to fear from these inquests & would be willing to present himself to clear his name, huh?

mansen makes a good point about this probably not happening if the Koreans or Chinese were whaling, but on the other hand, maybe these people just know which fights to pick.

I'm no expert in marine time law, so I have no idea how it will turn out, but I suspect it will continue to be an interesting story to follow.

I was impressed by limboinjapan's daughter. Well done! May I recommend anti-whaling t-shirts or picketing next time it shows up on the menu? Seriously!

That's right. I keep forgetting that the two inquiries have demanded his presence at the enquiry. Though this is possibly because they haven't.

Presumably the captain of the Ady Gil has also attended these inquiries as well has he..? If not, why not?

Yes Heda, he has presented himself to the Australian Authorities whilst the SI was last in Perth, at the same time he made statutary declarations to the NZ inquiry. Still awaiting the SM2 Captain to also do the same & prove his innocence, as it is a fair enquiry they also want his side, unlike a lot of posters on here who have NO understanding of maritime law, & how, & why the AG had right of way...

they should make him walk the plank.

and why they accelerated into the path of a larger boat.

I get you.

More like the vessel that does not have right of way has to 'stand to', stay clear of the right of way vessel. To overtake a vessel from the port quarter the Captain is required by law to give his coordinates, & make clear his intentions to the vessel he is overtaking. It is quite simple Heda, maybe you to should do some research & reading of maritime laws & educate yourself, rather than comment on something you have no understanding of...

"why they accelerated into the path of a larger boat"

Not sure weve seen the same video. I saw the Ady Gil power up its engines at the last minute to maneuver away from an attack. Perhaps while hes detained in Japan perhaps Bethune can find out what maritime laws the Nisshin Maru broke by deliberately ramming the Ady Gill, continuing to hose down the crew of a stricken vessel and then failing to offer aid (which is something Sea shepherd has done when the whaling fleet have had problems).

I can imagine Japan finding itself embarrassed by putting Bethune in the dock.

hobbsy70- Unfortunately Japan does NOT think SM2 is absolutely responsible for the AG sunken because they think the AG hit SM2 on purpose as far as they watched whole story of the videos, so inquiries seem to be ridiculous. Maybe you may not know something. Captain of SM2 does not respond to inquiries. Ministry of fishery decides what to do and how to do about it.

kwatt, something you do not seem to understand, every Captain of a vessel is required to operate his vessel by the rules of the sea, & safe navigation, whether he works for the "Japanese Ministries of Fisheries" or not! He was not in Japanese waters when he broke these laws, therefore the JCG has no authority. So he is accountable to the relevant local Authorities, Aus waters, & a NZ registered vessel...

Once the Japanese authorities get their hooks in this guy they'll throw the book at him, he could do ten years, and then the world will see yet again the shimagunikonjo (island mentality) in full court press. This sea captain will go gray before he sees the seas again. There is justice in Japan...Japanese justice.

I heard from TV that one vessel is almost on the way to Japan. He will be prosecuted in the court in Japan sooner or later. He will be convicted and will pay lots of fine. It is only matter of time. Meanwhile he enjoys fish and whale steak at meal times.

They should transfer the pirate captain to a JCG cutter and then take him to a holding facility in the Ogasawara's or maybe even the staion at Okinotorishima and question him there. Then make the Kiwi Gov't come and pick the nutter up, all at the Kiwi's sole cost and expense.

Kwatt, If the whalers are thick enough, (which they may well be), to only offer whalemeat or fish to a vegetarian then they only look worse in the worlds eyes.

CapnSinbad - Once the Japanese authorities get their hooks in this guy they'll throw the book at him, he could do ten years. This sea captain will go gray before he sees the seas again.

