Denmark released whale defender Paul Watson this Tuesday after nearly five months of provisional detention by refusing to extradite him to Japan, whose justice system is demanding him for an action against a whaling ship in 2010.
“My detention has focused international attention on Japan’s ongoing illegal whale hunting operations,” said Watson, who claimed to be “in very good shape” for his “first day of freedom in five months.”
“These five months have been an extension of the campaign” against whale hunting, added the 74-year-old activist, who holds American and Canadian citizenship, founder of Sea Shepherd and the Captain Paul Watson Foundation (CPWF).
Watson was arrested in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, an autonomous island belonging to Denmark, on July 21 following the reactivation of a request issued by Japan in 2012 through an Interpol red notice.
The Japanese authorities accuse him of being complicit in damage and injuries aboard a Japanese whaling vessel in 2010, as part of a Sea Shepherd campaign.
“They have the audacity to accuse me of something minor. My real crime was exposing their illegal operations,” said Watson, who was heading to intercept a Japanese whaling ship with his vessel “John Paul De Joria” when he was arrested in July.
Japan has not yet reacted to his release
Denmark justified its decision based on the length of Watson’s detention since his arrest in July and the time it would take for a possible extradition to Japan, according to the consulted decision.
“Japan tried to silence a man whose only crime is exposing the illegality of industrial massacre disguised as scientific research,” said one of his lawyers, François Zimeray.
Watson “will be able to resume his action for nature conservation, which is also a struggle for humanity and justice,” he added.
Meanwhile, the director of Sea Shepherd France, Lamya Essemlali, speaking alongside Watson after his release, said she had prepared “for the worst, to fight, even to get him out of Japan if necessary.”
“The fight is not over”
For now, Watson plans to return to France, where his family lives. “That’s what I have in mind now. And it’s good to be there before Christmas because I haven’t seen them since June.”
“However, the fight is not over,” said Jean Tamalet, from King & Spalding, one of his lawyers, explaining that they will challenge the Interpol red notice and the Japanese arrest warrant “to ensure that Captain Paul Watson can travel around the world again with complete peace of mind.”
The detention of the activist, who has dedicated nearly fifty years to whale conservation and is known for his media actions, received support from France to prevent Denmark from extraditing him.
“The collective mobilization has borne fruit,” said French Minister for Ecological Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, on social media.
Watson’s lawyers particularly criticize the shortcomings of the Japanese judicial system. According to François Zimeray, in “Japan, there is a presumption of guilt.” “Prosecutors pride themselves on announcing that they have a conviction rate of 99.6%,” he stated.
However, the Danish government has distanced itself from these claims.
“This decision does not mean that Denmark shares the concerns expressed in certain circles about the Japanese legal system and the protection of human rights in Japan regarding this specific case,” said Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard in a statement.
Have you visited our YouTube channel yet? Subscribe now!
