Anti-whaling Kiwi pair in fracas outside Tokyo court

Father-and-son anti-whaling protesters from Auckland clashed with right-wing Japanese yesterday outside the court where Pete Bethune is being tried.

The two New Zealanders pulled out a large, black Sea Shepherd flag bearing a white skull and yelled, "Free Pete, free Pete," outside the Tokyo District Court.

Members of the right-wing Japanese group the Society to Seek Restoration of Sovereignty, who have been protesting against Bethune for the duration of the trial, screamed, pushed and lunged at the pair as police officers tried to hold them at bay.

"Terrorists; criminals - go home!" yelled one Japanese protester as he tried to use his megaphone as a batteringram.

Gary Thomason and his son Robert, from Auckland, were moved away by Japanese authorities.

They told the Herald they had gone to Japan to show solidarity for Bethune.

Gary Thomason said: "It's a personal issue for New Zealanders; New Zealand prides itself on its environment and wildlife and respect for other countries and traditions."

Bethune boarded the whaling vessel the Shonan Maru 2 in February. He has admitted trespass, possessing a weapon, damage to property and obstructing commercial activity - charges which carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

But it is believed the prosecution is seeking only 2 to three years.

Yesterday was the final day of the evidential section of the trial and Bethune testified and was cross-examined.

He denied a charge of assault, saying rancid butter stinkbombs he threw at Japanese ships were no more acidic than orange juice.

Prosecutors told the court a rancid butter, or butyric acid, stinkbomb caused chemical burns to the face of a 24-year-old Japanese crew member during a February 11 clash and also hurt the eyes of other whalers.