Antiwhaling activist from New Zealand gets suspended prison term

TOKYO, July 7 Kyodo -
The Tokyo District Court on Wednesday sentenced an antiwhaling activist from
New Zealand to two years in prison, suspended for five years, for obstructing
the activities of the Japanese whaling fleet in the Antarctic Ocean.
Peter Bethune, 45, was found guilty for conspiring with other Sea Shepherd
Conservation Society members and launching a glass bottle of butyric acid onto
the Shonan Maru No. 2, the fleet security escort ship on Feb. 11, obstructing
the fleet's business and injuring a 25-year-old crew member of the escort ship,
the ruling said.
Four days later on Feb. 15, Bethune cut the escort ship's net with a knife and
boarded the vessel, according to the ruling.
Bethune was given a suspended term as he had said he would not participate in
antiwhaling activities in the Antarctic Ocean in the future and had paid for
the damage to the net, according to the ruling.
But Presiding Judge Takashi Tawada rejected Bethune's plea of not guilty to an
assault charge relating to the injury of the crew member, dismissing Bethune's
claim that he had not wanted to injure anyone.
''The defendant was aware that the glass bottle launched at the ship could pose
a danger to the members of the research whaling ship,'' the judge said.
The judge added, ''The incident was part of the Sea Shepherd's continuing
violent and obstructive behavior in defiance of a resolution and statements of
the International Whaling Commission, which do not allow for such obstructive
action.''
The ruling was final as Bethune had given up his right to appeal, while the
prosecutors also said they would not appeal.
Bethune was moved to an immigration facility on suspicion of illegal entry as
he was not carrying his passport when he boarded the Japanese vessel and is
expected to be deported soon, one of his lawyers said.
Bethune was indicted in April on five criminal counts -- trespassing, forcible
obstruction of business, assault, property destruction and violation of the
firearms and swords control law.
His defense had sought a suspended prison sentence, noting that he had pleaded
guilty to four of the five criminal counts and had expressed deep regret for
his action.
Prosecutors had sought a two-year prison term.
The Sea Shepherd effectively expelled Bethune last month, saying he took a bow
and arrows aboard its vessel the Ady Gil, of which he was captain, in violation
of the group's ''offensive but non-violent'' policy.
In New Zealand, Bethune's father Don expressed relief that the activist would
be returning home soon.
''It's a terrific relief,'' Don Bethune told Kyodo News. ''We're looking
forward to Pete coming home and being part of the family again.''
Earlier, Sharyn Bethune, the activist's wife, told the New Zealand Press
Association that she hoped her husband would return home as early as Saturday
morning.
One of the first things her husband would do when he arrives back in New
Zealand is celebrate, she said.
Meanwhile, Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson said after the ruling that he
thought Japan would be happy to see Bethune leave the country.
''Pete will be returning home as a national hero,'' Watson told Kyodo News from
the United States, adding that the case had garnered much publicity and funding
for the conservation group.
Watson also said the group's decision to disassociate itself from Bethune was
part of a legal strategy to ensure a lenient ruling.
''We had to make it very clear that he wouldn't be participating in any future
campaigns (in the Antarctic Ocean),'' Watson said.
==Kyodo