Hunt Update from Sekiu

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===== A message from the 'makahwhaling' discussion list =====

 

FROM WASHINGTON CITIZEN'S COASTAL ALLIANCE

-------------------------------

 

May 3, and the unstable weather continues! Windy conditions, rain and rough

seas are preventing any hunting at this time, but the forecast is for more

favorable weather toward the end of this week.

 

A GOOD MORNING to:

 

-Former Makah police chief Svenson, who has stopped by several times to peer

at the ODI vessel 'Avocet' (nice Jeep, Eric!),

-The Neah Bay harbormaster, who just HAS to keep an eye on us,

-To our many visitors from the US Coast Guard and other federal agencies,

who just can't seem to get enough of trying to sneak in to take pictures and

generally spy on everyone!

-And of course, we always enjoy the cars full of Neah Bay kids that like to

drive by and shout obscenities.

 

Still needed: AirTouch prepaid cellular phone cards!!! Buy one! Send the

code number on the back of the card to dano Help us out on

this one, folks!

*****

 

 

 

FROM WORLD WHALE POLICE

------------------

ANTI-WHALING CAMPAIGN, MAKAH GRAY WHALE HUNT

SPRING, 2000

 

The World Whale Police had been on patrol since March 31st until the United

States Coast Guard rammed and destroyed our vessel Tiger on April 17, 2000.

On the rare occasion we were unable to venture onto the water due to severe

weather conditions, we patrolled by land to assess the status of the canoes,

Coast Guard vessels and the NMFS observation boat.

 

On the morning of April 17th, as we approached what is referred to as the

'gap', which is the pass between Tatoosh Island and Cape Flattery, we came

upon the alternate Makah whaling canoe. It was being towed toward the

hunting waters by a Makah trawler, with 8 crew aboard and a harpoon visible

in the bow. It was obvious that this would be the first day of gray whale

hunting this year. We went on full alert, and called over the VHF radio (as

our cell phone did not get signal) for any individuals on the reservation

who are concerned about whales being killed to call the media immediately

and alert them that the hunt had begun.

 

We stayed with the canoe and monitored its activity, and proceeded in our

traditional non-violent, non-confrontational manner as we have since the

beginning of the gray whale hunt. They continued to tow the canoe and crew

about Makah Bay, the northern area of the hunting water. At this point we

observed the large coast guard boat 'Osprey' and a Coast Guard helicopter

monitoring the scene from above. While watching the Coast Guard

helicopter, we observed it moving from our location due south, past the

Point of Arches. Since there was no flag on this canoe and no orange

CoastGuard hard shell safe boats present, we suspected that there may be

other hunting activity below Point of Arches.

 

We proceeded south towards the Point of Arches to investigate. The

visibility was poor due to fog. As we moved around the reef off of Point of

Arches we immediately found ourselves being assaulted by the Coast Guard

safe boats and saw some activity off in the distance. Before we could

assess what the activity in the distance was, the Coast Guard boats began to

drive erratically back and forth in front of us, causing an unsafe situation

on the water. Captain Bill Moss managed to avoid collision with these

boats on numerous occasions. One of the boats rammed us at a right angle on

the port side. Their boat landed on top of 'Tiger,' collapsing the roof and

injuring co-pilot Julie Woodyer. Moss put the boat in neutral and had words

with the Coast Guard crew that had just hit us. He indicated that he had

injured crew and that there was damage to the boat. When the Coast Guard

refused to stand off while we assessed the damage, it became evident to us

that our lives were in jeopardy and we began to move to a safe place to

assess the damage.

