Source:
Sydney Morning Herald...Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said a deal struck with the Japanese government still stood and the government was working towards the release of Sea Shepherd protesters Benjamin Potts, from Australia, and Briton Giles Lane.
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The whalers have agreed to give the pair up providing the protesters agree to logistical terms of release and conditions prohibiting them from taking any violent action against the Yushin Maru or filming the harpoon ship.
But Ms Gillard said the men's release must be unconditional, locking the parties in a stalemate as the pair enter their third day held captive.
"We clearly say that that safe return must happen without any conditions," Ms Gillard told ABC radio.
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Mr Watson has said he would do whatever it takes to prevent a Japanese vessel from taking two captured crewmen to Tokyo.
"I am not going to allow them to take them back to Japan and put them on trial for piracy," Watson said via satellite phone from his ship, the Steve Irwin.
"We have an obligation to get our people back one way or the other.
"We haven't got a plan yet, but we might have to make one, if the Australian government or the British government aren't going to help to get their citizens back then we have to do something," Watson said.
Read more:
http://news.smh.com.au/activists-must-be-freed-gillard/20080117-1mfc.html
It's getting interesting. Watson threatening to take them back himself. What fun.