Anti-whaling activist, Paul Watson, continues to serve his imprisonment
"Paul Watson, the Sea Shepherd leader, has been locked up in Greenland for quite some time now. He was captured during a refueling session in July and is currently waiting for extradition to Japan. Some people are wondering why we're arresting a man who's been protecting our environment instead of celebrating him." shares Cyrill Gutsch, founder of "Parley For The Oceans". After meeting Watson in 2012, Gutsch established the environmental organization "Parley For The Oceans", and given his concern for Watson's well-being, he's grappling with the current situation.
Paul Watson docked his ship "John Paul DeJoria" in Nuuk and was promptly arrested on July 21. The cause for his arrest was an international warrant issued by the Japanese authorities. Watson stands accused of assaulting Japanese whalers and causing injury to an individual in the process. His detention aims to ensure he doesn't flee the country until a decision is made about a possible extradition to Japan.
Frederiksen turns a blind eye
Watson has campaigned for marine life protection for years. Although some environmentalists question his aggressive methods, Gutsch respects Watson's efforts: "Instead of protecting whales from cruel slaughter, the Danish government is furnishing the police and even military vessels to shield the whale hunters."
Gutsch believes it's incomprehensible that Denmark would arrest Watson, given that it's not Japan, France, or England doing so. He claims that the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, is hiding behind her Minister of Justice, with the main objective being to block Watson from interfering with the whale killings near the Faroe Islands.
"He's a savior"
Gutsch isn't alone in his thoughts, many other celebrities support Watson's release, including Pierce Brosnan.
"When the oceans die, we die," Brosnan writes on Instagram, echoing Watson's words. He highlights Watson's extraordinary fortitude and affection towards marine life. Like Gutsch, Brosnan finds it abhorrent that a man "who gives a voice to the voiceless," should be punished for something vital for the world's survival. "He's a hero. Protecting our ecosystem isn't a crime," Brosnan emphasizes. Gutsch follows suit, stating: "Individuals who protect our planet should be celebrated, not imprisoned."
The "Captain Paul Watson Foundation" declares: "Watson has been denied the opportunity to present evidence in his defense while being humiliated, reminiscent of a convicted criminal rather than a defendant awaiting trial. The Ministry of Justice must intervene immediately to halt this absurdity."
A video of Watson being escorted into a Nuuk courtroom, handcuffed and visibly in pain, is shown. Watson had been denied a translator despite Danish law requiring one, and the court rejected consideration of video evidence showing Japanese individuals fabricating evidence in the "Whale Wars" series. "These videos are publicly available and contradict the charges against him. If admitted, they could weaken the Japanese authorities' case significantly," the foundation claims.
The foundation accuses Watson's rights have been violated and his prolonged detention under questionable conditions raises serious concerns about the fairness of the trial and his right to a fair defense. This case, they argue, imperils not only Watson's liberty but also sets a hazardous precedent for the treatment of activists and the protection of individual rights in the face of politically motivated persecution.
Deceptive Evidence
Watson's legal team, Julie Stage, and Jonas Christoffersen, have appealed to the Greenland Supreme Court, stating: "The accusations against Paul Watson are based on fabricated facts concocted by Japanese authorities to thwart his campaign. Watson is charged with injuring a 'Shonan Maru' crew member, but he wasn't on deck when a water cannon struck the ship. Videos further reveal Japanese crew members excessively using pepper spray, which affected their own faces. These videos prove that Japan has fabricated evidence to secure extradition and conviction."
As of now, Watson continues to be imprisoned in Greenland, with the Nuuk District Court extending his detention until September 5.
Macron Speaks Out
The German branch of the "Captain Paul Watson Foundation" has urged German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Minister of the Environment Steffi Lemke, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock to join international protests against Watson's detention and publicly advocate for his release and against extradition.
French President Macron has already gone public opposing Watson's extradition. Notable figures like primatologist Jane Goodall, director James Cameron, and singer Bryan Adams have voiced their support for Watson on social media.
Those interested in signing the petition #FreePaulWatson for the Danish government can do so at freepaulwatson.org.
Researchers have shown that aquatic life forms are significantly impacted by human activities in the sea. Furthermore, the ongoing detention of Paul Watson, despite allegations of fabricated evidence, highlights the need for more investigation into the role of political motivations in the treatment of environmental activists.