Good stuff Sinbad! He faces a 100,000yen fine and up to three years in the pen. That is all! Are the Japanese stupid enough to serve it to him? It will cost them ten times more just to hold him in a cell.

hobbsy70

When will you ever come around to understand that safe navigation or adherence to maritime law is and has never been Sea Shepherd's priority or aim. Their intent is to take actions against whalers at sea, dangerous or not, illegal or not, in order to attain a goal (save whales) which they see as being more important than even human life, theirs or the whalers'. They couldn't possibly do their job if they didn't break rules, legal, common sense, or otherwise. You coming on here and preaching about one of their ships having right of way while conducting physical and confrontational protest is absolutely ridiculous.

stevecpfc - don't be upset. just kidding about whalemeat. They will serve whatever he wants to eat.

This Kiwi is a nutter and this stunt to keep the SS'ers in the news will only serve top polarize many Japanese into thinking that "we shouldn't let those nutcase terrorists push us around" - regardless of their support regarding the whale hunt...

The biggest problem is that the SS'ers keep on having to up the ante in order to keep themselves front page news...

Unfortunately there will eventually be some loss of human life if this situation continues to escalate because the SS nutters likely feel that is a fair price to pay for this jihad...

Perhaps, regardless of any of your individual ideas or ideals on this issue, the constant escalation and subsequent voyeurism by the rest of us here should be curtailed...

The Japanese MOF will NEVER stop whaling because of what the SS'ers are doing - if anything it will simply strengthen their resolve to continue these activities...

hobbsy70

He was not in Japanese waters when he broke these laws, therefore the JCG has no authority. So he is accountable to the relevant local Authorities, Aus waters, & a NZ registered vessel...

Stop spreading your misinformation, please. There is NO local authority. This latest incident with the idiot Bethune and the collision with the Ady Gil both happened in open international waters. NOT Australian or any other nation's territorial waters. If anything NZ and Japan can fight over jurisdiction over the SM2-AG collision because it involved vessles flying their flags. As for Bethune's illegal boarding, Japan can claim total jurisdiction because it happened 100% aboard one of their ships.

smithinjapan: This is win-win for the whalers.

lol for once this guy makes sense.

hobbsy70:

It is the responsibility of EACH vessels captian to take measures to avoid collision. The AG purposely set up the collision scenario. There is also pleant of footage of the Bob Barker ramming a japanese whaler from the port side coming from aft of the vessel. If you are going to use maritime rules of the road for your case it would be much better if you had a record of obeying them yourself.

USNinJapan2 as someone with nautical understanding can see the AG was at idle, they were not approaching the SM2 prior to the collision,(even can be heard in their comments shot by AP, an independant film crew). The SM2 is seen to come hard to starboard, at speed, while the AG having right of way, & at idle had no steerage, yet the Captain of the SM2 continued to bear down on her! You can clearly see the speed of the SM2 by her moments thru the water, & here turn to starboard by her moments listing to port. As you have stated a vessel approaching/overtaking from the port quarter MUST give way. The SM2 was the vessel carrying speed, thus had helm, while the AG did not. Whether a vessel has bothered you earlier or not,(the AG was actually manouvering around the NM, not the SM2 previous, by your own admissions) as you know this is breaking all maritime laws of safe navigation. Do you honestly believe a vessel can operate outside the law & not be bought to answer for her actions? If so then SSCS by those same rules do not have to answer to anything bought against them!

Disillusioned; To answer your question: "Are the Japanese stupid enough to serve it to him?"

At this present time it seems that would be YES!!!

It seems that Japan is on some sort of "Kamikaze" course on just about everything from doggedly pursuing whaling (that costs the taxpayer millions more then it makes), to it international stance on just about every trade accord, international child custody,its head in the sand attitude to the aging population, brain drain and job loss!

It seems that the Japanese government has the attitude that "to hell with what is best for us and world opinion, we will keep going as we have always done even if it kills us and everyone in the country!"

So they will keep on Whaling, they will probably prosecute this guy and then will make him some kind of "martyr" for his followers and gain more bad publicity for Japan!

I hope I'm wrong and they just dump this guy off some place and not give him the satisfaction of having done anything more then look like an idiot! But I've been here nearly 20 years and have watched this place sinking like a stone and instead of trying to change and adapt they just keep saying "this is Japan and this is how we do things!"

