The man wants to save whales from certain death… Nations that kill whales want the man out of the way.
Veteran environmental activist and anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson has been apprehended by Greenland police on an international arrest warrant issued by Japan. Watson, aged 73 and a former head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, is known for his direct action tactics against whaling vessels, which have garnered support from celebrities and featured in the reality TV series “Whale Wars.”
Watson was arrested when his ship docked in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital. He appeared before a district court to address the request for his detention pending a decision on his possible extradition to Japan. He is to be detained in Nuuk until at least August 15 to allow the Danish justice ministry time to investigate the case. Watson faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison in Japan.
Greenland arrests anti-whaling activist on Japan warrant
Police in Greenland arrested prominent anti-whaling environmentalist Paul Watson under an international warrant issued by Japan, authorities and his foundation said.#khabar24English pic.twitter.com/2GR3GNVyYf
— KHABAR 24 ENGLISH (@khabar24Eng) July 22, 2024
His foundation reported that more than a dozen police officers boarded his vessel and arrested him when it stopped to refuel. Watson’s ship, with 25 volunteer crew members, was en route to the North Pacific to intercept a new Japanese whaling ship. The arrest is believed to be related to a previous Red Notice issued for Watson’s anti-whaling activities in the Antarctic region.
Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson arrested in Greenland and may be extradited to Japan https://t.co/Zr6TJ5EqPV
— @lilesosanna.bsky.social (@Lile_sosanna) July 22, 2024
The Captain Paul Watson Foundation urged the Danish government to release him, describing the extradition request as politically motivated. Japan’s Coast Guard and Foreign Ministry have not confirmed if they are negotiating Watson’s handover, although the coast guard is on standby if a handover is ordered. Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, does not have an extradition treaty with Japan, making the extradition process uncertain.
Japan is determined to keep hunting whales😡
“Japan has never given up on its whaling ambitions,” anti-whaling activist Paul Watson told. Paul Watson has been arrested Greenland under an international arrest warrant issued by Japan.
➡️ https://t.co/OYbE9TqZUz#FreePaulWatson pic.twitter.com/pOVVmScBFp— netzfrauen☮️ (@netzfrauen) July 22, 2024
Watson has had previous encounters with authorities; he was detained in Germany in 2012 on a Costa Rican extradition warrant but fled after learning Japan also sought his extradition. He has since resided in various countries, including France and the United States. Watson left Sea Shepherd in 2022 to establish his own organization after leaving Greenpeace in 1977 due to disagreements over his aggressive tactics. His current mission was aimed at confronting a new Japanese factory whaling ship in the North Pacific.
Key Points:
- Paul Watson, a veteran environmental activist, was arrested in Greenland on a Japanese warrant.
- Watson’s arrest occurred as his ship docked in Nuuk, and he is detained until at least August 15.
- His foundation claims the arrest is politically motivated and urges Denmark not to entertain Japan’s extradition request.
- Watson’s history includes prior detentions and aggressive anti-whaling tactics, leading to multiple international warrants.
- Greenland, lacking an extradition treaty with Japan, complicates the extradition process.
Conner T – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
