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Dolphin photos 'hung on Japanese graves'

Posted August 27, 2009 15:16:00
Updated August 27, 2009 15:42:00

The locked gates of Broome's Japanese Cemetery, moments after Broome locals with Japanese heritage put a chain and padlock on the entrance.

The cemetery was locked after photos of dolphins were placed over graves. (ABC Local: Ben Collins)

Anger in the West Australian town of Broome over its sister city's annual dolphin cull has led to an attack on a Japanese cemetery.

The Shire of Broome last week voted to suspend its sister city relationship with Taiji, where environmentalists say more than 20,000 dolphins are killed each year.

Councillors of Japanese heritage have since been bombarded with hate mail.

Shire president Graeme Campbell says tensions are mounting.

"I'm absolutely peeved that there's a certain element in this town who are, in my opinion, inciting racist activities," he said.

Mr Campbell says opponents of the cull last night hung pictures of dolphins over graves in the Japanese cemetery.

"That's just further rubbing the nose in of people who are absolutely grief-stricken with the actions taken by ourselves," he said.

"It doesn't need to be further fuelled by irresponsible behaviour from a minority of people who shouldn't be living in this town."

The shire says the sister city relationship will resume if the dolphin cull stops.

Tags: environment, endangered-and-protected-species, government-and-politics, local-government, australia, wa, broome-6725, japan

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