As expected, Pete Bethune has been arrested after arriving in Japan aboard the Japanese whaling boat he has been held captive on since February 15th.
Pete Bethune is charged with piracy for climbing on board the Shonan Maru 2 after it collided with and ultimately destroyed the Ady Gil in the Southern Ocean. If convicted he could face imprisonment of up to three years. Understandably, his wife is concerned that Pete will be made an example of by the Japanese Government. She and Pete (who live in Murray McCully’s electorate of East Coast Bays) have every right to look to their local MP for assistance and support.
But don’t hold your breath. McCully says NZ will provide “consular support”, but surely his constituents in East Coast Bays can expect a little more than that?
It’s getting nasty in Japan. Pro-whaling activists yesterday protested outside the New Zealand embassy waving cans of whale meat, demanding the New Zealand Government punishes the Sea Shepherd activists, including Pete Bethune. And our government has been busy this week appeasing the Japanese government and the whale-killers.
But McCully has a job to do in East Coast Bays as well as on the international stage.
It’s time he gave Pete’s wife a call and did his job as a local MP.
Tracey – yes you are right – it is about saving face. But in respect of this issue, I hardly think New Zealanders would be any different under analogous circumstances.
There are for instance plenty of reasons why other people around the world may find the meat based New Zealand diet morally unacceptable, in the way we find the Japanese penchant for whale meat unacceptable.
But I would scarcely imagine that the reception from the average New Zealander towards a group of Hindus picketing meat processing plants, protesting outside our embassy, or demanding steak houses be closed down, would be a friendly one.
Tracey, Whats happening in Zimbabwae to day is not against their laws, because we think it is wrong does not make it illegal in Zimbabwae.It is lawfull to disposess the land owner of his farm, it would seem to counter the argument that the rule of law is universal. if there is any further doubt then consider North Korea, Yemen,China.
I don’t think I have undermined my my argument at all, If you view all my posts on the issue I have made it abundantly clear that I do not support the actions of the anti whaling activists,and have argued my position based on cold hard verifiable fact, not emotion.
“IF Bethune has broken the law”, there is no If about it he boarded a ship under cover of darkness uninvited and in international water that is against maritime law.
The fact that some of you think it was done for a good reason doesnt make it any less illegal.
Sillyputty is good for cleaning key boards. hope this helps
Hilary said
You’re kidding, right Hilary? Sea Shepherd, far from being a “courageous organisation” breaks international law with impunity, and boasts about it. This from Wikipedia
Don’t give us the “Pete Bethune is innocent” line; he is anything but. He went into the world’s most inhospitable waters in a boat which was far from suitable for the conditions. If his family is now financially stressed because he put himself into a dangerous situation, he may now be learning about the law of consequences; something most of us have learned in a much less dramatic way.
Tracey I don’t think the idea is Geoff Palmers, this is what John Key announced as being NZ policy and Chris Carter and Trevor Mallard accused him of supporting whaling on a commercial basis.How is it alright If the lefts man comes out with it.
Your no motors on boats argument doesn’t stack up, nor the population to be feed argument.If these are a viable arguments Maori should only be allowed to exercise customary rights using a canoe and flax fishing lines, no aluminium boats no motors etc.Thats racist to say that they are different arguments.
Thats a double standard don’t you think.
Where do I make a donation to assist Pete Bethune to get home quickly and safely? Pete is a hero fighting for what he believes in. He is not sitting at home whinging because the world does not look the way he wants it to look. This Government should be proud of him and doing all it can to get him home. Not kowtowing to those that stretch international law to breaking point to feed the very richest of their society.
You are absolutely right Inventory2
Every person is responsible for their actions.
Why should I as a taxpayer have to pay for an outright criminal and fool.
For the danger he placed everyone on his vessel in he deserves our counties contempt.
@ Ros Hini. the only reason Bethune was in the southern ocean at all is because Sea shepherd Bought the boat and paid his creditors.If you feel so passionately about the issue you are well within your rights to donate to his cause as is anybody else that feels the same way.
Scientific whaling in the southern ocean is not illegal and the law is not being stretched at all, for more information have a look here http://iwcoffice.org/commission/convention.htm .
The consumption of whale meat in Japan is declining but not because they feel it is wrong to eat it,it is inexpensive to buy so your contention that it is being captured to feed the very richest of their society is socialist claptrap.
Anyone who has taken the time to look at both sides of the issue will see that it is pretty black and white.
