ENVIRONMENT – “Free Paul Watson!”: This is what the whale protection activists chanted as they came to support the founder of Sea Shepherd at a rally in Place de la République in Paris. Paul Watson was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, while he was en route with his ship, the « John Paul DeJoria »to intercept a new Japanese whaling factory ship.
Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd activist whose extradition Japan is seeking, remains in custody for now
Japan has accused Paul Watson, 73, of being jointly responsible for damage and injuries on board a Japanese whaling ship in 2010 as part of a campaign led by his NGO Sea Shepherd, which he denies. Specifically, he is accused of injuring a Japanese sailor in the face by throwing a stink bomb (butyric acid) to hinder the work of the whalers.
“He’s just defending the whales!”
Paul Watson was arrested under an extradition request from Japan, which revived its request issued in 2012 via an Interpol red notice. It will be up to the Danish Ministry of Justice to decide whether to extradite him. In the meantime, his arrest has shocked campaigners, as you can see in the video at the top of the article.
“It is Japan’s desire to deal a low blow to Paul Watson and to be able to continue hunting whales with impunity”Daniel said at the microphone of HuffPost. The same story from Gilles, a business leader, shocked by this arrest: “He’s just defending the whales! I’d like my children to see that there are still whales in 25-50 years.”.
Especially since whaling has been banned worldwide since 1986: Japan has resumed whaling for commercial purposes in its own maritime space, something Paul Watson opposes.
Extradition to Japan?
The Greenlandic courts on Wednesday extended the detention of Paul Watson until October 2, pending the Danish government’s decision on an extradition request from Japan.
A decision that is already worrying environmental activists. “Apparently, the conditions of detention there are very difficult. He risks being imprisoned for life, knowing that he is already quite old.”asks Pierre, an illustrator. Daniel and Nathalie, however, are more alarmist: “it’s death”. S‘he is sent to Japan, “he will die in prison”they fear.
Also see on Le HuffPost :
Sea Shepherd files complaint after dolphin found scarred with insulting message
In Australia, a whale entangled in 800 kg of ropes and buoys has been rescued by local marine authorities
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