15 January 2008

Two Sea Shepherd activists today illegally boarded the Japanese research vessel Yushin Maru No. 2 in the Antarctic and were immediately taken into custody.

The two men are being held in an office.

The Director General of the Institute of Cetacean Research, Mr Minoru Morimoto, said the men have not been harmed and were taken to a secure room.

“Any accusations that we have tied them up or assaulted them are completely untrue,” Mr Morimoto said. “It is illegal to board another country’s vessels on the high seas. As a result, at this stage, they are being held in custody while decisions are made on their future.”

The two boarded the Yushin Maru No. 2 after they made attempts to entangle the screw of the vessel using ropes and throwing bottles of acid onto the decks.

ENDS

(Photo of activists attached)

SEA SHEPHERD ACTIVISTS IN CUSTODY
SEA SHEPHERD ACTIVISTS IN CUSTODY (PDF Data)