A court docket in Greenland has dominated that anti-whaling activist Paul Watson should stay in custody pending a call to extradite him to Japan.
The veteran campaigner, who has featured within the actuality tv present “Whale Wars”, was apprehended by police in July as his ship docked in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk.
They had been appearing on a 2012 Japanese warrant which accuses him of inflicting injury to a Japanese whaling ship, obstructing enterprise and injuring a crew member throughout an encounter in Antarctic waters in February 2010.
Officers in Japan argue that whaling and consuming whale meat is a part of the nation’s tradition and lifestyle. Nevertheless, it has been closely criticised by conservation teams.
Wearing denims and a white shirt, Mr Watson sat beside his defence legal professionals and listened to proceedings by an interpreter as a number of of his supporters appeared on.
“That is about revenge for a tv present that extraordinarily embarrassed Japan within the eyes of the world,” he informed the small courtroom.
“What occurred within the Southern Ocean is documented by a whole bunch of hours of video,” Mr Watson stated.
“I feel a overview of all of the video and of all of the documentation will exonerate me from the accusations.”
Nevertheless the prosecution argued that the defendant was a flight danger, and the decide concluded he ought to stay in custody till 2 October.
Paul Watson is the previous head of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which he left in 2022 to arrange the Captain Paul Watson Basis.
He was additionally a founding member of Greenpeace, however they parted methods in 1977, amid disagreements over his radical ways.
The 73-year outdated Canadian-American campaigner has been a controversial determine recognized for confrontations with whaling vessels at sea.
Mr Watson’s vessel, known as the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, had been heading to the North Pacific with a crew of 26 volunteers on board, in a bid to intercept a brand new Japanese whaling ship when it docked to refuel in Nuuk on 21 July.
He was arrested and led away in handcuffs, and has been held on the native jail for the final seven weeks.
His defence staff have appealed in opposition to the choice to maintain him in custody earlier than Greenland’s Excessive Courtroom.
Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and, though the court docket in Nuuk is overseeing the custody hearings, the choice about Mr Watson’s extradition lies with Danish authorities in Copenhagen.
Final month, Japan requested Denmark handy Paul Watson over, despite the fact that there isn’t a extradition treaty between the 2 nations.
Police in Nuuk are finishing up an investigation earlier than handing their findings to Denmark’s ministry of justice and a call could possibly be anticipated throughout the subsequent few weeks.
“It’s a severe case, and it has to have some severe consideration. It has a deep impression on Mr Watson if we get to the purpose that he needs to be extradited. So I’ll take the time wanted to do it correctly,” Greenland chief prosecutor Mariam Khalil informed the BBC.
On the defence’s request, the decide granted permission for a video clip to be performed, which appeared to point out a zodiac-type speedboat crusing alongside a Japanese ship and firing a stink bomb.
Nevertheless, Mr Watson’s legal professionals say a second video clip, which was not proven, proves no-one was on deck on the time.
“We have now video footage of a stink bomb being shot on to the ship, and the place that the Japanese declare the sailor ought to be in, he merely is not there,” Jonas Christoffersen informed BBC.
“There’s no evidential foundation for the allegation that someone bought bought injured.”
Lyon-based worldwide police physique Interpol has confirmed the existence of an impressive purple discover for the arrest of Mr Watson.
In 2012, Paul Watson was additionally detained in Germany, however left the nation after studying that he was looked for extradition by Japan.
Masashi Mizobuchi, assistant press secretary for the Japanese ministry of international affairs, informed the BBC that Japan had not but acquired any response from the Danish authorities.
“We are going to proceed to take acceptable measures, together with vital outreach to the related nations and organisations,” Mr Mizobuchi stated.
Japan withdrew from the Worldwide Whaling Fee and resumed business whaling in 2019, after a 30-year hiatus. Nevertheless, it had continued whaling for what it stated had been analysis functions.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s workplace has requested Denmark to not extradite Paul Watson, and there was vocal assist from legendary actress turned animals rights activist Brigitte Bardot.
In the meantime a petition calling for Mr Watson’s launch has surpassed 120,000 signatures.