Japan charges New Zealand anti-whaling activist

WELLINGTON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Japan has announced their charges against New Zealand anti-whaling protester Pete Bethune, local media reported Friday.

Japan is laying five charges against Bethune over his boarding of the Shonan Maru 2 in the Southern Ocean, Radio Newstalk ZB reported on Friday.

They accused him of trespass, possession of a weapon, injury to persons, damage to property and obstructing the passage of a vessel.

Bethune's lawyer Dan Harris said it is potentially a very serious situation.

Bethune was the skipper of the Sea Shepherd protest boat, Ady Gil, which sank following a collision with the Shonan Maru II in January.

He had planned to make a citizen's arrest of the ship's captain Hiroyuki Komiya in February, for what he said was the attempted murder of his six crew, and to present him with the bill for the trimaran.