 

As we moved off we were rammed again by a 41' Coast Guard boat that damaged

the hull and knocked the co-pilot seat loose as well as breaking windows in

the boat, causing further injury to Julie. It became evident that they

would

kill us to stop 'Tiger.' We never did see the canoe with the flag that

would be the center point of the Moving Exclusionary Zone (MEZ). Bill was

arrested, while Julie was removed on a medical basket used in medical

emergencies. We were taken back to the Neah Bay Coast Guard station. Bill

was then taken to Clallam County jail and charged with willfully and

knowingly entering the Moving Exclusionary Zone (MEZ), and Julie was taken

back to Sekiu by a Clallam County sheriff deputy. Julie was treated at

Olympic Memorial Hospital in Port Angeles for head and back injuries later

that day. 'Tiger' was towed back to Neah Bay and subsequently to the Coast

Guard station in Port Angeles, where is is being held as evidence.

 

Bill was released the following day with restrictions, including not

entering the Makah reservation and not entering the MEZ. But the story does

not end here.

 

Bill was scheduled to appear in federal court in Tacoma on April 28th for a

pre-trial hearing to determine if there was enough evidence to indict him.

In order to bypass the pre-trial, where evidence would have been provided on

both sides, the US government opted to call a grand jury on April 27th to

indict Bill. As a result of this, Bill's lawyer was not able to rebut any

of the statements made in the charges. Instead Bill was forced to move

straight to

a plea. NOT GUILTY, of course.

 

And still the story doesn't end.

 

There are rumors that the World Whale Police may be back on the water soon.

Go figure!

 

We will continue our efforts to keep whales from being killed. We are in

desperate need of funds for equipment, fuel, medical, air touch cell phone

(the only one we can get signal on off shore), video equipment (ours was

broken in the collision), legal expertise and a computer. If you can help

us in any way, we would very grateful.

 

You can reach us here is Sekiu until the end of the hunting season (approx.

May 31) at:

 

Telephone: (360) 963-0717

Cell phone: (360) 561-7492

Mailing address: P.O. Box 94

Sekiu, WA

98381

E-mail: worldwhalepolice

 

Special thanks to all of you who have helped us out with fuel and food

donations as well as our good friends at Ocean Defense International who are

currently on patrol daily protecting the whales. And an extra special

thanks to all those on the reservation who called the media out of concerns

for the whales.

 

Bill & Julie

*****

 

 

 

FROM OCEAN DEFENSE INTERNATIONAL

---------------------------

May 1, 2000

 

Ocean Defense International is still stationed on the Olympic Peninsula,

actively monitoring the situation revolving around the Makah whale hunt. We

have been on patrol on water or land, monitoring the situation in Neah Bay.

Due to poor weather conditions, the action has died

down and things have been pretty quiet. However, we will remain in the area

until the whales have safely migrated north. Recent reports from various

independents researching the gray whale migration report that the

peak of the migration has passed through. The National Marine Fisheries

Service disagrees with this, although we all are aware that they are biased

toward the whalers. At this time the migration is primarily mothers and

calves,

and pregnant mothers. Although Keith Johnson said they were going to " get a

big one " this year, their one attempt at a whale much smaller than their 32

foot canoe proves otherwise. With the recent migration status, we expect

more of the same in the future.

 

A big thanks to everyone who has stopped by during Saturday protests, and

those that have donated food. It has helped us a lot and we are set for a

couple weeks. Right now we are in desperate need of fuel funds to keep us

going on the

water. We are just about breaking even - and we need your help to continue.

Feel free to donate with a credit card by calling 360.963.2311 or sending

donations to us at:

 

Ocean Defense International

PO Box 123

Sekiu, WA 98381

 

We are an all volunteer, grassroots organization and all funds and donations

go directly to running the campaign. Without public support, we would not

be able to run. For more information visit http://www.stopwhalekill.org

*****

 

 

 

MOST HORRIBLY WORDED POLL OF THE WEEK

---------------------------

 

" DO YOU THINK ANTI-WHALING PROTESTORS HAVE A MORAL RIGHT TO INTERRUPT LEGAL

WHALING PRACTISES BY NATIVE AMERICANS? "

 

BEST RESULT TO THE SAME POLL

-----------------------

(54%) YES

(41%) NO

(3%) MAYBE

(Vancouver Sun)

*****

 

 

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