Crewmember of Farley Mowat describes tense situation as ship boarded, Canada

[Annces]

SYDNEY, N.S. — A crew member from the anti-sealing vessel "Farley Mowat " maintains Canadian authorities had no right to seize the ship Saturday as it was in international waters beyond the 12-mile nautical limit. David Jonas, a New Hampshire resident, described a tense scene to the Canadian Press early Sunday after being released from custody in Sydney, N.S. An RCMP tactical squad boarded the ship around midday Saturday while in the Cabot Strait - the body of water between Cape Breton and Newfoundland.

"We were placed under arrest, forced to lie down on the deck," Jonas said as heavily-armed officers stormed the vessel from one boat, which he said was accompanied by two coast guard ships. "We were then escorted to the stern of the ship, and kept under armed guard." Jonas claims later, some of his shipmates were handcuffed once aboard the Canadian coast guard vessel Des Groseilliers, which brought them to port in Sydney late Saturday evening. Jonas claims all of the 17 or so crew members were originally arrested and told they'd be charged with violating Canada's sealing laws.

However, once on shore, he said they were told charges were being dropped against all but the captain and chief officer. About six crew mates are still being detained as they refused to pass through immigration and customs checks, Jonas claimed. "Half of us have denied that opportunity, and will be interned," Jonas stated. "It's clearly an unusual circumstance for all involved." Jonas and the crew maintain Canada had no legal grounds to detain them. "They were brought to Canada against their will, Canada did not have a right to board us and bring us to Sydney. We were in international waters," Jonas argued. "We're a Dutch-registered vessel and had the right of free passage."

The captain and chief officer have a court appearance in Sydney Sunday morning at 10 a.m. local time, and Jonas and crew intend to be in attendance to show support. Until they're released, the crew is going on a hunger strike, Jonas added.

Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn said Saturday the ship's captain and chief officer were arrested for allegedly violating Canada's marine mammal regulations and the Fisheries Act. He said those charges were related to a high-seas confrontation in the Gulf of St. Lawrence between the Farley Mowat and a coast guard icebreaker two weeks ago. Hearn insisted at an Ottawa news conference the Mowat was seized legally in Canada's "internal waters," without providing the specific location of the seizure.

Last week, the Fisheries department brought forward charges alleging the Farley Mowat's captain, Alexander Cornelissen, and First Officer Peter Hammarstedt broke rules that prohibit anyone without a valid observation licence from coming within 900 metres of the seal hunt.

Alex Cornelissen, Captain Farley Mowat



Cornelissen is also charged under the Fisheries Act with obstruction or hindrance of a Fishery Officer or inspector.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hXXWauq4oFuL6Onn8_2On0Eqhpyw

RadioNetherlands coverage

Ottowa - The Canadian Coast Guard has detained a ship belonging to the environmental action group Sea Shepherd. The ship, the Forley Mowat, which sails under the Dutch flag, was lying off the coast of Canada to observe a seal hunt. According to the Coast Guard, the ship was in Canadian waters and posed a threat to the safety of seal hunters.

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/5731895/Canada-detains-activist-ship

[SteinbachMB]

1. It's good to see Canada

put the FM on ice.

[JohnyCanuck]

2. Farley Mowat posed a threat to the safety of seal hunters?

How many seal hunters have the crew of the Farley Mowat killed?

The Canadian coast guard has managed to drown 4 of them.

[Annces]

3. Right

They have a picture documenting the Farley Mowat going away from a fishing boat and a good distance away. Ridiculous.