Photo: publicity handout by GreenpeaceOn Dec 19, just a few weeks after winning office, the newly elected Labor government announced that the Australian Customs ship Oceanic Viking, would be despatched "within days" to monitor the Japanese whaling fleet in the Antarctic.
Although the Japanese whaling mission is half-way through its barbaric program having killed an estimated one hundred whales, the ship is still sitting in Fremantle and the surveillance plane that was supposed to document the killing spree, has not been registered for use.
The government has given no reason for the delay although sources say it is for "operational and security reasons".
Security? The bloody thing is sitting there for everyone to see and photograph! Mind you, it is not quite so 'ludicrous' as the authorities who wanted to keep secret the arrival of a US aircraft carrier. How they thought the public would fail to notice a ship carrying more planes than the entire Australian Air Force, sailing up the densely populated Sydney Harbour to berth virtually in the middle of the city, is anyone's guess. It's not the sort of thing that escapes your notice is it?
Back to the whales.
A government spokesperson said, "The foreign minister spoke personally to Japan's foreign minister on December 21 to convey the Australian government's strong opposition to Japan's scientific whaling program."
What the spokesperson failed to mention is the deal struck between the US - whose behind the scenes manoeuvring, conflicts with its public opposition to whaling - and Japan. The deal was spearheaded by U.S. Whaling Commissioner and retiring head of the US Fisheries Agency, Bill (William) Hogarth.
At a press conference in December, the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura, outlined the deal - designed to restore Japan's right to commercial whaling. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Dec 29, that Japan wants to "normalise" the International Whaling Commission by returning to its 1946 purpose of regulating whaling, and lifting the global moratorium against the industry. Put simply - humpbacks will be saved at the expense of other whales.
The deal was brokered by Thomas Schieffer the former U.S. Ambassador to Australia, good friend of George Bush and major Republican party donor. Schieffer is also notorious for trying to interfere in Australian domestic politics, and promptly being told we don't take kindly to foreigners telling us what we can and can't say in our own Parliament.
A surveillance plane sits in a hangar, an Australian Customs ship sits secretly in public view and the backroom boys sit on leather chairs wheeling and dealing.
Everyone and everything is protected.
Except of course for the whales.
Below is the transcript of the Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura
Japan-Australia Foreign Minister Telephone Talks
Minister:
I have held telephone talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith of Australia. During the talks we were completely agreed to continue to maintain close contact on issues including security, economy and climate change and to work to further strengthen our relations.
Foreign Minister Smith expressed concern over Japan's research whaling and requested that the research whaling program be halted. I explained that the research whaling carried out by Japan is entirely legal. I also conveyed to Foreign Minister Smith that I had received a request from the Chair of the International Whaling Commission, Mr. William Hogarth, who indicated his opinion to me that the IWC is currently not functioning effectively and that he is seeking to remedy this situation, for which he asks for the cooperation of Japan, currently the Vice-Chair of the IWC. Mr. Hogarth requested that Japan reviewed its plan to catch humpback whales while such a reform is going on. I explained to Foreign Minister Smith that I had stated that Japan, as Vice-Chair of the IWC will cooperate with the reform of the IWC. Also, with regard to the request from Mr. Hogarth concerning humpback whales, Japan has decided to postpone its catch of this species while the IWC is judged to move towards a normalization of its activities.
In response Foreign Minister Smith stated that Australia's request to halt research whaling was not only in regard to humpback whales. He welcomed, however, the decision by Japan to halt the catch of humpback whales in the immediate term. At the same time, during the course of the telephone talks, Foreign Minister Smith repeated three to four times that the single issue of research whaling would not obstruct the good relations between Japan and Australia, and I indicated my complete agreement with this point. That was the general gist of the telephone talks.
Question:
Australia may have welcomed Japan's decision at this time, but there are still strong voices calling for research whaling to be stopped, are there not?
Minister:
Australia's basic stance is for a complete halt to research whaling. However, as I have already mentioned, Australia welcomes the current postponement of the catch of humpback whales. It is no more and no less than this fact.
Question:
As you have said, this is a very difficult issue, relating to national sentiment and culture. How will you respond to this issue in the future?
Minister:
I stated that this is an issue that can easily become emotionally charged and underlined the importance of continuing to discuss it in as calm a manner as possible. Foreign Minister Smith and I also stated that this single issue should not have an adverse impact on good Japan-Australia relations and we were in complete agreement on this point. There is no other way but to continue to discuss the issue calmly.
Question:
At about what time was the telephone talks held?
Minister:
At around 6:05pm.
Question:
Could you tell us anything about the monitoring activities by Australia, as announced by Foreign Minister Smith?
Minister:
We did not touch upon this point in the telephone talks. However, although an announcement has been made that monitoring will be implemented, I am aware that the place where the monitoring is taking place is not disclosed to NPOs and other organizations or the Australian government calls for all parties involved to respond calmly to the issue. We did not discuss the issue of monitoring during the telephone talks.
Question:
You mentioned a postponement in the "immediate term. " How long is this expected to be?
Minister:
I think the Chair of the IWC, Mr. Hogarth, has stated that his image of the review is a period of one to two years, and for the Japanese Government it would be a period during which we could judge that the review process is moving towards normalization of the IWC. If it is judged that no progress at all is being made towards normalization, then the situation and discussions on the issue would be of a different nature.
Question:
If you stop once it probably becomes more difficult to restart. Do you have an exit strategy or similar notion in mind with regard to this point?
Minister:
That concerns how to position the entire matter, after the IWC begins to function properly. That is my way of thinking on this point.
Wherever you may be - be safe