Hobby, by COLREGS both vessels have a responsiblity to keep clear and try to avoid a collision. Stopping one vessel in front of another is in violation of COLREGS. Cap'n crunch had no business stopping in front of ship and expecting the ship to be able to stop or turn in time.

Actually there has been speculation that it WAS a business decision as Bethune was "under water" in terms of paying for the AG and thus scuttling her and making it look like an attack by the Japanese helped him out financially. Sort of like burning your failing business for the insurance money.

In the meantime cap'n crunch has boarded a vessel without permission and is now prisoner of that vessel's captain. All very legal. I hope he likes Japanese prison food.

They have their vays to make him talk!

ca1c0cat, The AG was not in the way of the whalers, they turned so as to collide.

Hobbsy can't you agree that it was a scare that got ugly?

I really hope they bring him back here to. He probably has no concept of the Draconian process which he faces. Being from transparent NZ, it may come as a shock to him what he will face in Japan.

Obviously the recent regime change in Japan meant nothing. Japan continues to behave as if the rest of the world did not exist.

They have their vays to make him talk!

Talk about what ? How he boarded the Japanese vessel?

It is a big show,so I am ready to participate and go on the street if necessary. What about all the people who post here? 口だけ？

Yaaaaarrrrrrrgh!!! Feed the little pissant to the whales....

"Japanese authorities are concerned that indicting him could lead the U.S.-based conservation group to intensify its antiwhaling campaign, they said".

Interesting comment here. Japan is being intimidated by an anti-whaling group (non-military, non-economic entity)? That is something that the "rivals" of Japan would love to hear.

The politicians are stepping in to mediate this fiasco? It's kind of like fighting a gasoline fire with water (the gasoline floats on the water and continues to burn, but the water spreads the gasoline over a larger area faster). Nothing good can come of this.

Re: the whole "SM2 turned into us!" argument... The SM2 is a much larger vessel than the Ady Gil was and therefore is the "burdened vessel" with respect to maritime law. Burdened vessels are less maneuverable due to their increased mass. It takes longer to start them moving, execute turns, and stop moving. Maritime law states that the burdened vessel has the right of way when two vessels of disparate size are in proximity of each other.

Ady Gil did not remain clear of the burdened vessel. Being a power boat capable of overtaking the whaling fleet whenever they were located, the Ady Gil easily had more than enough maneuverability to dodge any alleged attempt by such a burdened vessel to ram it. Obviously the captain of the Ady Gil intended for the collision to occur and left his vessel in the path of the burdened vessel. This placed his entire crew at risk of injury or death. The captain of the Ady Gil is guilty of criminal negligence for intentionally allowing his vessel to be rammed, ultimately sunk, and a crewman injured due to his inaction. If I were the insurance company that covered the Ady Gil, I would be looking into charges of insurance fraud if the owner(s) of the Ady Gil try to collect after it was intentionally allowed to be rammed.

New Zealanders are fed up of this attention seeking Pete the Pirate and presumably not happy in spending their tax money for his moronic conduct.

With his Earth Race (AKA Ady Gill), he rammed fisher-boat and killed one fisherman and injured two in Guatemala in 2007, while being filmed for a Discovery Channel program. This time, he is mercenary soldier working for SS and attempted to ram again to wrong boat. He is a just race-boat nut seeking media coverage and money. Lets see if he can make any case for conservation movement in the court.

One more thing. Even if the Ady Gil had HAD the right of way, it would not excuse her captain from trying to avoid a collision. Being the more maneuverable vessel put the onus of "collision avoidance" on the Ady Gil's captain.

There's one Kiwi who wishes he had stayed home and donated money to Sea Shepherd.

The Whaling issue is simply Japanese Nationalism, no more no less. Although they were defeated in the War, they see this as a matter of their National "pride" even if, most of the Whale meat is turned into Dog/Cat food upon arrival in Japan. Nothing unusual here though, the Japanese are just as Nationalistic as most other Countries.. more-so during times such as these. It's however somewhat contradictory that they do present themselves as an Environmentally friendly country and on the other want to destroy the Eco-system of the Seas (Tuna consumption for example).

Yes bring him here! We hav wayz to make him talk!

