Japan says will raise acid attack at whale meet

AFP, March, 2008

TOKYO (AFP) — Japan on Tuesday lashed out at conservation activists who attacked its whaling fleet and said it would raise the incident at this week's meeting of the deadlocked International Whaling Commission.

The Sea Shepherd group, which has vowed to use all means necessary to stop the killing of whales, threw acid and other projectiles at the whalers' main ship Monday, slightly injuring three crew and coast guard members.

Japan then summoned the ambassadors of Australia, the main opponent of its whaling and where the Sea Shepherd boat last docked, and the Netherlands, where the US-based environmental group's vessel is registered.

"It's not permissible to use violence to try to force through one's opinion," Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura told reporters.

Transport Minister Tetsuzo Fuyushiba added: "We can't forgive this. We need to make due protests."

Japan will seek to raise the issue when ...