An activist uses ropes to climb on board the ship which transports live sheep.
Courtesy of ABC News
Police have arrested animal rights protesters who boarded a live export ship at the port of Fremantle in Western Australia.
Around a dozen activists boarded the ship, Al Shuwaikh, under the cover of darkness to film what they say is animal cruelty.
Three protesters were locked onto the ship while another two attached themselves to the front gate of the port.
The Police Tactical Response Group worked to detach the activists.
One of the protesters, Cameron Johnson, says they are calling for the live sheep export trade to be halted.
“The damage that’s been done, the cruelty that’s been perpetrated overseas starts here,” he said.
“What we are trying to highlight and raise awareness about is that it’s not just overseas that these animals are being mistreated, as is evidenced by the videos we’re seeing coming out of the ports that they’re destined to go to, it’s actually the cruelty starting here in Australia.
“We’re complicit in what’s going on with these animals and we need to take greater responsibility for their welfare.”
Police attempt to cut free two protesters chained to a gate at Fremantle port.
Police have arrested nine protesters; six people were charged with trespass and three were charged with offenses relating to unathorised access.
One of the men attempted to escape by jumping overboard into the harbour but he was caught and charged.
The Western Australian Farmers Federation’s Jeff Murray has condemned their actions, saying measures are in place to protect animal welfare.
“To be disrupted by these radicals is very disappointing,” he said.
“We all rely heavily on the live export trade in Western Australia and the Federal Government has put in place all the hoops to jump through.
“At the end of the day, we’re on the other side of the water, we’re a long way away from where all the action is taking place but, I think, with the monitoring that’s in place I’m sure we’ve got as good a thing in place as we can get.”
Mr Johnson says, however, they are highlighting the cruelty of the live sheep trade.
“What we’re trying to do is point out that these animals could be slaughtered in Australia, creating jobs in Australia, for Australians rather than sending them overseas and dealing with all the unpleasantness that happens to these animals; cruelty, basically,” he said.
Mr Johnson claimed to be acting on behalf of Animals Australia but the animal welfare organisation has denied any connection to the group and says the protest was not organised by them.
Police have set up a barricade to allow the loading of sheep to continue.
Thanks Doc for the info I am re-blogging and sharing all I can
“Radicals”? In one of the American circuses, it is not against the law to have elephants boarded up on the train for 14 plus hours, and it happens regularly. My counter adjectives, inhumane, criminal, and cruel. A repeat of slave history. But who takes the fall, the animals and those speaking out…
I am so very proud of these activists! They have been tagged as extremists. If that is the case then 80% of the Australian public are extremists because 80% of Australians want this cruel trade to end. This is a cause that I am also working very hard for. The animals do not cope with the journey by sea, the temperature changes and the stress. Many of the sheep do not recognise the pellets given as food and they starve to death. This is before they even reach their destination where, despite government assurance saying otherwise, they will probably be treated cruelly and without respect before being slaughtered. The Australian government only care about dollars. They have no ethics at all. The are treating these poor animals like bags of money and my heart bleeds for them.
I don’t think there’s any “respect” for animals destined for slaughter… Although the thousand miles of transport is additional torture and it would be fine by me if the operation of shipping to kill elsewhere was shut down completely.
It’s sad but true that most Australians would rather the murders be conducted on home ground thus keeping the profits in local hands. Everyone wants a piece of the butcher’s pie, doncha know.
Still I’m glad there are those who are making it just a bit harder for these vile operations to function smoothly. Enough grains of sand can break down any machine. Pour it on.
The only time I have ever been ashamed of the Australian flag was when I saw it displayed on a live export company vehicle here in Western Australia, a company that has been associated with accusations of animal cruelty. The protesters who have the guts to board the vessels make me proud again – protesting for what is right.
Bravo to these activists!!! Australia is the world’s largest exporter of Live Exports. This means it is
the world’s largest exporter of animal cruelty. The majority of Australians want an end to this evil
trade. Animals are shipped to countries which have no animal welfare laws, and once they leave
our shores there is no way to protect them from horrific mistreatment.
Activists all over Australia are fighting day and night to stop Live Exports, and we have
vowed not to stop until this barbaric trade has ended. It is Australia’s shame, and our duty to fight
until Live Exports are history.
i am ashamed of these people…they do this and they believe it is better to kill these animals in Australia because in other countries(most probably islamic countries) they kill animals worse …if you board on a ship, if all that you can come up with is to apologize for what you have done which is what Mr Johnson does here, then you are a moron. They don’t want animal exploitation to stop, they just want it to continue in a modern world, in a more “humane” way. They have never read anything about animal liberation, never thought about it seriously. they have the guts to board on a ship but no balls to set it on fire..
This is disgusting. Our sheep are treated like criminals and not living breathing beautiful feeling animals. It’s Australia’s shame for sure.
Live exports are so terribly cruel. What are we, human or what?