Whether on arrival at a port in Japan or elsewhere maybe even at sea, Bethune is going to be handed over to the Japan Coast Guard. Perhaps they should invite the Canadian, Norwegian and Icelandic Coast Guard to observe as well.

mmmwk2008:Nationalism and also jobs. Have ever seen these whaling ships? They must cost a fortune to build and maintain. There are also jobs in port and at processing plants. Many of these rural port cities don't want to give that up. But I'm not defending them. You are correct in that the Japanese promote a "feel good" environmental policy on the surface but alternatively will destroy the environment when it suits them economically. I don't think the average Japanese person is knowledgeable or cares about environmental policy(in the U.S. we are knowledgeable but don't care) The whaling debate just isn't on their radar screens.

A quote from Dr Harry Lillie, a ship's physician on an Antarctic whaling trip in the 1940s. Dr Lillie wrote: "If we can imagine a horse having two or three explosive spears stuck in its stomach and being made to pull a butcher's truck through the streets of London while it pours blood into the gutter, we shall have an idea of the method of killing".

If you saw that going on in your street you'd put a stop to it, legal or not. Theres no humane way to kill a whale. Killing methods have barely changed in decades and the JARPA whalers kill barely 40% outright.

Sea Shepherd are bringing this horror to the attention of the world and standing in harms way to help put a stop to it. Donate your money so thay can send more ships next year.

Ruh ruh, Guantanamo time for him! Right or wrong, he shoulda known this would happen.

Sea Shepherd are bringing this horror to the attention of the world and

Sea Shepherd are bringing this horror and attention of the world to themselves and their lucrative arrangement with Animal Planet.

standing in harms way to help put a stop to it.

Sea Shepherd hasn't saved a single whale, instead they've hardened the Whales position and increased demand. Every whale "saved" by Sea Shepherd is another whale shot by the Icelandic Whalers and exported to Japan.

Donate your money so thay can send more ships next year.

Donate your money so Watson can get richer and you can watch the action packed show! I'm sure it's much better than donating to Greenpeace who's actualy working to reduce the demand for whale meat.

dontpanic: Donate your money so thay can send more ships next year.

So SS can have fun on the high seas with expensive toys.

No never on my shift!

how many ways can you spell martyr? Thanks Japan...another nail in the whale-slaughter coffin!

@ bdiego

"he shoulda known this would happen"

Actually no. Not even the Japanese know what they're going to do so how would he? At any rate, if you read the article it is clear Bethune was ready to accept whatever the ramifications of the event may be long before it went into action. The point is to bring media attention to the issue and he accomplished his goal. I love whales and I would do the same thing.

foxkenji: I love whales and I would do the same thing.

So you would risk your life and endanger others for a fish?

Why are humans so hooked on whales but not other animals?

I love killing whales. It saves millions of small animals.

Latest news is that Japan FM will meet Australia FM soon for some issues, whaling included. Japan FM said he has no intention to hand this trouble maker to a third country though,lol.

Let's hope that if Japan starts down this route, they're happy to live with the consequences. The whalers could easily be charged under Australian law for poaching in the Australian Antarctic Territory.

The Federal Court has already ruled that the whalers are acting illegally under Australian law.

If they charge the New Zealand activist under Japanese law, then they should be willing to live with the consequences of having the whalers intercepted and charged under Australian law as well.

Japanese law is accepted internationally (not to mention that storming a boat with a knife, cutting nets and hurling stuff at the crew would also be illegal in every other country on the planet) whereas the Australian Terrotorial claim is only accepted in Australia.

If they charge the New Zealand activist under Japanese law, then they should be willing to live with the consequences of having the whalers intercepted and charged under Australian law as well.

If Aussie ships intercepted Japanese ships, they would be engaged in open piracy. Thats not something anyone wants to have. This man willingly climbed on board. People may not be happy about it, but he should face charges.

Let's hope that if Japan starts down this route, they're happy to live >with the consequences. The whalers could easily be charged under >Australian law for poaching in the Australian Antarctic Territory.

