Posted on 01/08/2010 4:19:19 PM PST by PJ-Comix
ENVIRONMENT lobby group Sea Shepherd has lodged a piracy complaint in the Netherlands against the captain and crew of a Japanese ship that collided with one of its vessels.
"We have lodged a complaint of piracy with the Dutch prosecuting authority against the captain and crew of the Japanese vessel," Sea Shepherd legal representative Liesbeth Zegveld told AFP today.
"This was close to murder. It was such an extreme act that if no-one takes action now, we may have an even more serious incident in future."
The New Zealand-registered Ady Gil, a high-tech protest boat of the Sea Shepherd group, sank on Friday after being badly damaged in a collision with a Japanese ship, the Shonan Maru 2, two days earlier.
Both parties blame each other for the crash.
Zegveld claimed the collision was "an act of violence" and said the damage was close to $US1 million ($A1.09 million). One of the crew suffered broken ribs.
Piracy enjoys universal jurisdiction, the lawyer said, and "any state is competent to deal with this case".
The Netherlands was chosen since one of the crew was Dutch and the Sea Shepherd's main ship, the Steve Irwin, is registered in the Netherlands.
"We want the crew of the Shonan Maru 2 to go to jail," Zegveld said. "We will bring a civil suit later to recoup the financial losses."
Prosecution spokeswoman Marieke van der Molen confirmed that a complaint had been received on Friday.
"There will be an initial examination before we decide whether or not to open a full investigation," she said. Sea Shepherd claims to have saved hundreds of whales by chasing the Japanese whaling fleet.
Piracy? Hah! These enviro-sea-whackos are very amusing.
Open up on the ships with .50 calibers and keep firing until nothing is left twitching.
If this is the same incident I saw on Youtube, These idiots had better pray the capt’n of the Japanese vessel doesn’t make a reckless endangerment charge against them.
Right down to the skull and crossbones painted on the outriggers of their stupid little dressed-up ocean racer.
Why was the Bat Boat so close to the Japanese ship? Showbiz. And they were trying to make like they were Enviro-Pirates.
I wish I could find a feeble old game show host who would give me 5 million to buy one of those fancy, high speed Batman boats. I sure as hell wouldn’t drive it around any Japanese whalers though.
I hope the Japanese take these guys for hundreds of thousands to repair the damage their little boat caused to the Japanese ship. It was international waters and these creeps put themselves in the way. THEY are the ones guilty of endangering the crew.
This should get a laugh from the courts.
Does not the law of the sea require the more manueverable vessel to maneuver to avoid colision?
Also, Is not running around other vessels recklessly and with intent to harass legal operations a violation as well?
Sink all these enviro-terrorists. Jail those who can swim.
Speaking of wackos.................Bob Barker, the ancient tv mariner, gave them 5 million to build their command craft!
I suppose Ol’ Bob never ate a fish in his life!
BINGO! You beat me to it, and that is exactly where this band of idiots is headed. This whole thing is a bunch of BS that was dreamed up for “reality” TV via the Discovery channel.
Oh, I hadn't realized anyone DIED in the incident. Condolences to their families.
Oh that’s rich.
Haw. The Japanese should sue Sea Shepherd for piracy in New Zealand, where their little boat is flagged. Then the Japanese could compel the testimony of Lloyd’s Registry, to find out why an unseaworthy ship like the Ady Gil was permitted at sea, and if its owners were trying to sink it to collect the insurance and damages from a lawsuit.
doooooooshbags!!!!
It would be interesting to find out which corporate families the spoiled punks are part of.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.