Sydney (dpa) – Three Australian anti-whaling activists slipped aboard a Japanese harpoon vessel and were being held there against their will, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society said Sunday. Sea Shepherd assisted the trio from fellow conservation group Forest Rescue to board the Shonan Maru 2 on Saturday when it was 25 kilometers off Australia's west coast. The Japanese vessel was in Australian waters to shadow the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin. Two small boats from the Steve Irwin came aside the Shonan Maru 2 so the protesters could board. “The boats approached the Shonan Maru under the cover of darkness and the three negotiated their way past the razor wire and spikes and over the rails to successfully board the Japanese whaling vessel,” Sea Shepherd said on its website. “They came with a message: Return us to shore in Australia and then remove yourself from our waters.” Forest Rescue also issued a statement on the Sea Shepherd website, declaring the action was to pressure the Australian government. “We are onboard this ship because our government has failed to uphold its pre-election promise to end whaling in the Southern Ocean,” it said. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/9QYZq Tags: Japan, Sea Shepherd, Whaling Section: Animals, Environment, Latest News, Oceana
