Update on Sea Shepherd crew members detained by Japanese Whaling Ship

               
Benjamin Potts, Australia       Giles Lane, Britain.



The captain of a Japanese ship is refusing to release two anti-whaling activists who have "illegally" boarded his boat, the Japanese Government says. Australian Benjamin Potts, 28, and Giles Lane, 35, a Briton, were detained yesterday after climbing aboard the moving whaling catcher boat the Yushin Maru No.2 in the Antarctic. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says the Japanese Government instructed the vessel to let the men go.

But Yasuaki Sasaki, the ship's captain, won't release the men until the safety of his vessel is guaranteed. "Immediately that Paul Watson (the leader of anti-whaling organisation Sea Shepherd) has accepted the conditions of the safety of the Japanese vessel, they will release the two illegal intruders," the chief of the whaling section of The Fisheries Agency of Japan, Hideki Moronuki, said.


Mr Moronuki said he knew nothing about comments by Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith that the Japanese Government said late last night that the two men would be released.
Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith told Sky News he sought and received assurances from the Japanese Government that the two men would be released, but as of this morning that had yet to happen.


http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national/japan-holding-activists-for-now/2008/01/16/1200419836438.html

be safe Sea Shepherd

Good.

Of course, those two SSCS volunteers better be kept real safe. Probably a BIG liability issue if something happened.

they don't understand the concept of activism in Japan apparently.

Now they can travel freely while holding their "guests"

Those two activists being held hostage won't keep that ship safe.

If I were one of the hostages, I'd still expect Watson to do whatever was needed to keep the ship from whaling.

:D

not aware of what the japanese minister said? -- yeah right.

Not sure why 'illegal' is in quotes though. Pretty clear that their boarding was illegal (regardless of whether or not the whaling in and of itself, was illegal).

excuse what would otherwise be potentially criminal conduct. The law will not blind itself to the circumstances under which you take action. For example, if you were about to shoot someone, or abuse an animal, and I forcibly restrained you, I may be able to assert a defense against prosecution for what may otherwise be assault or battery.

I found this rather handy, albeit a bit simplistic:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2140180_plead-prevention-crime-defense-assault.html