Japan prosecutors demand jail for Greenpeace whale activists

Greenpeace protests Japan's prosecution of whale activists
Montreal (AFP) June 8, 2010 - Dozens of protestors on Tuesday decried Japan's prosecution of two anti-whaling activists facing 18 months in prison for snatching a case of whale meat. Holding up photos of the two men and a banner that read "Defending whales is a crime?" the protestors gathered signatures in downtown Montreal for a petition urging the activists' release. It is to be sent to the Japanese government. Similar protests are planned for Vancouver, Germany, the United States, India, China and New Zealand, Greenpeace said.

Japanese prosecutors earlier demanded 18-month jail terms for two Greenpeace activists on trial for committing theft and trespassing while investigating alleged embezzlement in the country's whaling industry. Junichi Sato, 33, and Toru Suzuki, 43, are accused of stealing whale meat in 2008 from a delivery service depot in Japan's northern Aomori prefecture. Eric Darrier, head of Greenpeace's Quebec wing, read aloud a message from Sato in which he claimed he and Suzuki were detained without charge for 23 days, and tied to chairs and interrogated without their lawyers present.

Commercial whaling has been banned worldwide since 1986, but Japan justifies its annual hunts as "scientific research," while not hiding the fact that the meat is later sold in shops and restaurants. The activists have not denied taking a more than 20-kilo (about 50-pound) box to use as evidence that whale meat from the state-funded expeditions was being embezzled, alleging that the salted parcels had been sent to crew members for personal consumption or sale.

by Staff Writers
Tokyo (AFP) June 8, 2010
Japanese prosecutors demanded 18-month jail terms for two Greenpeace activists on trial for committing theft and trespass while investigating alleged embezzlement in the country's whaling industry.

Junichi Sato, 33, and Toru Suzuki, 43, are accused of stealing whale meat in 2008 from a delivery service depot in Japan's northern Aomori prefecture.

Commercial whaling has been banned worldwide since 1986, but Japan justifies its annual hunts as "scientific research", while not hiding the fact that the meat is later sold in shops and restaurants.

The activists have not denied taking a more than 20-kilo (about 50-pound) box to use as evidence that whale meat from the state-funded expeditions was being embezzled, alleging that the salted parcels had been sent to crew members for personal consumption or sale.

Greenpeace called the prosecutors' demand "severely disproportionate", saying that, if implemented, it would be the longest jail term for any member of the organisation in its four-decade history.

"The actions of Junichi and Toru have been peaceful at all times and for the public good. It is deeply worrying that any jail term might be imposed," said Greenpeace International executive director Kumi Naidoo in a statement.

"Human rights experts have considered this case to be politically motivated," he added.

A verdict is expected this year but no date has been set.

Japan has a target of killing up to 935 whales each season in the Antarctic, although its latest catch was down to 507 whales due to high-seas harassment by environmentalists of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

A New Zealand anti-whaling activist is currently on trial in Japan on charges relating to his boarding of a whaling ship in February.

The demand for jail comes as the International Whaling Commission is set to begin talks in two weeks in Morocco.

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