On one side, the anti-whaling side, there are only emotion, self-righteousness and culturally arrogance, all of course utterly unsupported by any data, facts, or logic.
On the other side, the pro-whaling side, simple common sense and a sense of fair play.
Sustainability is not the issue here. No one in their right mind would support the unsustainable harvest of any species.
Not one person, in either camp, would support the harvest of say the blue whale.
However all whaling nowadays are of unendangered species, at levels which will not effect overall numbers, whether the whaling is carried out by Norway, Iceland, Japan, Denmark (Faroe Islands), Russia, or Canada is not done on a sustainable basis.
Thus there is absolutely no logical reason why whaling should be opposed – unless of course you are a vegan.
correction to previous post “whether the whaling is carried out by Norway, Iceland, Japan, Denmark (Faroe Islands), Russia, or Canada is done on a sustainable basis.”
@Sideoiler,
“Scientific whaling in the southern ocean is not illegal and the law is not being stretched at all, for more information have a look here ”
If scientific whaling was taking place, then none of us would be here discussing the issue. For crying out loud a massive Whale Meat Processing ship known as the mothership or Nissan Maru services those single harpoon vessles. Dont confuse the issue by pretending that the Japanese are whaling for scientific purposes…
@Pentwig, careful how you judge this situation, it may well be you that it the fool. There is evidence that Pete was well within the law, as an Australian Maritime Law specialist has found none of his actions constiuted piracy nor terrorism. See my earlier post for the deets.
This anti-whaling thing is just a symptom of the decline of Christianity in the West – because an omnipotent, morally perfect God is not worshipped anymore, whales and dolphins have become the embodiment of perfect wisdom and perfect moral goodness, venerated by our most weak minded.
Of course perfect goodness is emphasized by the utterly depraved wickedness of the whale’s nemesis, and this role , for a Western audience, is perfectly played by the racial other – the ‘Jap’ (Scandinavians would be ill suited for such a role).
But of course, all this notion of dolphins and whales somehow being morally superior and sacred beings is just mystical nonsense -complete and utter garbage. Dolphins for instance, get their kicks out of torturing to death baby porpoises:
http://tinyurl.com/625w42
That people fall for this whales are sacred nonsense is hardly surprising. After all we live in an age where people get their values and belief systems from vomit inducing movies such as Avatar, and will turn out in droves to adulate a transparent fraud, phoney, and fruitloop such as the Dalai Lama.
@ Salsy you obviously have not read the IWC web page either.
“A major area of discussion in recent years has been the issuing of permits by member states for the killing of whales for scientific purposes. The use of such permits is not new. The right to issue them is enshrined in Article VIII of the 1946 Convention. Whilst member nations must submit proposals for review, in accordance with the Convention, it is the member nation that ultimately decides whether or not to issue a permit, and this right overrides any other Commission regulations including the moratorium and sanctuaries. Article VIII also requires that the animals be utilised once the scientific data have been collected.”
The passage in quotation marks is lifted from the IWC web page.
Salsy
It is undeniable that Bethune deliberately placed his vessel so a collision was unavoidable.
That endangered his crew and passengers. To do that in the southern ocean where he was, the water temp is ~ 1 degree C.
The man is a fool and hopefully will be prosecuted for his deliberate negligence.
@Sideoiler
Unfortunately in respect to the Japanese, the animals are being utilised well before any scientific data has been collected. It is clear that they are breaking (at the very least) the intent of the IWC law. I suspect that it will be this type of issue which the Australian Government will be arguing should should they take further action.
@Wayne, you are a very scary person..
@ Salsy
“Unfortunately in respect to the Japanese, the animals are being utilised well before any scientific data has been collected”
How can you justify that claim.
I collect a lot of fish data for scientific purposes and this is done immediately the fish is caught. Processing follows.
If you read the text of the convention you will see that it is not legally binding,IE it is not law, any member may withdraw from the agreement and do as it pleases in regards to whales. The agreement requires that the whales be used.
The data is being collected and recorded and is offered to member nations and the IWC in support of Japans efforts to resume limited commercial whaling, so your statement that “Unfortunately in respect to the Japanese, the animals are being utilised well before any scientific data has been collected” is clearly untrue.
@Pentwig, I was actually being ironic in response to @Sideoiler (sorry it doesnt translate well on the web)…
@Sideoiler, why then do the Japanese stay within the moratorium and not opt out and resume commercial whaling like Norway for example? Or are you seriously trying to argue that they are taking up to 3000 whales out of the ocean each year, up into a floating meat cannery for scientific purposes?
