Two protestors from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society jumped on a Japanese harpoon vessel in Antarctic waters and make the crew standstill for two days. Later the Australian officials resolve the face off by picking up the two activists, an Australian named Benjamin Potts, 28, and another Briton, Giles Lane, 35.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith informed that the two protestors would send back to their anti-whaling vessels soon after the details could be arranged. Paul Watson told Australian Broadcasting Corp that he wants to get these activists back. According to Smith the two sides have traded accusations of piracy and terrorism after the activists boarded the Japanese vessel. Smith appeals both the sides to allow a safe transfer of the pair.
According to Japanese officials they sent ships to Antarctica to kill minke and fin whales under a programme that skirts an international moratorium on commercial whaling. They even said that their attempts to contact sea Shepherd to return of the activists had failed and thus accused the anti-whaling society of dragging the dispute to create cheap publicity.
Hideki Moronuki, a spokesman for the Japanese Fisheries Agency’s whaling section, said that it is certainly impossible to hand over the two trespassers back to sea shepherd directly. But Smith countered that Australian official return them back as the two activists cooperated. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd urged both the sides to restraint and full cooperation to ensure the safe return of these activists.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare accuses Japan of carrying illegal sell of whale meat under the garb of scientific research.
