Harpoon just misses protesters

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http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/01/15/whalers.greenpeace.clash.reut/index.\

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Harpoon just misses protesters

 

Sunday, January 15, 2006; Posted: 7:24 a.m. EST (12:24 GMT)

 

 

Crew members inspect damage to the bow of the Arctic Sunrise after a collision

on January 8. YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS

 

CANBERRA, Australia (Reuters) -- A Japanese whaling harpoon narrowly missed an

inflatable boat carrying environmental protesters, causing one to fall into the

freezing sea, as both sides warn their face-off is becoming increasingly

dangerous.

 

The Greenpeace vessel Arctic Sunrise has been shadowing the Japanese whaling

fleet for several weeks in an attempt to disrupt Japan's annual whale hunt,

prompting a heated exchange on January 8 when the Greenpeace ship and a Japanese

ship collided.

 

In the latest incident on Saturday, the harpoon came within a meter of the

inflatable boat as it tried to shield a minke whale, the environmental group

said.

 

The harpoon's trailing line knocked one activist into the sea. He scrambled back

aboard the boat without injury.

 

Greenpeace expedition leader Shane Rattenbury said the whalers were taking more

risks to fill their catch in Antarctic waters south of Australia.

 

" There is definitely an increasing level of tensions down here, and the

harpooners are certainly starting to take shots that perhaps a week or two weeks

ago they would not have taken, " Rattenbury told Sky television.

 

" Yesterday took it to a new level -- we are very concerned about that, " he said,

adding the incident might force Greenpeace to review its tactics.

 

But Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research in Tokyo said it was Greenpeace that

was taking more risks to remain in the media spotlight.

 

Institute chief Hiroshi Hatanaka said in a statement Greenpeace put its

inflatable boat dangerously close to the bow of the whaling vessel when the

harpooner fired.

 

" Our harpooner had a clear shot and took it. The strike was perfect, and the

whale was killed instantly, " he said.

 

" The fact that the rope fell onto their inflatable and one of the activists fell

into the water is entirely their fault. We are also concerned that they tried to

cut the line because it makes it more dangerous for them. "

 

Australia, a strong opponent of Japan's whaling program, has refused to

intervene by sending navy ships to monitor the whaling and protests.

 

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said last week Australia sympathized with the

protesters, but said they had to make sure their protest was peaceful and did

not endanger anyone.

 

Copyright 2006 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published,

broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

 

 

 

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