“We hope that Paul Watson will be released by Christmas” – Libération

“Eco-warrior” Paul Watson has been behind bars in Nuuk Prison, Greenland, for four months. The white-maned activist was arrested on July 21 in the port of the capital of this autonomous Danish territory when he intended to track down the Kangei Marua new Japanese factory ship dedicated to whaling. For Liberation, Lamya Essemlali, close to the founder of the NGO Sea Shepherd, discusses the conditions of detention of the cetacean defender who risks extradition to Japan. The president of Sea Shepherd France deciphers the workings of this very political affair, where on the one hand, the Japanese wish to get rid of a long-standing enemy, while Denmark tries to satisfy the Faroe Islands and Greenland, territories to the unsatisfied thirst for independence whose history with Sea Shepherd is not without turbulence.

You were in Nuuk, Greenland, on November 13, to attend the last hearing request for release of Paul Watson. What happened?

Hearings are becoming shorter and shorter and this one was particularly expeditious. Going there, we had no hope that Paul would be released. Usually, the prosecutor makes her indictment, then the defense speaks and the final word goes to Paul. But this time it was different since everything had already been said several times. Despite everything, Paul's speech, very dignified, somewhat shook the judge. But that wasn't enough. The decision had been taken in advance, the judge did not adjourn the session to deliberate and ordered further detention until the decision of the Danish Ministry of Justice. He still refuses to look at the evidence of his innocence [les séquences vidéo analysées dans notre enquête, ndlr]. The system is completely dysfunctional. Our feeling of injustice is growing stronger, as is our disgust. The next hearing was to take place on December 4 but for “technical reasons”, it will take place on December 2, Paul’s birthday [il aura 74 ans, ndlr]. I think they know…

How is he going through this legal ordeal physically and psychologically?

Physically, fortunately I brought him his treatment for diabetes and hypertension. At first they wanted to give him Greenlandic alternatives which didn't suit him at all. I had to send them the prescription from his French doctor so that they agreed to send him his medication in prison. This is unacceptable, I was worried about his health. He also suffered an injury to his hand when he was handcuffed during his arrest and then put at the back of a convoy without being restrained while being tossed around. No one looked after him, I had to bring him a splint from France for his wrist. But the hardest thing for him, psychologically, is being torn away from his children. They are 3 and 8 years old. He missed both of their birthdays and can only contact them for ten minutes by phone each week.

What are his conditions of detention?

Paul has a beautiful view of the fjord from his cell. At first he could even see whales from time to time, but it's winter, they're gone. He has a cell all to himself with a TV and watches the films and series that I brought him. He meets his fellow inmates in the common kitchen but as they are all Inuit and only speak Greenlandic, that limits exchanges… He has no access to the Internet, unlike the others who can go to the computer room and have a telephone. During the first two months of his incarceration, he could be called regularly. But now he can only receive calls from his lawyers. This is why I come to Nuuk for every hearing, so that he is not alone. He receives a lot of letters of support – 80% come from France – and hundreds of children’s drawings…

Paul Watson was arrested by the Danish authorities following a tip from the Faroe Islands authorities. What interest do the Faroese have in seeing him behind bars?

Sea Shepherd and Paul have been engaged in the Faroe Islands against dolphin massacres since 1986. This is the largest massacre of marine mammals in Europe, perpetrated for traditional reasons. Between 1,000 and 1,500 pilot whales are killed each year, entire families. The images are very difficult. As we carry out many missions there, we are not very well perceived. The independence movement is very strong in this autonomous protectorate, which does not help Denmark's affairs due to the big economic interests at stake. The Faroese industrial fishing fleet is one of the largest in the world and Copenhagen wants to keep the hand on the archipelago. The dolphin issue is therefore very political. This strong anti-colonialist feeling, also strong in Greenland, explains why, while it is strictly forbidden to kill dolphins in Danish waters and the country is a signatory to conventions for the protection of marine mammals, it mobilizes its military fleet to prevent us to save the dolphins! Showing that he is tracking Paul Watson and helping to capture him is a strong message sent to the Faroe Islands: “Look, we are attacking the enemy of your traditions. There is an advantage to staying with us.”

Denmark executed an Interpol Red Notice issued by Japan which other Member States of the Union pretended not to see as it seemed so disproportionate to them. What are the links between the two countries?

There are also strong economic interests at stake; we are talking about contracts worth several hundred million euros for the deployment of wind power projects in Japan. Denmark is the world leader in offshore wind power. Without forgetting the other trade agreements. Denmark is both an important trading partner and an archipelago with aspirations of autonomy. Paul is their common enemy.

Even if it means alienating part of European public opinion, or at least French ?

In Denmark, the media talk very little about the Watson affair. So the Danish government must say to itself: “We don’t care about French public opinion.” This is why Paul applied for French nationality. This would make this affair a fully European issue. [Watson est Américano-Canadien, ndlr]. France could thus weigh more at the political and diplomatic level. For the moment, we have no official feedback from the French side. We know that this is under discussion. But the decision would have to be made quickly for it to make sense. Standing up to Japan requires a certain amount of political courage. Having France on its back would perhaps offer Denmark a way out.

Do you know when the Danish Minister of Justice is due to rule on Japan's extradition request?

No, we have no news. There are two options: either he decides soon, or he lets the Supreme Court rule on extradition. If they refuse a transfer to Japan, Paul will be released immediately. Otherwise – which would be surreal – we will appeal to the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights. Our Danish lawyer tells us that on average the processing time in extradition cases is around fifteen days. Now, everything has been on the minister's desk for three weeks. We therefore hope that Paul will be released before Christmas.