No they can't. The Australian Antacrtic Territory is merely a claim with no jurisdiction.

The Federal Court has already ruled that the whalers are acting >illegally under Australian law.

Yea, in an area where Australia has no jurisdiction and no ability to enforce anything. Rel useful legislation.

If they charge the New Zealand activist under Japanese law, then they >should be willing to live with the consequences of having the whalers >intercepted and charged under Australian law as well.

LOL. Has it occured to you that if that were at all possible it would have been done years ago?

We hav wayz to make him talk!

'Seasy, just put him in front of a television camera.

All this talk of "he shoulda known this would happen", "he should face charges" misses the point. Bethune knew perfectly well the captain of the SM2 wasn't going to let himself be arrested, wasn't going to be accompanied back to the SI, wasn't going to call in at an aussie or kiwi port (Aren't the wailers banned from those ports anyways?). The captain's only option was always to treat Bethune with kid gloves (because any ill-treatment would be sure to get out and be magnified, showing the wailers to be violent thugs) and take him back to Japan, where SS will see to it that the 'trial' if it goes that far will be a media circus - more of Japan spraying itself in the face.

That said, they can't just let him go. It'll be interesting to see how this works out.

the wailers had better just pray to their blubber god that Bethune doesn't fall sick on the way back to Japan.

I'm pretty sure if the Australian Coastguard turned up Japan would be more than willing to hand him over but they aren't going to take him to Australia because it's not a taxi service that they're running. But given that he has said he refuses to me transferred to anything other than either New Zealand or Australia they are left with very little option but to bring him back to Japan where I'm sure that he will face the music.

From a New Zealand paper:

Mr Bethune's Hamilton-based father Don said he was not surprised by his son's action. In an ironic twist the family were hosting a Japanese exchange student on a 12-day visit.

more of Japan spraying itself in the face

LOL.I have volunteered to be Pete Bethune`s translator if he comes to Japan. Could be fun!

The thing that many of you may not realise about Japan is that nearly every "Environmental" organisation is strictly controlled by the government. Probably one of the only countries in the world like this. They achieve this by handing out massive "NGO grants etc". They regularly check those groups websites and emails to make sure that there is no criticism at all of the government. Greenpeace does not take money from the Japanese government. Neither does Sea Shepherd. So without these 2 organisations the people of Japan save for the tiny majority who visit websites like JT would know pretty much nothing.Please think about this before you criticize Sea Shepherd

Marlor

The whalers could easily be charged under Australian law for poaching in the Australian Antarctic Territory. The Federal Court has already ruled that the whalers are acting illegally under Australian law.

The Australian Antartic Territory and Australia's claim of sovreignty over waters surrounding the AAT are recognized by a grand total of FOUR other nations: Britain, New Zealand, Norway and France. That's it. The Federal Court of Australia can rule whatever it wants, it won't mean anything to anyone from nations other than the aforementioned four. Back to reality. Australia, the government, isn't stupid and will do nothing about this.

If nothing else, this could put NZ back on the map: no one has heard anything about NZ since they finished the last of the Lord of The Rings movies! Captain Bethune could well end up the most famous Kiwi of all time...

@BurakaminDes What about the last Rugby League World Cup? Moderator even if you are Australian please do not delete this as the moderator did yesterday

"Captain Bethune could well end up the most famous Kiwi of all time"

I seem to remember a certain Sir Edmund ...

Greenpeace does not take money from the Japanese government. Neither >does Sea Shepherd. So without these 2 organisations the people of Japan >save for the tiny majority who visit websites like JT would know pretty >much nothing.

Iruka & Kujira Action Network (Whale and Dolphin Action Network) 5-15-12 Toyotama-kita Nerima-ku Tokyo 176-0012 Japan http://homepage1.nifty.com/IKAN/eng/index.html QWP06555@nifty.ne.jo

As mentioned in the first post, this is all based around getting media coverage for the protesters. Let's put him through the Japanese legal system that should quieten things down for a month or so. I would charge him with ramming his ship into the Shonan Maru, I would charge him with endangering life. I would call on the Skipper of the J-ship last to return from Antarctic as a main witness in this case and hold him until that ship returned to Japan at the end of April.

