On December 16, 2011 Sea Shepherd Cove Guardian Erwin Vermeulen became the first ever Cove Guardian to be arrested in Taiji— and under false allegations.
Erwin was doing his planetary duties in Taiji (protesting the dolphin drive hunt slaughter) on this day, taking photographs and documenting the transfer of Risso Dolphins from sea pens to the Dolphin Resort Hotel when an employee falsely accused him of shoving/pushing him. With Japanese police already running a thin line with patience for Sea Shepherd, it was not hesitated that this accusation act be punished. He is currently being contained at Shingu Police Station without being allowed a lawyer or visitation rights. This can happen for up to 28 days.
From Sea Shepherd,
“The arrest seemed pre-planned. No witnesses saw Erwin shove the employee and Erwin was not even questioned. The police simply approached him and took him away. Out of compassion for the dolphins being slaughtered in Taiji, Erwin Vermeulen travelled to Japan at his own expense to devote his time and energy to the Cove Guardian mission.”
Earlier this year a woman Cove Guardian (Rosie Kunneke) was assaulted by a fisherman and her assailant was quickly questioned and released— a new definition to double standard in my book.
Sea Shepherd takes every precaution they can to not break any laws or commit any crimes. Erwin did not break any laws, police just up and arrested him without questioning him and without any witnesses of the alleged shove. Erwin was taking pictures out of compassion for another life, at his own expense. The Cove Guardians will not back down.
Austin Lynch
Ocean Advocates United 
Love the symbols of the candles, Austin. That is what I do on the days that dolphins are slaughtered in Taiji. I light a candle for each one. Now we’re lighting candles for our Cove Guardian – who just happens to be on my friends’ list………
Not break laws? You psychotic wastes of human breath do nothing less than break laws. You are nothing more than pirating extremist fools being led by the worlds largest mongoloid village idiot Paul Watson. It’s one thing to donate to a good cause but it’s quite another to think ypersonals right to destroy personal property whether you like the person/organization or not is beside the point. Petition and donate to good causes-not act like a bunch of hippy lunatics out on the open seas. The only sadness to this story is that they didn’t arrest your lead mongoloid “captain”. Wake the hell up already, get a life and go wash your stinking hippy asses.