(DOLPHIN NEWS) JAPAN — Cove Guardian Erwin Vermeulen was released after 63 days spent in a Japanese prison. Vermeulen was falsely accused of pushing a local hotel employee while taking pictures of dolphins being transported from cages into Taiji’s Dolphin Resort Hotel. Arriving home in the Netherlands yesterday, Vermeulen thanked everyone for their continuous support and said he was glad his ordeal had not been in vain. His experience generated worldwide attention about the atrocities being committed in Taiji. Read on for more on Vermeulen’s release. — Global Animal
Sea Shepherd
After recounting the tribulations of his 63 days in jail, subsequent trial and acquittal in the Wakayama Prefecture near Taiji to media gathered yesterday at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Tokyo, Sea Shepherd Cove Guardian Erwin Vermeulen jubilantly boarded a plane and headed for home. He arrived at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol at 2 p.m. today to a hero’s welcome.
Erwin was greeted by his family and 50 supporters from Sea Shepherd/Netherlands. Numerous representatives from national radio and television news media were also present to capture his triumphant return. After many rounds of hugs and pats on the back, Erwin thanked everyone for their ongoing support while he was incarcerated. He also told the crowd assembled at the airport he was glad his ordeal had not been in vain. His experience had focused worldwide attention on the ongoing atrocities committed against the dolphins of Taiji; indeed, that is why he became a Cove Guardian in the first place.
After his brief comments, Erwin stopped into an airport bar, where someone purchased him a cold refreshing beer. He raised his glass and humbly toasted his supporters from around the globe for never giving up on him during his two months of imprisonment, saying simply, “Thank you, everyone” and “It’s good to be home.”
More Sea Shepherd: http://www.seashepherd.org/news-and-media/2012/02/26/cove-guardian-erwin-vermeulen-receives-a-heros-welcome-in-amsterdam-1345
animals around the world are in my prayers every night. Misty and her friends will be in them tonight. It breaks my heart to know how much physical and mental pain some heartless humans put animals thru. Thank God for the ones who care…. If it weren’t for those people i may have lost all hope for humanity.
Nancy Holohan, yes, stay tuned! We will be doing an anniversary story on the Japan earthquake and tsunami in March, with updates on the animals still in the Fukushima zone. Thanks for your comment!
The ministry will forever close the 20km zone soon. There will be NO 2nd chance for our rescue mission in Fukushima. Tell them to let the private animal rescue groups inside now to rescue remaining life!
Please do two things: Write to the MOE, and sign the petition in The Hachiko Coalition Page and tell the GOJ to let the private animals groups to rescue the animals.
Really good news and the right decision as well!!
Is there any chance that Global Animal might do a repot on what’s happening to the animals left in the Fukushima zone for almost a year?