Dutch environmental activist Erwin Vermeulen has been charged with assault by the Public Prosecutor in Japan. On Thursday the trial of Sea Shepherd activist Vermeulen started in Wakayama.
Mr Vermeulen was arrested on 16 December 2011 and charged with assault by the Japanese police. He is said to have pushed a Japanese hotel employee while taking photos of the transport of captured dolphins. Together with volunteers from Sea Shepherd Mr Vermeulen was trying to thwart attempts to hunt and kill dolphins.
Erwin Vermeulen has now become a trump card in the dispute between Japan and the Netherlands about whaling, according to Geert Vons, who heads Sea Shepherd. Sea Shepherd’s ships are registered in the Netherlands and every year when the whale hunt starts Japan complains to the Netherlands about environmental activists hindering its whale hunters.
“It could well be that the Japanese authorities are so annoyed that they want to set a precedent. Maybe they feel nobody is listening to them, or they feel a bit humiliated. I’m not sure, but it must be something like that.”
Dutch government looks on
Geert Vons thinks Japan’s reaction is out of all proportion to the alleged incident, which he regards as merely a push.
“The charges were only clearly stated on Saturday. Erwin is being treated like a notorious criminal. He is not allowed any contact with the outside world, or any letters. It is a very, very sad story. I had also expected more support for a Dutch national from the Dutch government.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Uri Rosenthal doesn’t want to interfere in the case, as he believes there will be a fair trial. However, a representative of the Dutch consulate is attending the trial in Wakayama.
The foreign ministry is also trying to make sure Vermeulen’s visa doesn’t expire before the end of the trial, as this would mean he could be additionally charged for being in Japan illegally.
Summoning Japanese ambassador
The Animal Rights Party says Mr Rosenthal is not doing enough and wants a debate about the issue in the Lower House. According to one of the party's two MPs, Esther Ouwehand, Japan has a reputation for arresting activists who it regards as “hindering” whale hunts for political reasons. Ouwehand wants Rosenthal to summon the Japanese ambassador.
Hunting whales and dolphins is legal in Japan. The meat may be sold for human consumption. Some of these mammals are caught alive and sold to dolphinariums all over the world.
Geert Vons thinks it might take the court some time to reach a verdict. He says Erwin Vermeulen could be facing a conditional sentence of two years, or a large fine.
(hs/as/tf)
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There are certainly some sickos out there who would love nothing more than to see an innocent man put away. Pout away boys...revel in your sickness. Your seal hunt got smashed to bits, you need to get over it and live with NOT smashing in the heads of baby seals anymore. Hank, you seem to have a fettish here...please, you really need to stop stalking Paul Watson.
You sad people keep regurgitating Watson's spin...an innocent man.
Were you there? Do you know the real facts? NO. You weren't there. And you are relying on the "facts" according to Paul Watson, a pathologival liar.
Erwin IS guilty of certain transgressions of Japanese law. Your "fearless" leader Paul Watson knows this.
You are acting like the people you purport to criticise - unless you are otherwise able to personally and professionally examine Mr.Watson then you are in no position to make such a silly and unfounded accusation such as ' pathological liar".
This only draws attention to your own lack of debating skill.
And you sir are sadly drawing attention to your own lack of intelligence.
Firstly, I'm not purporting to criticise...I AM criticising. Paul Watson has lied on numerous occasions in the past. In fact he boasts of it himself, referring to it by the quaint little euphemism of the "art of deception". The diffence between my argument and the "people I criticise" is that I speak from a position of truth Mr Mark Byfield.
And you good sir are only drawing attention to your lack of intelligence, but I will overlook your inadequacy in this department just this once. We all know that Paul Watson has lied on several occasions..indeed he even boasts of it, calling it the "art of deception". What further evidence do you need Mr Byfield?
Well since you were there maybe you can tell us what happened since you know the real facts. Oh right you weren't... Your sinply relying on "facts" from a side known to exagerate, lie and condem the inicent for so called honor.
