I would be interested as to the protocol employed here, where the pigs and not customs, routinely meet a foreign registered vessel. I know it's an occasion for a bit of swagger, and we all know how much stormtroopers like a bit o' that nonsense, but I'd be interested nonetheless.
Operation No Compromise is Officially Over
March 05, 2011
The Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker have arrived in Hobart, Tasmania. For the third year in a row, the Australian Federal Police were on the dock waiting to raid the ship at the request of the Japanese government.
As they’ve done for the last two years, Sea Shepherd is cooperating with the Australian Federal Police with their obligations to do the bidding of the Japanese government. Sea Shepherd is confident that their activities in the Southern Ocean
have been non-violent and lawful.
Japan has never charged Sea Shepherd with any crime related to their activities in obstructing their illegal whaling operations in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Despite this, the Japanese government keeps demanding that Australia stops Sea Shepherd ships from entering and leaving Australian ports. Unfortunately for Japan, Australia is a democratic nation that actually needs to have a violation of the law before taking punitive action against citizens or visiting foreigners.
Senator Bob Brown of the Australian Greens Party will greet the ships and crew upon their arrival. Captains Paul Watson and Alex Cornelissen will hold a media conference with Senator Brown at 11:00 hours AEST.
Operation No Compromise is now officially over. It has been Sea Shepherd’s most effective campaign to date against illegal whaling activities in the Southern Ocean.
Sea Shepherd will be prepared to return to the Southern Ocean at the end of this year once again, if the Japanese whaling fleet returns. “We will be prepared and we will be ready,” said Captain Watson. “Our objective is to defend the integrity of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. We have done so since 2002, and we will continue to do so if there are any future threats to the sanctuary and the whales.” Sea Shepherd
Sea Shepherd sails into more controversy
March 06, 2011
Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson says he is 75 per cent sure Japan will not start another whale hunt as his own vessels sailed into a police investigation.
The anti-whaling group's two main ships, the Bob Barker and the Steve Irwin, arrived in Hobart on Sunday morning after an Antarctic campaign which saw the Japanese withdraw early, citing harassment from the environmentalists.
For the third year running, AFP officers searched the anti-whaling vessels and prohibited members of the public from entering the nearby docks for about two and a half hours.
An AFP spokeswoman confirmed the Sea Shepherd's activities in the Southern Ocean would be investigated.
'The AFP is undertaking investigations into the events which occurred in the Southern Ocean during January and February 2011, in accordance with Australian legislation and consistent with Australia's obligations under international law,' the spokeswoman said.
'(On Sunday) the AFP did execute search warrants on the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessels in Hobart.'
Once the Sea Shepherd crew were permitted to disembark, a triumphant Mr Watson said he was confident his organisation was winning its fight.
'Every year we've been going down stronger and they've been going down weaker,' he told reporters.
'This year they realised they can't outrun us ... they just decided to call it quits.
'I'm 75 per cent sure they won't be back next year but, if they are, we'll be prepared to come back.'
Greens leader Bob Brown was at the docks to welcome the crew, and said the AFP investigation came because of complaints from Tokyo.
'The Japanese government has complained about these ships getting in the way of commerce and industry,' Senator Brown said. (Shurely shome mishtake, research don't you mean?)
'The good police are doing the work of Tokyo.
'I have written to the Minister for Foreign Affairs this morning calling for an end to this charade.'
The Japanese foreign ministry called in the Australian, New Zealand and Dutch ambassadors last month to demand 'effective measures to avoid the recurrence of Sea Shepherd's obstructionist activities'.
Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has so far refused to comment on the meeting.
Tensions between the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the whalers reached boiling point last year when the crew of the Sea Shepherd's Ady Gil claimed they were rammed by a Japanese whaling ship in the Southern Ocean.
New Zealand authorities found both vessels were at fault. BigPond News
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