@BurakaminDes What about the last Rugby League World Cup?

That is true, MichaelGTodd - but I'm still trying to forget about losing that RL World Cup!

Mr Bethune's Hamilton-based father Don said he was not surprised by his son's action. In an ironic twist the family were hosting a Japanese exchange student on a 12-day visit.

Thats hilarious if true HedaMadness! I have a feeling this poor Japanese kid is going to be copping a pretty rough time from the Kiwi kids in school over this story!

Research. All research has some kind of aim. For example, much recent research was to prove the existence of global warming, oops, climate change, which would help push green issues through and justify the expense of building new power stations, legally limiting human activity, etc.

From the J govt point of view, therefore, since whale farming is the natural way of the future, (like cattle in the West) the research will be amongst other things to collect krill etc. from whale stomachs, to see what and how much they eat. It will also be to see just how much perfectly good human food the whales are taking from the oceans, I suspect. In other words, the whales may even be seen by J fishing boats as competitors for the oceans' precious resources. Conversely, looked at in this way, there is probably no great compassion for these creatures among those looking at them commercially. Thus the non-comprehension regarding SS tactics. Remeber, this is the whaling lobby, not the average Japanese citizen.

Make that 'remember' please! :8D

Look ethics and culture aside, the Japanese government says it doesn't have the money to fix the 5000 public schools that won't stand up to an earthquake but it can spend billions of yen subsidizing this hunt! Fix the schools first then if there is any money leftover use it for the hunt if you want!

Hunting for whales on a full stomach is kind of stupid. Japan is not starving or going through a famine and/or it's not a third world country. But let's think about it, what right does a Japanese fishing company have on over-fishing for whale meat. Japan goes around the world for hunting/fishing for whale meat & tuna. How can we put a stop to that ? At least Sea Shepard and other activists are making waves and trying to put an end ( wake up call ) When you think of japan you think of sushi. Fish is the number one food consumed in Japan.

what right does a Japanese fishing company have on over-fishing for whale meat.

They don't.

Tuna aside for a minute, the emotional problem for people is not "over-fishing" for whalemeat, memyselfI. It's the capture and killing of live whales in any form.

Japan envisions ocean Whale farms with gigantic outer barriers, and sustained farming within, as one future commercially-viable future food source. They are probably just as worried as other countries, if not more so, about falling fish catches all over the world. Sure whales may be full of Mercury, but one aspect they will be studying is how to leach/breed mercury out of a whale population. This is my imagination, based on snippets of information culled here and there, and a desire to make sense out of the situation, and a drop or two of plain horse sense.

They do not have any right to overfish, to be sure, but then neither does anybody.

nandakandamanda, BAHAHAHAHAHAHA, sorry but that is one of the funniest comments on here, & you just showed what lack of understanding Japanese have after all these years of "research". Whales migrate long distances between feeding & breeding grounds, both require totally different environments & conditions. Captive breeding in even the smallest of cetaceans has proven to be a failure, just look at Orca's ,& dolphins, & the very limited number that have ever successfully been bred in captivity. Mercury in whales comes from what they eat during their lives, & are stored in the meat,(just as it is in all apex predators just like you), so it cannot be 'bred' out, nor 'leached' out, unless you are going to totally reverse all the effects of the industrial age, & all the contaminants, PCB's, Mercury, other heavy metals, etc, etc that have been put back into the environment, & remove all these from all the air, & oceans on the planet!!!

But then one of the "GREAT INFORMATIVE" papers to come from this "research" was inseminating whale sperm into cow eggs!!! So maybe Japanese scientists plan on mutating whales/crossbreeding to make "Cowwhales", that they can then populate all Japans vast farming grounds with? Ohh that is right Japan does not have vast farming grounds, & relies on imports from others to feed themselves!

Thank you, hobbsy70.