@Wayne – he he he
You’d make a good evangelist 
@Pentwig – I doubt it, why would he putb his piddly little boat against the hulking whaling beast?
Good on ya, S alsy
Japans whale harvesting is legal,the fact that it takes place under the guise of scientific whaling is of absolutely no consequence its done under the IWC agreement.
If you read the Iwc page you should be able to work out why Japan does not withdraw from the IWC I have posted the link have a look, see if you can work it out salsy,Im not going to do it for you Ive pointed you to some where you could find out. Hope this doesn’t come across as being rude, that is not my intention, but it seems clear that you have not bothered to read it yet,if I have read your last post properly.
@ salsy the following is from the IWC web page and would seem to shoot the hell out of your 3000 whale argument.
“Japan has issued scientific permits every year in recent years. In the current year, permits are for the JARPA II programme (850±10% Antarctic minke whales, 50 fin whales and 50 humpback whales) and the JARPN II programme (340 minke, 50 Bryde’s, 100 sei and 10 sperm whales). “.I make that 1060 whales +/-10%, 3000 whales out of the sea I think not.
@Sideoiler
“The status quo on whaling is no longer tenable. Japan’s ships continue to steam through the huge loophole which permits whales to be killed for “scientific” purposes. The number of whales slaughtered each year for science has risen steadily from 300 in 1990 to an expected 3000 this year.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10631021&pnum=0
@Sideoiler
The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is an area of 50 million square kilometres surrounding the continent of Antarctica where the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has banned all types of commercial whaling. To date, the IWC has designated two such sanctuaries, the other being the Indian Ocean Whale Sanctuary……
As sanctuaries only apply to commercial whaling, Japan has continued to hunt whales inside the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary because its whaling is done in accordance with a provision in the IWC charter permitting whaling for the purposes of scientific research.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Ocean_Whale_Sanctuary
More like greedsearch
@ Spud
What about the Guatamalan fishing boat he rammed into and murdered an innocent fisherman.
Some hero your man Bethune!!
And you want our country to bail him out?
Duh!
http://thetriton.com/article/2007/05/earthrace-hits-fishing-boat-crew-detained-guatemala
sideoiler – my point aout undermining your argument was more about the view that Japan would “make an example of him”. This could be construed as meaning they will deal with him more harshly than otherwise they would, it is that which is contrary to the Rule of Law which includes clear rules consistently applied.
I agree about the analogy with Maori, unless you are talking about if the Maori wanted to keep hunting Moa, or humans. In my mind, feeble as it is, hunting down an endangered spieces in its protected area for “research” is analogus as a cultural practice to Maori hunting Moa in 21st century, or eating people. It is Japan and not me that says it is for science not with the primary purpose of eating for the populace.
You and I wont agree on this. Thanks for the silly putty idea but the keyboard is clean it has this one dodgy key.
Many here have missed the point – probably because the original post was wrong. He is not being done for piracy – but for trespass.
He boarded the ship (illegally) – but was given the option to leave (see NZ Herald about this).
So the ship headed back home and he was charged as was appropriate.
This post smacks (again) of labour playing pathetic populist politics.
He broke the law and its fair that he should be held accountable – regardless if you support his views or not.
But – Again this is labour where personal responsibility is a dirty word. (BTW I would love to know if he is receiving benefit while he is out there at sea for long periods)
I suspect that the Charge may only have become known or “official” yesterday when the ship docked.
About 20 angry nationalist protesters with Rising Sun flags lined the pier and shouted through megaphones: “Step forward Pete Bethune! Apologise to the Japanese people! We will tear you apart!”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10631797&pnum=0
Disgraceful, I hope he gets a fair trial!
Salsy – boy they sure are passonate about their rresearch over there.
Over here R & D is being cut.
From this press release:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00187.htm
Sharyn Bethune has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to let media know that she wishes to make no further comment, and asks that her privacy be respected.
Perhaps she doesnt want his help or all this publicity thanks to Labour?
Pete Bethune is a 21st century Te Whiti or Gandhi. They faced the force of angry governments too, and in the process changed history.
Wayne – if one of your meat processing people were arrested here, they would get a lawyer, they would get due process and our Govt would liase with India.
I say we find any surviving ex POW who were held by the japanese during WW11 and we ask them if the NZ government should assist him.
