Greenpeace New Zealand staged a whale stranding in Mission Bay, one of Auckland's most popular beaches, today, to highlight the court case of two activists for their part in exposing corruption in the Japanese whaling industry. The action was part of an international peaceful protest directed at the Japanese government asking for justice for Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki known as the 'Tokyo 2' and justice for the whales. The five metre inflatable minke whale was beached to symbolise their plight. Activists placed Japanese daimyo banners around the whale which read "Free the Tokyo 2 and Put Whaling on Trial".
In May last year, Greenpeace campaigners Junichi Sato and Toru
Suzuki exposed a black market in whale meat run by the crew of the
Japanese whaling ships (1). The following month the pair were
arrested and held in custody for 26 days, with Amnesty
International and 250,000 people from around the world condemning
the political nature of the arrests and charges.
Now, many months later, Junichi and Toru (known as the Tokyo 2)
remain under strict bail conditions, unable to work or communicate
freely with their Greenpeace colleagues and awaiting the conclusion
of the trial, which is likely to end in a jail term.
A five metre inflatable minke whale was beached at Mission Bay
to symbolise their plight. Activists placed Japanese daimyo banners
around the whale which read Free the Tokyo 2 and Put Whaling on
Trial. Following the activity, Greenpeace executive director Bunny
McDiarmid delivered a letter to the Japanese Ambassador's office,
in Wellington, demanding his interest in the case, support for the
Tokyo 2 and for him to ask the same of his government.
Suzette Jackson, communications manager for Greenpeace New
Zealand: "It's not Greenpeace activists who should be put on trial;
it's the government-backed whaling programme in the Southern Ocean
Whale Sanctuary. We ask for immediate justice for the Tokyo 2 and
an end to the Japanese government's internationally criticised
whaling programme."
Junichi and Toru had reported their findings with the intention
of raising awareness about the abuse of taxpayer subsidies, and to
prompt an independent investigation into the programme [2]. They
could face up to ten years in prison if convicted.
The first formal court hearing in preparation for the actual
trial took place in Aomori, Japan last Friday, 13 February.
Following the hearing - which was closed to media and the public -
lawyers acting on behalf of the two men outlined the intended
defence. Sato and Suzuki are jointly charged with theft and
trespass.
"Neither activist had any intent of illegal acquisition, which
is one of the elements of the crime of "theft" as defined by
Japanese domestic law", said lead counsel for the defendants,
Yuichi Kaido.
"Moreover, from the perspective of international law, Junichi
and Toru's acts were an exercise of the right to freedom of
expression, which is guaranteed in the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)" [3].
A second pre-trial hearing for the two activists is set for 23
March, while the date of commencement of the public trial has not
yet been decided.
Jackson said Greenpeace was requesting the Japanese government
conduct an independent inquiry into the clandestine operation on
board the factory ship Nisshin Maru.
"It is clear to Greenpeace that the production of products for
private sale, from whales caught under scientific permits, does not
comply with the International Whaling Commission's
requirements".
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation
that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and
conserve the environment and to promote peace.
Other contacts: Suzette Jackson, communications manager, Greenpeace New Zealand, +64 21 614 899
Phil Crawford, communications officer, Greenpeace New Zealand, +64 21 968 012
VVPR info: High-resolution images available:
http://www.greenpeace.org.nz/media
(Multiple images can be added to the 'lightbox' and downloaded as a single zip file).
Notes: 1) Greenpeace investigation: Japan’s stolen whale meat scandal, May 15 2008 – dossier available from:
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/reports/whale-meat-scandal-dossier
2) An investigation begun by Sato and Suzuki in April 2008 focused on organised whale meat embezzlement conducted by whaling fleet crew from Japan’s so-called “scientific” whaling programme, which is funded by Japanese taxpayers. Following information from an informer who had previously been involved in the whaling programme, Sato and Suzuki discovered firm evidence that cardboard boxes containing whale meat were being secretly shipped to the homes of whaling fleet crew – and then sold for personal profit. Junichi Sato delivered a box of this whale meat to the Tokyo Prosecutors’ Office in May 2008, and filed a report of embezzlement. However, the embezzlement investigation was dropped on 20 June – the same day that both men were arrested and then held for 26 days before being charged with theft and trespass.
More: http://www.greenpeace.org/tokyo-two
3) The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Japan in 1979, has the force of law in Japan’s legal system, and prevails over inconsistent domestic laws. In Article 19, the ICCPR recognises that freedom of expression not only includes the freedom to “impart” information, but also freedom “for everyone” to “seek” and “receive” it.