Seems the Japanese should look at how to make a salad out of these, since there is little all fish, whales, or dolphins to catch in your coastal waters. As they say you reap what you sow...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYksj67nF_I

Activists are breaking international law

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/whaling-protesters-are-behaving-like-pirates/story-e6frg6zo-1225831542623

From Ossan's article;

"Under the law of the sea, a pirate is defined as someone who commits an illegal act of violence for private ends (such as money) against another vessel on the high seas.

Bethune admittedly boarded the Shonan Maru under cover of darkness and seemingly presented himself in a peaceful manner to the captain. A peaceful demand for money may not be an act of piracy. It is a difficult case to make"

Ossan, do you mean,"a pirate is defined as someone who commits an act of violence for private ends", such as the J-whalers deliberately ramming the AG to get it out of their way for their own personal gains, eg money earned from slaughtering whales???

"Bethune admittedly boarded the Shonan Maru under cover of darkness and seemingly presented himself in a peaceful manner to the captain. A peaceful demand for money may not be an act of piracy. It is a difficult case to make, however, when set against the weeks of butter bombs and water cannons. And it is probably an even more difficult argument to sustain when presented to a Japanese court."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/whaling-protesters-are-behaving-like-pirates/story-e6frg6zo-1225831542623

You mean that Hobbsy70 copied and pasted part of a statement and presented it as fact, despite this being misleading?

Wow. Most unlike him.

Everybody is upset about Japan's whaling program for "scientific research" and in some cases selling the meat to the public. Infact the mayor beneficiary above all is the cosmetic industry (Sh****do, etc.). Whale oil is a higly demanded ingredient for certain cosmetics. Playing battleships won't help much to end this.

What do you mean J-whaler using water cannons against another vessel, using pepper spray, & LRAD's, against civilian vessels does account for piracy? Because I am sure if SSCS had been doing the very same you would be saying exactly that. Or are you saying it is ok for J-whaling vessels to ram, sink, use military grade weapons, but no one can defend themselves from??? Lt the hypocrasy reign...

Set an example, teach these imbeciles a lesson that one will never forget. These protesters are a threat to themselves and others, and care more about whales than they do humans, and thus are a danger to any whale-related vessels or those associated to them.

Jail time is the only option, once others get wind of this news, they will think twice about illegally boarding a secure vessel and jeopardizing the lives of the crew by acting on emotions worn on their sleeves for an animal which they're not actually saving even the slightest bit. There attempts are futile.

Jail them.

Hypocracy?

Would it really be neccesary for me to look at all of the times that a certain contributor has spouted off about Japan ramming ships (at least a dozen times in the last few weeks) and post a link to a t-shirt that sea shepherd sell listing the ships that they've rammed and sank.

I don't think i've ever had the misfortune to come across a more dishonest person. Which is a shame because I'm sure that a lot of his other environmental work is honest and beneficial. It's just a shame that all of his credibility is so easily destroyed.

It all boils down to the fact that Sea Shepherd have no legal authority to enforce anything. Whaling, Research, IWC, Japan are all secondary to the issue and in any court of law where the charge is piracy and terrorism, straght up irrelevant. This is the 21st century and the notion of of mob justice "because the sheriff won't do anything about it" is simply unacceptable to all ordered law abiding societies.

Interesting: Rudd has just threatened legal action on behalf of Australia if the Japanese go back down under next year. To friggin late Kevin but shows more backbone than the New Zealand pussies in power.

link here http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/3349443/Stop-whaling-or-face-fight-Rudd

Great post, thanks spudman. I have a hope that whaling will soon be a part of the past. And can I say shame on you 1970sweet for being unfair. If anything, they should be given a medal to stand for what they believe, preserving these godly creatures. They are heroes and we are forever greatfull of what they do.

I am definitely grateful to many conservation societies for standing up for many endangered creatures in the world. But grateful to the SSCS?? Nope. So far, they are only encouraging the Japanese gov't to step in and work harder to ensure that the whaling "research" is not stopped. michaelqtodd had an excellent point earlier: that whaling has been stopped for about 2 weeks now. But it has only been stopped for the time being. It is just going to keep happening year after year until people can understand why it needs to be stopped. Long term. Forever. Not for a few weeks every single year. SSCS's actions are ensuring that it will continue and continue. They have no long term solution.

