Incarcerated for almost 90 days in Greenland, the founder of Sea Shepherd Paul Watson, famous environmental activist and fierce defender of whales, must appear before the judge on October 23, to find out if his detention will be extended a fourth time. Danish justice must also rule on an extradition request from Japan, which accuses him of abuses committed in 2010 on its whaling ships.
In a letter addressed to the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron, the 73-year-old environmentalist requested political asylum in France, where he has ties. “France has the 2e maritime space in the world. Over the years, I have visited the French base in Antarctica twice and the Kerguelen Islands in the Southern Ocean three times. In both places, I was able to observe strong conservation efforts that made me proud of the scientific and environmental initiatives led by France.”writes the captain in particular.
He considers himself to be “persecuted by Japan, not because of a real crime.” “I have not injured anyone or damaged any property, Japan’s motivation is political and not judicial,” still pleads he who “sincerely hope to be able to return home and reunite with my family in France as soon as possible”.
In France, several mayors have already shown their support for the activist, by displaying his portrait on the facade of town halls, notably in Marseille, Bordeaux and Rouen. During a conference given by Sea Shepherd France, an arm of the NGO remaining faithful to its founder, one of its lawyers William Julié explained that “if a great rule of law granted political asylum to Paul Watson, that means that a great rule of law would recognize that he is persecuted”.
This request led to several reactions from different political sides. “It is an honor that Paul Watson asks France for political asylum. Emmanuel Macron must accept it”estimates the deputy and first secretary of the Socialist Party Olivier Faure. For the national coordinator of France Insoumise Manuel Bompard, “France must give political asylum to Paul Watson whose only crime is to mobilize to defend the living. » The vice-president of the National Rally David Rachline judges that “P. Watson’s fight is a transpartisan fight. France must accede to his request as quickly as possible.”
The fight for the release of Paul Watson also resonates in Polynesia. Since his arrest, President Moetai Brotherson has expressed his support several times, including a letter to the Prime Minister of Japan requesting that charges against the captain be dropped. A concert was also organized by Mata Tohora. Furthermore, Sea Shepherd France recently came forward by filing a complaint following the death of a whale, whose upper jaw was severed by a ship, on October 8 off the coast of Faa’a.
Waldemar de Laage pour Radio 1 Tahiti
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