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Key’s chance to get gutsy on whaling
28 May 2010
Key’s chance to get gutsy on whaling
John Key’s Government has the chance to show some guts and join Australia’s court case to stop illegal whaling, the Green Party said today.
“John Key has a chance to be courageous. The Australians are showing their courage and Pete Bethune has shown heaps of guts, and this is our chance,” said Green Party Oceans spokesperson Gareth Hughes.
The Australian Government today announced its plan to take Japan to the International Court of Justice to stop Japanese commercial whaling in the Southern Ocean and will start its proceedings next week.
“John Key can join the court case instead of trying to cut a deal that rewards Japan’s illegal actions,” said Mr Hughes. “You can’t save whales by killing them. The appeasement plan is a mistake. Court action is a better option that makes clear to the world where we stand.”
The New Zealand government had finally acknowledged the court case option, said Mr Hughes, and now needed to step up.
The Australian action comes as New Zealander and whaling activist Pete Bethune stands trial in Tokyo without a Maritime New Zealand report that could be crucial to his defence.
“Pete Bethune stood up for what he believes in and what most New Zealanders believe in,” said Mr Hughes. “The Government has a duty to help and the most helpful thing would be to get the Maritime New Zealand report into evidence.
“John Key’s Government has had months to get that report, but keeps making excuses while Pete Bethune is battling a politically charged case in a hostile legal system.”
The Maritime New Zealand investigation into the alleged ramming of Pete Bethune’s vessel by a Japanese whaling ship has been underway for several months but there is as yet no date for its completion. After the incident that sunk his vessel, the Ady Gil, Pete Bethune boarded the Japanese whaler to make a citizen’s arrest. He was held on board and taken to Japan where he is now on trial.
“We know John Key wants us to catch up to Australia, here’s a chance,” said Mr Hughes.
ENDS
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