Anyone remember the fable about the sun and the wind competing to get the man to remove his jacket? SSCS is the wind and Japan is the man. The harder they blow, the tighter Japan is going to hold on.

what do you mean by legal authority Ossan? Can you give an example? Would the legal authority that the US exerted to bomb Iraq back to the stone age be the kind of authority you mean?

Elsewhere I noted that Bethune's plight is likely to make him a martyr in many people's eyes. A rather weak reply by one contributor was to equate martyrdom with Jihad-ism ( and doing so calling the mythical figure Jesus a jihad-ist).

The poorly considered comments of the whale-slaughter supporters here are quite laughable.

what do you mean by legal authority Ossan? Can you give an example?

This is why there are eco-terrorists and those who cheer them on as heroes. Do you really need somone to explain "legal authority" to you?

spudman,

In New Zealand they aren't pussies, they just don't really care about whalers going about their business in a sustainable manner all that much.

The conservative government there just pays a bit of lip service to the issue to suppress the greenies, but New Zealanders (unlike Australians it seems) actually have important issues to concern themselves with.

Coming to Japan for some questioning, boys? Get ready for some torture and denial of human rights.

You said: "This is why there are eco-terrorists and those who cheer them on as heroes. Do you really need somone to explain "legal authority" to you?"

No I'd like to show that you understand what you are saying and/or implying. Also, that you glean the irony of of what you said when you consider legal vs. illegal actions by nation states.

Do you really need somone to explain "legal authority" to you?"

No I'd like to show that you understand what you are saying and/or implying

OK. Please go ahead.

The conservative government there just pays a bit of lip service to the issue to suppress the greenies, but New Zealanders (unlike Australians it seems) actually have important issues to concern themselves with.

Thanks for your expert analysis of NZ and Aus. politics- this from this morning's papers....

The New Zealand government says it will seriously consider backing international court action to stop whaling in the Southern Ocean, but only if diplomacy fails first.

NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully said negotiations were underway now.

So I suppoae now we can look forward to more mindless vitriol from you about New Zealand as well as Australia- being like North Korea, whale fetishists, cultural imperialists, etc. etc. ad nauseum. yawn.

funkymofo,

Huh?

New Zealand governemnt chiming in after their friends across the ditch to offer them a bit of ANZAC support is still nothing more than lip service. Even your own quote says New Zealand has only said that they prefer to find a diplomatic solution, but don't rule out court action.

This is a far cry of big talk promises from Rudd in Australia.

And the reality is that New Zealand's own IWC commissioner Sir Geoff Palmer has stated that there is no legal avenue to pursue to stop Japan from conducting what are perfectly legal activities under the relevant international agreements.

So, unless Prime Minister Key who is a former currency trader reckons he knows the law better than Sir Geoff, you are going to be sadly disappointed if you are expecting big things from the currently reserved New Zealand government.

okay... the quote function has escaped me

New Zealand governemnt chiming in after their friends across the ditch to offer them a bit of ANZAC support is still nothing more than lip service. Even your own quote says New Zealand has only said that they prefer to find a diplomatic solution, but don't rule out court action. This is a far cry of big talk promises from Rudd in Australia.

From the reports I read from a number of news services yesterday, the NZ govt. would prefer the diplomatic solution, interestingly, not because it's paying 'lip service' but because it would expedite the process and bring quicker results. If someone is paying lip service, they generally don't aim for quicker resolution. Rudd too, has stated that a diplomatic solution is preferable, but that there is a deadline for progress and has the legal avenue as a backup. The two nations don't sound terribly far apart on this issue

NZ

''Diplomacy gets you a quick solution; going head to head means this thing is tied up for ages in the [court],'' Mr McCully told the New Zealand Press Association. ''It could take years.''

"We'll know soon whether we are going to achieve success that way or not," he said. "If not, the court process is obviously a serious option."

AUS.

Kevin Rudd said last Friday he was prepared to act against the annual whaling hunt in the international courts if diplomatic pressure on Japan failed to yield results.