日澳捕鯨衝突大辯論 澳洲司法部長將親自出庭 | 環境資訊中心
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日澳捕鯨衝突大辯論 澳洲司法部長將親自出庭

2013年05月06日
摘譯自2013年5月1日ENS澳洲,坎培拉報導;姜唯編譯;蔡麗伶審校

澳洲司法部長Mark Dreyfus向議會簡報,總理Julia Gillard在席聆聽(照片由總檢察長辦公室提供)。澳洲控告日本捕鯨案,海牙國際法庭將在6月26日起舉行為期三周的聽證會。澳洲司法部長德雷富斯(Mark Dreyfus)將在聽證會上代表澳洲進行辯論。

「很高興國際法院公佈了聽證會日期。 」德雷富斯說,「澳洲希望此類屠殺儘快結束。我們將在法庭上一勞永逸解決這個問題。日本的捕鯨狩獵並非用於科學目的,是違反國際法的。」

2010年5月31日,澳洲在國際法院對日本提出訴訟,質疑日本在南極海的「科學」捕鯨計劃合法性,由總檢察署負責進行此次訴訟。

國際法庭已收到雙方提交的書面意見。

「澳洲政府提起的訴訟案,隨著聽證會日期確定,將進入尾聲。」德雷富斯表示,「口頭聽證會已是法律程序的最後階段,接下來法院將會做出判決。」

澳洲指出,日本捕鯨艦隊在國際水域進行所謂的「科學研究」,包括澳洲政府視為鯨魚保護區的澳洲海上搜救區。

日本不承認此說法。雖然全球已於1986年禁止商業捕鯨,日本仍主張其在該地區進行「致命性研究」的權利受到國際捕鯨委員會的保障。

在商業捕鯨禁令生效後,仍有超過30,000頭鯨遭到殺害。

根據國際捕鯨公約,「締約政府對本國國民為科學研究的目的而對鯨進行捕獲、擊殺和加工處理,可按該政府認為適當的限制數量,得發給特別許可證。按本條款的規定對鯨的捕獲、擊殺和加工處理,均不受本公約的約束。」

日本捕鯨船日新丸號在南極海域(照片由日本鯨類研究所提供)。日本政府在1987~1988年間開始核發南極捕鯨特別許可,一直持續至今。

日本捕鯨的原因包括「測量南半球小鬚鯨數量管理所需之生物參數」和「釐清鯨魚在南極海洋生態系統之作用」。

為期18年的南極研究狩獵許可證在2005年到期後,新的16年「JARPA II」計劃又開始了。新的狩獵許可證准許捕殺多達935頭小鬚鯨 - 是過去每年准許捕殺數量的兩倍 - 以及每年50頭座頭鯨和50頭長鬚鯨。

目前日本已停止獵捕座頭鯨。

「澳洲對捕鯨的看法眾所周知。」環境部長勃克(Tony Burke)說,「我們譴責所有的商業捕鯨,包括日本所謂的『科學』捕鯨。」「澳洲政府決定採取法律行動,表達我們終止商業捕鯨的決心。」

澳洲外交部長卡爾(Bob Carr)表示,澳洲的反捕鯨立場不會損害澳洲和日本之間的關係。他指出「澳洲和日本已有共識,對捕鯨的分歧立場不會影響兩國之間穩固的雙邊關係。」「國際法庭將是適當的論壇,讓兩國可以冷靜客觀地解決分歧。」

將與司法部長一同出席的顧問團還包括檢察長Justin Gleeson、Bill Campbell、James Crawford教授、Philippe Sands教授和Laurence Boisson de Chazournes教授。

德雷富斯表示,澳洲政府希望國際法院能在下一個捕鯨季節開始前,宣布日本捕鯨合法性之裁決。

Australia’s Top Attorney to Argue Japan Whaling Case
CANBERRA, Australia, May 1, 2013 (ENS)

Australian Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus will argue Australia's whaling case against Japan in a three week hearing before the International Court of Justice in the Hague beginning on June 26.

"I welcome the announcement of the International Court of Justice hearing date," said Dreyfus. "Australia wants this slaughter to end. We will now have our day in court to establish, once and for all, that Japan's whaling hunt is not for scientific purposes and is against international law."

On May 31, 2010, Australia commenced proceedings against Japan in the International Court of Justice, challenging the legality of Japan's program of "scientific" whaling in the Southern Ocean. The Attorney-General's Department has primary responsibility for conducting this litigation.

The International Court of Justice has received written submissions from both parties.

"The fixing of the date sets up the final stage in this case brought by the Australian Government," Dreyfus said. "The oral hearings are the last phase of legal proceedings before the Court makes its decision."

Australia says the Japanese whaling fleet conducts "scientific research" in international waters that include an Australian maritime rescue zone that Canberra regards as a whale sanctuary.

Japan does not recognize that claim, and says its right to conduct "lethal research" in the area is protected by the International Whaling Commission, despite a global moratorium on commercial whaling that took effect in 1986.

Nevertheless, more than 30,000 whales have been killed since the moratorium came into effect.

The IWC regulations state, "…any Contracting Government may grant to any of its nationals a special permit authorizing that national to kill, take and treat whales for purposes of scientific research subject to such restrictions as to number and subject to such other conditions as the Contracting Government thinks fit, and the killing, taking, and treating of whales in accordance with the provisions of this Article shall be exempt from the operation of this Convention."

Japan began its Antarctic special permit whaling in 1987/88 and has continued to date.

Reasons given for the hunt include "estimate of the biological parameters required ofr the stock management of the souther hemisphere minke whale" and the "elucidation of the role of whales in the antacrctic marine ecosystem."

The original 18-year research permit for the antarctic hunt expired in 2005 and a new 16-year program, JARPA II, was developed with a permit to kill up to 935 minke whales – more than double the previous number – plus 50 humpback whales and 50 fin whales each year.

To date, Japan has refrained from taking humpback whales.

"Australia's views on whaling are well known – we condemn all commercial whaling, including Japan's so-called ‘scientific' whaling," said Environment Minister Tony Burke.

"The Australian Government's decision to bring this legal action demonstrates our determination to end commercial whaling," said Burke.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Bob Carr said Australia's whaling case does not undermine the relationship between Australia and Japan.

"Australia and Japan have agreed that our differences over whaling will not affect the strong bilateral relationship we share," said Carr. "The International Court of Justice is the appropriate forum to resolve these differences in a calm and measured way."

Counsel appearing in the case with the attorney-general will include Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson, Bill Campbell, Professor James Crawford, Professor Philippe Sands and Professor Laurence Boisson de Chazournes.

Dreyfus said the Australian Government hopes the Court will deliver its decision on the legality of Japan's whaling before the start of the next whaling season.

※ 全文及圖片詳見:ENS

作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.