Greenpeace Whaling Protest Disrupted in St. Kitts, Ten Arrested

FRIGATE BAY, St. Kitts, June 20, 2006 (ENS) - Ten Greenpeace anti-whaling activists from seven countries were arrested by police at Frigate Bay today as they attempted to create a symbolic "whale graveyard" to protest Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

The demonstration came as the International Whaling Commission (IWC) wound up its annual meeting in St. Kitts that has seen the Japanese led pro-whaling group of countries nearly dominate the proceedings for the first time in two decades.

The protest involved activists and crew from the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, which was denied entry into St. Kitts waters when it arrived last weekend before the IWC meeting began.

The Greenpeacers drove inflatable boats to the beach in North Frigate Bay, and were attempting to plant 863 cardboard whale tails in the sand - one to represent each whale caught by Japanese whalers in the Sanctuary during the past year.

The protestors were arrested by police shortly after coming ashore, and now are being held at the police station in St. Kitts' main town of Basseterre awaiting further information on charges.

St. Kitts police round up Greenpeace protesters on the beach near the International Whaling Commission meeting. (Photo courtesy Greenpeace)

Five Greenpeacers from the on shore contingent were also taken into custody - Mike Townsley of Scotland, Buffy Baumann of the United States, Francisco Gil of Portugal, Milko Schvartzman of Argentina and Steffi Werner of Germany.

"To have arrests happen over a peaceful protest is ludicrous - the real safety issues are on the high-seas where whales are under threat and are being killed on an on-going basis," said Townsley, Greenpeace International spokesperson.

"It's about time the IWC and nations of the world take heed and realize that this slaughter cannot continue," Townsley said. "Greenpeace is on the side of good by protecting whales and the environment they live in.

"Greenpeace is a peaceful protest organization and we will return to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary later this year, where we will continue to defend the 935 minke whales and 10 fin whales which are the target of the Fisheries Agency of Japan's grenade tipped harpoons," said Townsley.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society also has declared its intention to send two ships to the Southern Ocean to confront the Japanese whaling fleet during the Austral Summer season in December and January.

Last season, confrontations resulted in physical contact between whaling and conservation vessels. Greenpeace claims its vessel, the Arctic Sunrise was deliberately damaged by a whaling vessel, while Japan claims the Greenpeace ship was the aggressor.

On a separate occasion, the Sea Shepherd vessel Farley Mowat sideswiped a Japanese whaler in an attempt to block further killing of whales.

On Monday, the International Whaling Commission passed by consensus a resolution stating it does not condone "any actions that are a risk to human life and property in relation to these activities of vessels at sea, and urges persons and entities to refrain from such acts."

The resolution "encourages" IWC government Parties to take "appropriate" measures, consistent with guidelines of the International Maritime Organization which set uniform principles and rules for avoiding collisions at sea, to ensure that "the substance and spirit of the resolution are observed both domestically and internationally."

The resolution supports "the right to legitimate and peaceful forms of protest and demonstration," but expresses serious concern "that dangerous confrontations risk human life, property, and the order of maritime navigation, and may lead to grave accidents."