This was in international waters, it is debatable as to who rammed who. The Japanese want to make an issue of this and an EXAMPLE OF Pete Bethune.
This is not about politics, this is about looking after our own. Grow a spine McCully or let someone else do the job.
Mr Key act like a leader and look after your people. Labour, force the issue, work with National, I dont care how. We look like cowards and gutless at the moment.
@ Waterboy
No Government can condone any criminal activity.
Get it?
Just in case you didn’t – Bethune is a criminal.
He is a tresspasser. Even this is debatable as he was trying to initiate a citizens arrest.
The ramming is likely to be the Japanese at fault.
Explain how he is a convicted criminal to me.
Why did he have a hood on when taken off the japanese whaler???
We know who he is, it cant have been to protect his identity.
Could it have been to cover up a beating????
Has any NZ official seen him in person???
“Wayne – if one of your meat processing people were arrested here, they would get a lawyer, they would get due process and our Govt would liase with India.”
Tracey – and Bethune will get all of that, rightly so, before he is, also rightfully and hopefully so, given the maximum sentence.
Note that not so long ago, he would have been strung up from the yardarm. Pity we don’t have this form of condign punishment anymore.
Agreed Waterboy!
– Pentwig – He says that they rammed him! 
Look at the ALL the videos Spud!!
When you look at them take off your blinkered glasses.
@ Waterboy
Crime: act punishable by law
Trespass: illegal act
Criminal: guilty of crime
The last part of your post is plain stupidity.
I can’t work out how the video absolves Bethune from culpability. My viewing is he fires up his engines just before the collision, it doesnt appear he did this to avoid a collision.
That said, Wayne, we dont know he will get all that from the Japanese that is why the Govt, through diplomats needs to oversea this. The NZ Embassy constantly, around the world helps citizens who have comitted crimes in other jursidictions. It doesnt mean they are trying to help avoid consequence of actions.
Remember, even under Japanese law Bethune is innocent to date.
@Pentwig – Okay I’ll look at the videos, tomorrow as I’m too busy today, and then tell you what I think.
@ Hilary “Bethune = Gandhi” ROFLMAO, yeah right.
@ salsy it is of no matter how many sancturies there are how many there are or how big they are,the harvesting of whales is not illegal, Japan is not steaming through any loophole.
Bethune was only charged yesterday(I suspect the day before now) when the Japanese coastguard reached the ship he was on.
@bikerkiwi you are correct the only charge so far is trespass, more charges are being considered and will likely be laid.
@ Darien “Pete Bethune is charged with piracy for climbing on board the Shonan Maru 2.”not true, pretty sloppy on your part wouldn’t you say.
@ Pentwig , He hasnt been found guilty of anything therefore he is not a criminal.
You need to look at all the videos and take your blinkers off.
Last part: He was taken off the boat in a black hood, do we do this in NZ?. Only to protect a persons identity.
Give me another reason to put a black hood over his head other than to cover something up.
@ Pentwig, did you know that the Russian coast guard found Japanese fishing boats illegally poaching in their waters earlier this year? They reacted by opening fire on them from the air until the ships turned around. Peter, on the other hand boards a ship with no intent to cause damage or harm and is arrested… Interesting that no Russians were arrested despite two vessels peppered with bullet holes limping back to port. Our guy is a harmless protester, the Japanese are trespassing by commercially whaling in a sanctury, give him a break.
Salsy: the two cases cannot be prepared. If the Japanese ships were poaching in Russian waters, then the Russian coastguard did what they had to do. This sort of thing happens the world over all the time.
But in this nutjobs case, he illegally boarded a vessel going about its lawful business in international waters.
What’s more he refused to leave the ship, even when he had the chance to.
Tracey: given the high profile of the case, I’m sure the Japanese authorities will be bending over backwards to ensure he gets a fair hearing.
And yes I agree, the NZ governments role is to ensure he does get this. To date our government has behaved in a responsible and mature manner.
@ Salsy
The waters in which that incident took place was claimed illegally by USSR and is still awaiting a UN resolution ( has only been around 50 yrs so far).
Bethune is far from a harmless protester.
He is a manical eco terrorist.
@ Salsy
The waters in which that incident took place was claimed illegally by USSR and is still awaiting a UN resolution ( has only been around 50 yrs so far).
Bethune is far from a harmless protester.
He is a manical eco terrorist.
@ waterboy
A black hood? Maybe the Japanese have already decided the appropiate sentence.