Russia regrets fisherman's death, but blames Japan, crew

[acmejack]

MOSCOW, August 16 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Foreign Ministry expressed deep regret over the death of a Japanese fisherman Wednesday, but said Japanese authorities and the fishermen themselves were responsible for the incident.

A row broke out between Moscow and Tokyo after Russia shot dead a Japanese crewmember on a fishing vessel allegedly poaching in Russian territorial waters.

"The Russian Foreign Ministry deeply regrets the death of one of the crew members," the ministry said in a statement.

Japan said a Russian patrol boat opened fire on the vessel at about 2:25 a.m. Moscow time (10:25 p.m. GMT), killing one man aboard. Russian officials said the vessel was suspected of illegally fishing for valuable crab in Russian territorial waters, and that border guards had fired warning shots only after it refused to stop.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060816/52706141.html

[uppityperson]

1. I was skeptical, but this line stood out from article

"The violators tried to escape, engaging in dangerous maneuvers and trying to ram the patrol boat when officers tried to board the vessel for inspection," it said.

[Kagemusha]

4. They wouldn't be the first fishermen to do that.

If that's what they did mind you. But a lot of fishermen globally, would.

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. Japanese vessel had entered Russian waters without identification markings

.
.
.

the Japanese vessel had entered Russian waters without identification markings, the Japanese vessel had entered Russian waters without identification markings, and that 30 kilograms of crab and 10 kilos of octopus was found on board. Russian diplomatic officials confirmed earlier reports that the crewmen had been throwing the catch overboard as they fled the coastal patrol.

The Russian coast guard in the Far East said that warning shots had been fired at the Kisshin maru 31, but said the ship could have been hit inadvertently as the result of rough seas.

/snip/

It is the third such incident for the Kisshin maru 31. It was involved in confrontations with the Russian coast guard in 1988 and 1994.
_________________________________________________________________

I'd say the fishermen were asking for trouble.

They KNEW better.

[acmejack]

3. The Japanese have moved into second in Military spending

[Ragin_mad]

5. And what does this have to do

with crab fishing in Russian waters ?

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. hmmm, - - I'm not sure, but it IS worth thinking about . . .

.
.
.

Think USA strategy, of which Japan is an ally



Japan and Russia, NOT an ally of the US, have been disputing some islands in the area for SIX DECADES

USA just loves to latch onto some feeble excuse to attack another country

Sumthing to think about methinks . . .