Activist Claims Taiji Dolphin Cull Delayed As Media Gather

[matsuki]

Sea Shepherd can suck a dick as far as I'm concerned but even if the dude did everything the prosecution has accused him of, this shouldn't have gone to trial.

My thoughts exactly...just more evidence of the anti-FG mentality with the police here.

[Coligny]

My thoughts exactly...just more evidence of the anti-FG mentality with the police here.

I am pretty sure it come from higher...

Too high profile/weak case for your regular popo to step into these kind of minefields...

[matsuki]

I am pretty sure it come from higher...

Too high profile/weak case for your regular popo to step into these kind of minefields...

Definitely the case after he was arrested but the original arrest for "pushing" would be the call on the popo's at the scene.

[Coligny]

Definitely the case after he was arrested but the original arrest for "pushing" would be the call on the popo's at the scene.

Once again... I can see it as having the choice between letting the locals escalate the situation untill the rednecks (yellownecks !?) start the real beating or extracting th3 gaijin to the koban for a game of "let's check your paperwork and go back to siesta"...

[Guest]

We will get to hear his story, but first it will be months of recovery before he is strong enough to report on what happened. The good news however is that they didn't totally break him and he didn't "confess". Strong man.

The story so far goes with how foreign people are treated awaiting trial in Japan. Little food, 1,600 calories a day of which almost all is mugi gohan. Foreign people are also placed in solitary confinement forced to sit seiza on their knees for most of the day. Also, as Erwin stated, he was freezing cold for his entire stay. It is unlikely he ever saw the sun or was able to even go outside.

The prosecution is just seeking to lengthen his suffering. Erwin is not likely to get out any time soon.

[Russell]

[Mike Oxlong]

And a follow-up:

...He was detained until last week, and a "not guilty" decision in his case was handed down today, Sea Shepherd leader, Paul Watson, said.

"The Japanese judge said there was no evidence to support the claim.

"Erwin says he is very happy and that the judge showed great courage in going against public opinion and ruling fairly."

Japanese courts have a 99.7 per cent conviction rate, according to a 2005 paper by US academics Mark Ramseyer and Eric Rasmusen.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/dolphin-activist-cleared-in-japan-20120222-1tnh5.html#ixzz1n6FAYLZR

[Russell]

I must say that the defendants play(ed) this very smart.

And though I am not a fan of Sea Shepherd, I am glad with the outcome, because this whole trial stank of discrimination.

[matsuki]

I must say that the defendants play(ed) this very smart.

And though I am not a fan of Sea Shepherd, I am glad with the outcome, because this whole trial stank of discrimination.

Agreed...not only did he not break, he actually appears to comprehend the gravity of the situation he was in.

[Level3]

And once again the J "justice" system is so stupidly evil it makes me side with their victims, even though I hate them.

I suppose, the J prosecutors have realized their mistake in this case, and will just have a J cop or a retired cop throw himself at one of the hippies, take an Italian-football-style dive and call it "aggravated assault".
Just like they did with that Aum Shinrikyo cult guy in those documentaries "A" and "A2". The tactics of the J "justice" system are so underhanded, I found myself sympathizing with insane cultists who hoped to kill everyone in the world!

[Russell]

And once again the J "justice" system is so stupidly evil it makes me side with their victims, even though I hate them.

I suppose, the J prosecutors have realized their mistake in this case, and will just have a J cop or a retired cop throw himself at one of the hippies, take an Italian-football-style dive and call it "aggravated assault".
Just like they did with that Aum Shinrikyo cult guy in those documentaries "A" and "A2". The tactics of the J "justice" system are so underhanded, I found myself sympathizing with insane cultists who hoped to kill everyone in the world!

You forgot that the judge sided with the defendants in this case, as did the higher judge. There once was a time in Japan when this was career suicide...

[Level3]

You forgot that the judge sided with the defendants in this case, as did the higher judge. There once was a time in Japan when this was career suicide...

Good point.

But I'm assuming the prosecutors won't be doing any soul-searching as to why this case was BS and why they should never have pursued it in the first place; but rather figuring out another, better way to set up these hippies.

[Bucky]

Vermeulen has arrived back in the U.S.

SEATTLE -- He was accused of assault and detained in a Japanese prison, but a local activist is now free and back on home turf.

Erwin Vermeulen is part of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a non-profit marine conservation organization based in the San Juan Islands.

He was recently in Japan documenting the killing of dolphins when a man accused him of taking his crusade too far.

In a small fishing village called Taiji, a resort employee accused Vermeulen of pushing him. His arrest and trial gained attention from media across the globe.

Vermeulen denied the charges, and Japanese authorities agreed, allowing him to leave the country a free man after two months in custody.

"We were able to prove that, yes, his hand had a radio in it. His other hand had a monopod in it, and his hands were full and he was not able to push the guard," said Heather Hill, who testified at the trial.

Vermeulen arrived at Sea-Tac Airport on Wednesday to a hero's welcome from other conservationists, including his girlfriend, Susan Hartland. "It was very frustrating, not being able to talk to him. Not knowing how he was doing," Hartland said. For his part, Vermeulen said he's happy to be home, but vowed to continue his fight.

"It was not a trial against me, this was a trial against Sea Shepherd to sabotage their successful campaign," he said. Vermeulen's defense cost about $50,000 and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society plans to sue the man who wrongly accused him

[Coligny]

and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society plans to sue the man who wrongly accused him

That would set an excellent precedent...

But we all know that a "i'm soooo sorry I thought he was punching me" will be a sufficient excuse...

[matsuki]

That would set an excellent precedent...

But we all know that a "i'm soooo sorry I thought he was punching me" will be a sufficient excuse...

THIS

I still find it retarded that the guy was locked up for two months over a push. Yes, it's assault, but totally unnecessary to lock someone up for that for 2 months....and $50k?? ...but then again, all that should be taken into consideration when they sue this "resort employee."

[Coligny]

Aint there some kind of perjury offense in japan ?

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

THIS

I still find it retarded that the guy was locked up for two months over a push.

I know a pusher who got locked up for 25 years with no chance of parole...lucky it wasn't in Southeast Asia, where he would have been executed.

[gaijinpunch]

Japan: enabling witch hunts.... still.

[IparryU]

I know a pusher who got locked up for 25 years with no chance of parole...lucky it wasn't in Southeast Asia, where he would have been executed.

Moral of story: don't fuck with white gurl and you'll be ok