Boarding plan hatched in secret by activists
The plan to board the Japanese security ship Shonan Maru 2 was hatched during a secret meeting in Fremantle on Friday afternoon between members of Sea Shepherd and Forest Rescue Australia.
It also emerged the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling vessel Steve Irwin bluffed the Japanese vessel by saying it had fake engine troubles on Saturday evening, allowing two inflatable boats to pick up the three activists and anchor near the Shonan Maru No. 2 without being detected.
An 8-10m boat carrying the three men - Geoffrey Tuxworth, Simon Peterffy and Glen Pendlebury - left Fremantle at midday Saturday.
After a brief stopover at Rottnest, the boat continued towards its rendezvous with crew from the Steve Irwin. "Some of our crew members with experience in boarding the Japanese ships met them in two of our inflatable boats in waters off Bunbury," Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson said.
"We (The Steve Irwin) stopped, called in that we were having engine trouble and also posted that on our website, because we know the Japanese monitor our website.
"Our vessel was 12 miles away, and I think being boarded was the last thing the Japanese thought would happen.
"It was total darkness on that ship and they had to climb around razor wire, we also know they carry military equipment."
Forest Rescue Australia spokeswoman Amy Flee said the three men were well aware of the risks involved when they volunteered.
"They knew full well that they would probably be arrested," she said.
Mr Peterffy's friend and former housemate, Forest Rescue secretary Yvette Jennings, said details of the audacious protest were kept quiet, even from those within the Bunbury-based group.
"Given our experience with CHOGM, during which our house was raided, this latest action was all kept very silent," she said.
Forest Rescue shot to prominence in 2008 when, led by Mr Peterffy, its members set up camp in the Chester forest in the South West in a successful bid to stop native timber logging.
Since then its members have been arrested numerous times for various "non-violent direct actions".
By 2011 they had become professional protesters. Last November, four Forest Rescue members were dubbed a security risk and banned from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth.
Ms Jennings said she was confident the trio would be able to handle the situation well.
"They won't give the Japanese aggression or back-chat," she said. "This will all be over soon.
"Non-violent direct action is a huge passion for Simon."
ALSTON *
16
