Greenpeace and a number of human rights organisations like Amnesty International and Humane Society International see this as a political arrest. We think that Japan should be investigating the embezzlement, and the whole illegal whaling operation, not those trying to draw attention to it.
On December 9, 2008 a group of executive directors from seven Greenpeace national offices put their reputation where their beliefs are, to deliver their requests to Prime Minister Aso of Japan. They demanded that Japan re-open the investigation of the whale meat scandal and of whaling itself, and they put themselves forwards as "co-defendants" with the Tokyo Two -- and as representatives of the supporters in their countries who are standing in solidarity as co-defendants as well.
Joining them was Australia's last whaling captain -- Paddy Hart, who was a master and gunner at the Cheynes Beach Whaling Station in Western Australia until it ceased operation in 1978 - following Greenpeace protests.
"I'm here in Japan to tell people that there's life after whaling. If whaling stops in Japan, the whalers will find other work - just like we had to," said Hart. "
"I am asking for an end to whaling and that the Japanese government fund alternative ventures for the whalers, instead of spending and losing money to produce food that people don't even like any more. There's more money to be made from whale watching than killing whales. Also, speaking from experience as a whale gunner there's no humane way to kill a whale."(Greenpeace)
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