Tokyo Two

The Tokyo Two are Greenpeace anti-whaling activists Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki, who were arrested for stealing whale meat which they believed was embezzled, from a shipping depot in Aomori Prefecture, Japan in 2008.[1]

Theft and investigation

In 2008, Sato and Suzuki, acting on a tip from an informant who claimed to be a member of a whaling crew,[2] intercepted a box of whale meat at a Seino Transportation Company delivery depot in Aomori, and handed it over to the police as evidence of a theft ring within the whaling industry.[3] Japan says the industry is for scientific research but receives criticism for the meat being sold in shops and restaurants.[4] Sato and Suzuki held a news conference, intending to expose what they called embezzlement of whale meat. An investigation was opened, but no charges were brought against the whalers after the investigators found that the meat was intended as souvenirs and was not sold.[4] Seino submitted a breakage report to Aomori Police.

Arrest and trial

About a month after the news conference, Sato and Suzuki were arrested and charged with theft and trespass. According to the activists, they were detained by police for 26 days, and were held without charge for 23 days.[4][5] During that time, they also said they were questioned without a lawyer, tied to chairs, and interrogated for up to 12 hours a day. According to a United Nations human rights group, their treatment by Japanese authorities was arbitrary and contravened elements of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.[6] Amnesty International also expressed its concern about their treatment and suggested that the detention and charges against Sato and Suzuki may have been aimed at intimidating activists.[7] During his interrogation by police, Suzuki claims he was compared to the Aum Supreme Truth group, which committed poison gas attacks on the Tokyo subway.[8] The two activists faced up to 18 months in prison.[4] Sato stated on June 24, 2010 that, while he believes that he and Suzuki will be convicted, he has no regrets, because he believes that the "wrong-doing" had to be exposed.[9]

On September 6, 2010, they were found guilty of trespass and of stealing whale meat they believed to have been illegally diverted from whaling research for personal profit. They were sentenced to one year in prison by the Aomori District Court, but the sentences were suspended for three years.[2] They appealed the ruling on the basis that activists should not be punished for uncovering wrongdoing.[10] On July 12, 2011, the Sendai Appellate Court rejected their appeal.[11]

Anti-whaling views expressed by Sato

Prior to the alleged theft of whale meat, at a news conference outside the 2007 International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting, Sato expressed support for aggressive confrontations between anti-whaling groups and whalers in the Southern Ocean. Sato now believes that anti-whaling organizations should not engage in annual confrontations with whaling expeditions in the Southern Ocean, and should instead focus on "campaigning with words." Furthermore, he argues that outside groups which wish to change whaling in Japan need to understand that any change that happens will occur slowly, but that such changes are possible and currently occurring.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Yoko Kubota (September 6, 2010). "Greenpeace members convicted on Japan whale meat theft". Reuters.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Justin McCurry (September 6, 2010). "Greenpeace 'Tokyo Two' anti-whaling activists found guilty". The Guardian.
  3. ↑ "グリーンピース・ジャパンのスタッフによる鯨肉持ち出し行為についての法的見解 (Legal pressrelease; intercepting whale meat by Greenpeace japan staff)" (Press release). Grreenpiece Japan. 2008-05-20. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Georgina Robinson (June 9, 2010). "Whaling protesters demand release of Tokyo Two". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  5. ↑ "Greenpeace protests Japan's prosecution of whale activists". AFP. June 8, 2010.
  6. ↑ Mark Willacy (February 8, 2010). "'Tokyo two' set to face trial". ABC Lateline.
  7. ↑ Amnesty International (July 15, 2008). "Japan must respect rights of detained Greenpeace activists". Amnesty International.
  8. ↑ Justin McCurry (December 9, 2008). "Greenpeace launches major anti-whaling campaign in Japan". The Guardian.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Richard Black (June 24, 2010). "Food for thought from Japan's accused". BBC News.
  10. ↑ Mari Yamaguchi (September 6, 2010). "2 activists convicted of whale meat theft in Japan". Associated Press.
  11. ↑ "Greenpeace loses appeal in Japan whale meat case". France 24. July 12, 2011.

External links