JAPAN......FESS UP!!!!!!!
January 8th 2010 08:07
So, everyone seems to be having a WHALE of a time down in our South Seas.... A Japanese whaler boat, a tender of some sort (allegedly being crewed by quasi military types) yesterday decided to take their ship and ram the small (hi-tech) stealth launch, run by the Sea Shepherd people, those brave citizens of the world who are trying to save the most noble of beasts, the whales, from annihilation.
It might be difficult to lay charges of attempted murder, but, by the look of the film shown, by both the Sea Shepherd's craft and the Japanese whaler boat, the Japanese ship did nothing to avoid the collision and actually abandoned the craft and its crew to their uncertain fate, in the deep blue cruel sea. The craft suffered major damage and began sinking, a crew member was injured and later on the craft sank.
That last part, not rendering assistance to a vessel in distress, I believe, is totally contrary to maritime law, and so the Japanese captain and his company, the boat owners, could be sued. Not only sued, but prosecuted under International Maritime Law.
Australia claims it owns that area of sea. But, that is not supported by international law, to my knowledge, correct me if I am wrong.
But that fact does not relieve Japan from its responsibility under Maritime law. Australia, however, has demonstrated to the world that, you can come into our waters and do as you please.
This incident has far greater ramifications for Australia and its international reputation, suggesting the idea that we are all but militarily defenceless and lacking in principles.
What should be happening?
We should immediately send out warships to locate and board the Japanese vessel involved in the attack, bring it to port, put the crew under arrest or containment, until we establish under a court trial process what happened and who should be blamed and dealt with.
But then, what if we did do the aforementioned?
What would Japan do? Stop trade? Possibly. Send down warships to protect its poaching fleet in our waters? Most likely!
This is a difficult situation for Australia, but, just giving some half hearted toothless reaction is not only pointless, it is actually endangering our national security.
To do nothing, as we are at the moment, is exactly what the Japanese vested interests were hoping we would do.
IMAGE CREDIT: PUBLIC DOMAIN: PHOTO TAKEN BY A UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT IN THE COURSE OF THEIR WORK; PHOTO CREDIT IS FOR N.O.A.A. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a depratment of The Department of Commerce, of the United States of America.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce USA
It might be difficult to lay charges of attempted murder, but, by the look of the film shown, by both the Sea Shepherd's craft and the Japanese whaler boat, the Japanese ship did nothing to avoid the collision and actually abandoned the craft and its crew to their uncertain fate, in the deep blue cruel sea. The craft suffered major damage and began sinking, a crew member was injured and later on the craft sank.
That last part, not rendering assistance to a vessel in distress, I believe, is totally contrary to maritime law, and so the Japanese captain and his company, the boat owners, could be sued. Not only sued, but prosecuted under International Maritime Law.
Australia claims it owns that area of sea. But, that is not supported by international law, to my knowledge, correct me if I am wrong.
But that fact does not relieve Japan from its responsibility under Maritime law. Australia, however, has demonstrated to the world that, you can come into our waters and do as you please.
This incident has far greater ramifications for Australia and its international reputation, suggesting the idea that we are all but militarily defenceless and lacking in principles.
What should be happening?
We should immediately send out warships to locate and board the Japanese vessel involved in the attack, bring it to port, put the crew under arrest or containment, until we establish under a court trial process what happened and who should be blamed and dealt with.
But then, what if we did do the aforementioned?
What would Japan do? Stop trade? Possibly. Send down warships to protect its poaching fleet in our waters? Most likely!
This is a difficult situation for Australia, but, just giving some half hearted toothless reaction is not only pointless, it is actually endangering our national security.
We MUST take this to the UN and the International Court.
We must have this incident properly investigated under International Maritime Law.
To do nothing, as we are at the moment, is exactly what the Japanese vested interests were hoping we would do.
IMAGE CREDIT: PUBLIC DOMAIN: PHOTO TAKEN BY A UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT IN THE COURSE OF THEIR WORK; PHOTO CREDIT IS FOR N.O.A.A. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a depratment of The Department of Commerce, of the United States of America.
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