Last time I checked the trial isn't over so he hasn't been found guilty...
Maybe you need to stop "roaring" and listen for once. Unlike you I'm not relying on someone else's facts. Do I have to explain to you in mono-syllables or shall I use sock puppets? I said he's guilty of certain transgressions of Japanese law. I didn't say the justice system has found him guilty. Yet.
Thanks for the laugh. Repeating Paul Watson's lies doesn't make his lies true.
“There are certainly some sickos out there who would love nothing more than to see an innocent man put away.”
We don’t believe that he’s innocent. If you genuinely don’t comprehend that, then you’re the one who’s sick in the head.
Sea Shepherd is an organization every bit as criminal as the mafia. Vermeulen may well be innocent of the crime he’s being accused of at the moment, but he’s sure as heck not an innocent man.
“Pout away boys...revel in your sickness. Your seal hunt got smashed to bits, you need to get over it and live with NOT smashing in the heads of baby seals anymore.”
Really? Is that what Sea Shepherd is telling you guys? That’s hilarious. Canada still culls seals. In fact, despite the shrinking markets – for which you have HSUS and PETA much more to thank than Sea Shepherd – our quotas are bigger than ever. Sea Shepherd ran away with their tails between their legs after the RCMP paid the Farley Mowat a little visit in 2008.
Poor, desperate Japan. How low are you going to go before you realize that things like large whaling projects and gory dolphin slaughters are just more trouble than they're worth? It's time to cut your losses. Release this man and refrain from mocking your own court system any further.
I've reviewed the videos Paul Watsons claims show assault. Paul needs to review the law, but 'tis pointless cuz Paul spins it all to his favor. His people were NOT assaulted under the local laws.
As usual, Paul lies about everything, he BOASTS of practicing the Art of Deception, and he's paintin' here.
And don't let his exaggeration confuse you, Paul Watson is NO CAPTAIN, he hasn't been able to pass the exam, his ships are all registered as yachts to get around his inequity.
Nor was he shot, nor did his Ranger Rick badge nor epaulets stop anything.
The man is a cult leader, a criminal, a fraud and a con man.
Not only is SS a cult, they are inciting hatred and setting the cause backwards in Japan. And fatboy Watson then has the nerve to boast about how they "cut the dolphin kill in half last year". Yeah right....let me duck this low flying pig. The only way he will cut the dolphin kill in half is by wedging his fat ass into the rocks at the cove to stop the boats getting in.
Why do all the Sea Shepherd Society people start crying whenever they get arrested? They are in a foreign country breaking their laws.
Yes the SS do a lot of crying. Like the school bully who openly pushes around all the other kids in the playground, then cries to mum when one of them hits back. So now old Darth Watson and crew wail about an unjust japanese legal system! Wahhhh. Funny the legal system had been doling out the same brand of justice to it's own nationals for years but SS never complained about that did they? Reality check SS...you're in Japan. You're subject to Japanese law. Live with it.
Amnesty Internatioal has complained about it. The only reason SSCS hasn't is because it's a conservation orginization...
As much as I hate to say it, Erwin really did cause this himself. He shouldn't have shoved that guy - the Japanese were just looking for an excuse to crack down on the Cove Guardians and Erwin just handed it to them on a silver platter. Better to cut him loose now and support the rest of the Guardians there in Taiji.
Thank God I live in a country where there needs to be evidence of a crime before an arrest, and where you have rights to visitors while in jail and basic communications, and rights to not be freezing while held in jail for weeks. Japan is a backward country and falling further still. If you don't fear the radiation, you should fear their legal system. Boycott Japan and all their products until Erwin is released and the dolphin slaughter is ended. I hope the Dutch people will make a noise to their government officials and not let one of their best citizens get treated like this by Japan.
