ENVIRONMENT | SEA SHEPHERD | Sponsored
In Japan, a person is guilty until proven innocent and sentencing by Japanese courts is about 98%, because the majority of these sentences are based in confessions obtained during these 23 days in which a person is detained for interrogation. Therefore, the options are either remain in jail for 23 days before you have any access to a lawyer and then, finally, be formally accused and wait for a trial in which your chances of being declared guilty are 98%, or to declare yourself guilty. So the logic is that it´s better to declare your guilt and display remorse for your “crime” instead of defending your innocence. It also seems that they chose Erwin, a Dutch citizen, because two of the Sea Shepherd ships are registered in the Netherlands, and this is a message for the Dutch to bow to Japanese demands to stop Sea Shepherd´s activities in Antarctica against Japanese illegal whaling. Erwin´s ordeal is not as drastic as having to drown to show your innocence, but the same kind of authoritarian logic prevails. In other words, regardless of proof or lack thereof, and based on an accusation of a single person, Erwin can expect “justice” for him only if he declares himself guilty. This will obviously give the Japanese the proof they´ve been desperately trying to establish that the Cove Guardians are a violent, criminal group. Erwin has refused to talk to the police because he was denied due legal process. As such, he will be detained for the entire “legal” period allowed for by Japanese law, without formal accusations. In exchange for his compassion for dolphins and his non-violent opposition to the slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, Japanese police decided it is time to “go medieval” with the Cove Guardians. Considering the cruel barbarism of the defenseless dolphins of Taiji, this is not surprising at all.
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DIVEMAG International Dive Magazine