Congress Member Asks State Department to Help Dolphin Activist Held in Japan

[Omaha Steve]

Immigration officials have detained Ric O’Barry at Tokyo’s Narita Airport since Monday.



Ric O’Barry in Japan during the 2014–15 Taiji dolphin hunt. (Photo: Courtesy Dolphin Project.net)


http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/01/19/japan-threatens-deportation-the-cove-dolphin-hunt-activist-detained?cmpid=tpdaily-eml-2016-01-19

AN 19, 2016 Emily J. Gertz is an associate editor for environment and wildlife at TakePart.

A California representative has requested that United States diplomatic officials intervene in the detention of an American environmental activist at Tokyo’s Narita Airport.

Jack d’Annibale, the director of communications for Rep. Ted Lieu, confirmed on Tuesday that in response to a request from the California Democrat’s office, the U.S. State Department has asked Japanese officials to immediately release Ric O’Barry, who has been held at the airport since arriving on Monday afternoon.

Ric O’Barry is a longtime leader of opposition to an annual dolphin drive and hunt in the Japanese town of Taiji. The hunt, which was brought to worldwide attention in the 2009 documentary The Cove, results in thousands of dolphins being killed for meat or captured for sale to aquariums and marine parks.

“We don’t believe there’s any reason for him to be stopped at immigration,” said O’Barry’s son, Lincoln O’Barry. “He’s always been very careful not to violate any laws and to work with the legal system in Japan.”

FULL story at link.