Anti-whaling activist prosecuted in Japan

2010-04-03 07:54 BJT

 

Japanese prosecutors have indicted an anti-whaling activist from New Zealand accused of illegally boarding a harpoon boat. The move has strongly opposed by the defendant's family and fellow protestors.

Peter Bethune jumped aboard the whaling ship, Shonan Maru 2, with the stated goal of making a citizen's arrest of the captain. He also wanted to deliver a 3 million US dollar invoice to the Japanese vessel's captain for damage caused to a protest ship a month earlier.

The 44-year-old was held on board and arrested immediately after the ship returned to Japan on March the 12th. He has since been held in custody in Tokyo.

In this Feb. 10, 2010, file photo released by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, captain Peter Bethune poses onboard the MV Steve Irwin, in the Southern Ocean. (AP Photo/Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Barbara Veiga, File)
In this Feb. 10, 2010, file photo released by Sea Shepherd
Conservation Society, captain Peter Bethune poses onboard the
MV Steve Irwin, in the Southern Ocean. (AP Photo/Sea Shepherd
Conservation Society, Barbara Veiga, File)