eyeonwarson comments

@ Frank

There is excellent reasons why the laws for unlawful interference of an aircraft and it's flight crew are so strongly accepted and enforced by the international community. In addition to pointing a LRAD device at an aircraft, it is equally illegal to use a laser pointer, or to fly a radio controlled aircraft within 500ft vertical and more than a mile horizontal, to release helium (lighter than air) balloons into the path of an aircraft, etc.

There are excellent reasons why laws for unlawful interference of a ship and it's crew are so strongly accepted and enforced by the international community. Sea shepherd ignore these laws.

In addition to pointing a LRAD device at an aircraft, it is equally illegal to use a laser pointer

Hows about a shoulder held Laser pointer?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6MymqeXhl0

Also used in Sea shepherd attacks

or to fly a radio controlled aircraft within 500ft vertical and more than a mile horizontal,

Like this sea shepherd drone?

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

Keep all your weapons off unarmed press/journalism and civilian aircraft.

If "unarmed " press choose to travel in attacking craft, it's their lookout - goes with the job.

@ Frank vaughn

I'm not your sir, thats point one. Point two, I asked you for a link to the specific laws and regulations, not a link to a site. The onus is on you to provide cites and backups to your claims.

Regarding Watson in Canada - wrong - he's been convicted in Canada

http://www.canlii.org/en/nl/nlca/doc/1999/1999canlii13906/1999canlii13906.html

The UN World Charter for Nature does not give Watson any law enforcement authority or any immunity from the consequences of his actions. He was told so by the judge in his trial in Canada for attacking a fishing vessel in 1993.

@ Frank vaughn

Canada supports Watson? since when? LOL ....

Still waiting for a link to the international laws and regulations you say the Japanese ship broke by using a LRAD on a helicopter by the way. ;O)

Interesting - regarding LRAD's - Seems like Sea shepherd have one too :O) - Interview with Watson :

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2010/01/sea-shepherd.html

KHATCHADOURIAN: LRADs are non-lethal weapons that have been used to disperse protesters, by soldiers in Iraq, and by ships trying to ward off pirates. They project high-decibel audio waves at their targets. Will you be getting one, too? WATSON: We have one. We just have not used it—yet.

oops

@ frank vaughn

ATTACKING an unarmed helicopter that is only observing is forbidden by international law PERIOD!

Which international law? Link to the releveant regulation please.

Regarding unarmed - the helicopter comes from a ship which is attacking the japanese ship - you may say it's unarmed but the crew of the ship being attacked do not know this - all they know is that they are getting attacked by sea and air - they therefor defend themselves.

Regarding the helicopter pilot. he has a responsibility to ensure the safety of his passengers - hanging around a source of danger ( according to you ) shows a blatant disregard for safety - which ICAO laws is this breaking?

Regarding this :

Japan belongs to ICAO the same as they belong to the IWF

THey may very well be a member of ICAO - but I'm 99% sure they are not members of the IWF =

International Wrestling Federation

:O)

@ Frank vaughn

And lets not forget prop foulers, attempts to cause engine overheating, throwing bottles of a chemical that is dangerous to sealife, using a modified line thrower to shoot bottles etc etc etc.. the list goes on and on ..

Once again, if a helicopter feels that it is endangered by an LRAD or anything else, any helicopter pilot worth his licence leaves the area or gets out of range of any danger . It's not rocket science

@ swisstoni

Damaging ships and rendering whale meat inedible are acts of vandalism. Piracy is a very different issue and only your opinion.

Nope - Piracy

An illegal act of violence, depredation (e.g., plundering, robbing, or pillaging), or detention in or over international waters committed for private ends by the crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft against another ship or aircraft or against persons or property on board such ship or aircraft. Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005

Fits the SS clowns perfectly

@ it's me

Assuming that he's at sea - personally, I have my doubts, I suspect he's holing up in Holland at the moment - just a gut feeling.

@ Frank vaughn

Once again, go read the Antarctic treaty regarding coastguard and or military presence in the Antarctic treaty area.

@ arrestpaul

Heres's something I posted in another thread :

Here's some interesting comments from Hans-Georg Koch, an expert at the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law in Freiburg, Germany

http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16132294,00.html

Koch doesn't see the German government expending any energy on an international search, but emphasized that as long as the international extradition request stood, Watson could be picked up at any border. "He'd be the safest in his home country," Koch said. And if Watson was detected entering Germany, the whole process would start over from the beginning, he added.

@it's me

Article is not clear if the paid it himself or used a bail-agency or SSCS funds

According to this - the bail was provided by a donor - I'll bet he or she is rathr peeved ;O)

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/07/25/canadian-born-anti-whaling-crusader-skips-bail-in-germany-for-unknown-destination/

With his escape, Mr. Watson forfeits both his passport — which is in the custody of German authorities — and a $300,000 bond that was put up in May by an unidentified donor.

@ Frank Vaughn

So you are saying that both the U.S. Navy and the Russian Navy committed illegal acts by boarding the pirate ships off the coast of Africa?

Different area, different EEZ's etc , and to all intents and purposes, a war zone off the somalian coast. I suggest you read the antarctic treaty regarding weapons and warships in the Antarctic treaty area and you will find that your coastguard " knowledge" is erroneous within the antarctic treaty area.

Captain Watson and his crew

Watson does not have a Captains's ticket - he never has had one - his ship(s) are classed as private yachts ... He's no more a Captain than me or Mickey mouse

@ frank vaughn

Why didn't they just have an armed SDF squad board the Steve Irwin when the were out in international waters and arrest him there?

Because boarding ships without permission in International waters is illegal .. dear oh dear

@ arrest paul

It will be interesting to see how Australia handles the fact that Watson no longer has a passport. Which country do you think the Aussies would deport Watson to, Costa Rica, Japan, Canada, or Germany?

Here's some interesting comments from Hans-Georg Koch, an expert at the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law in Freiburg, Germany

http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16132294,00.html

Koch doesn't see the German government expending any energy on an international search, but emphasized that as long as the international extradition request stood, Watson could be picked up at any border. "He'd be the safest in his home country," Koch said. And if Watson was detected entering Germany, the whole process would start over from the beginning, he added.

@ swiss toni

Trying to disable a ship by using prop foulers in the SO could very well end up killing crew particularly when doing it in or near ice fields. As for the heli - there are also rules for helicopters when flying near ships - in view of the violent nature of SS, the Japanese seamen are well withing there rights to defend their vessel. If the helicopter pilot feels that the LRAD is a danger to the helicopter then their is a simple answer - Keep out of the LRAD range this isn't rocket science.

In international waters where there is no authority or the local authorities are ignored, citizens of any nation have every right to protest.

They certainly do have the right of protest - attacking ships and causing damage however falls under piracy and not under protest. The ships crew have every right to defend themselves under such circumstances.

@ Animux

First of all, Sea Shepherd is not a vigilante group or terror group. They don't hunt down and punish people. They don't threaten to harm or kill people.

Really ? two names ( amongst many more )

Rondney Coronado - Was on FBI most wanted list - firebombed animal labs. Was Watsons right hand man in Sea shepherd

Jerry Vlasak - Ex board member of Sea Shepherd. Advocated violence and assassination of people involved in vivisection. Was banned from entering the UK.

"

This entire fiasco is the political persecution of an ac

tivist who has done nothing more than attempt to uphold international conventions and prevent the unlawful

" Which laws and which conventions? you do realise that International conventions have no legal force if an objection is made - you do realise this or?