“Thank God I live in a country where there needs to be evidence of a crime before an arrest”
That’s not how it works, even in the US. You can be arrested on nothing more than suspicion or an accusation. Of course if there’s no evidence or good reason for suspicion then you’ll be released on your own recognizance pretty quickly, but the fact of the matter is, even in the US, you can be formally arrested based on just about nothing.
“and where you have rights to visitors while in jail and basic communications”
And this is different from Japan how?
“and rights to not be freezing while held in jail for weeks”
And this is relevant how?
“Boycott Japan and all their products until Erwin is released and the dolphin slaughter is ended.”
By all means do so. You’ll be hobbling yourselves much worse than the Japanese economy.
“I hope the Dutch people will make a noise to their government officials and not let one of their best citizens get treated like this by Japan.”
Since when does membership in a criminal organization make someone a good citizen?
Japan also has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Can you say that for your country? He committed a crime. If you don't want to do the time, don't commit the crime. So simple.
He aledgedlly pushed someone. In any other 1st world country that would mabye get you a fine, not 2 years in jail. The only reason Japan has such low crime rates is because they put you through hell so you will confess. They don't care if you did it or not.
The more convictions a Judge has under his belt in Japan, the more he furthers his/her career. The system is geared toward corruption in order to get ahead.
Free Erwin! In any other country this case would be thrown out of court for lack of evidence! It is nothing but he said she said! Even the anti-SSCS trolls cannot honestly think he could be rightfully charged for allegedly pushing someone.
“Free Erwin! In any other country this case would be thrown out of court for lack of evidence! It is nothing but he said she said!”
There were eyewitnesses, and the activists’ memory cards and hard drives were confiscated as evidence, so it’s at least a little bit more than “he said she said”.
A lot of countries will charge you with a crime, especially when the group you are with is notoriously known for being hoodlums. It is up to you to prove you didn't do it. If he didn't do it and can prove it, then his day will come in court and he will walk away a free man. Why do people think it is ok to go to another country and break their laws? This guy is not above the law.
Proof that Japan is a shameful and corrupt nation that not only brutalizes cetaceans, but also plays shameful political games. Not only does the government divert tsunami recovery funds to pay off dept incurred by their failing whaling industry, they violate basic human rights for those they falsely incarcerate on trumped up charges. Please boycott this corrupt and brutal nation. And to the Dutch citizens, please let Rosenthal know what a tool he is for Japan.
"Foreign Affairs Minister Uri Rosenthal doesn’t want to interfere in the case, as he believes there will be a fair trial. "
I guess Mr. Rosenthal missed the following, official international press release back in 2010 "United Nations: Japan Violated Human Rights of Japanese Anti-Whaling Activists"
Same familiar song, but the political arrest and detention of 2 different anti-whaling activists (Sato and Suzuki),who were also subject to an unusually long and unjust detention period resulted in the following-
"The UN Working Group concluded that:
"The right of these two environmental activists not to be arbitrarily deprived of their liberty; their rights to freedom of opinion and expression and to exercise legitimate activities, as well as their right to engage in peaceful activities without intimidation or harassment has not been respected by the Justice system.
The UN Working Group found that the Japanese Government contravened articles 18,19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and articles 18 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."
Fair, Mr. Rosenthal ?
Japanese honesty and integrity ?? Don't hold your breathe - they've already demonstrated how corrupt their so-called justice suystem is... somnething every travel agent, embassy and consulate should advise the travelling public about.
If you go to a foreign country just to be a bully, then you should take what ever punishment gets dished out to you for breaking their laws. Millions of people visit Japan every year and never get arrested. Why is it that only a handful of sheep have a problem with behaving their selves? Why don't they just make their animal snuff films with their Japanese made cameras and then leave. So simple.
I expect the Japanese to respectfully and with full intent to be just and with honesty and integrity deal with Mr. Vermeulen. It is in Japan's best Interest to not turn Mr. Vermeulen's incarceration into a publicized event which could end up demonizing the Japanese. Please just fine him and let him go. Thank you.
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