Japan's government voiced dismay on Wednesday over the release of anti-whaling activist Paul Watson after Danish authorities refused Tokyo's extradition request.
Greenland arrested the Sea Shepherd founder in July for alleged damages and injuries caused by the group's high-seas battles to stop Japan's "scientific" whale hunts in the 2000s and 2010s.
"It is regrettable that the Denmark government did not accept Japan's request of passing him over and (the government) has conveyed this to the Danish side," said top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi.
"The suspect Paul Watson is wanted internationally as an accomplice of the February 2010 incident where activists of anti-whaling organisation Sea Shepherd injured members of Japanese whalers and damaged properties, after which an arrest warrant was issued," Hayashi said.
"The Japanese government will continue to deal with it appropriately based on law and evidence," he told reporters at a regular briefing.
Authorities in Greenland -- a Danish autonomous territory -- released the 74-year-old Canadian-American on Tuesday after Copenhagen turned down Tokyo's extradition request.
Watson featured in the reality TV series "Whale Wars" and founded Sea Shepherd and, after being thrown out, the Captain Paul Watson Foundation (CPWF).
Adept at gaining publicity, he gained notoriety for "direct-action" tactics such as ramming vessels and using acoustic weapons, water cannon and stink bombs.
In the 2000s and 2010s Sea Shepherd played a rough game of cat and mouse with Japanese ships as they sought to slaughter hundreds of whales every year for "scientific purposes".
Former harpooner Shintaro Takeda described in a September interview the dangers posed to whalers by the activists.
"They tried to wrap ropes around our propeller, and all kinds of things, which escalated year by year," he said, adding that "no one died but I think it was close."
Japan eventually halted its hunts in the Antarctic and North Pacific and since 2019 has only caught whales in its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
The catch list was limited to sei, minke, and Bryde's whales, but this year fin whales -- the planet's second-largest animal -- were added and on August 1 the first killed.
In May, Japan launched a new "mother ship", the Kangei Maru, to butcher the several hundred whales that its fleet catches every year and store the meat.
The CPWF says that its vessel the John Paul DeJoria was on its way to intercept the Kangei Maru when Watson was taken away by Danish police on the quayside in Nuuk.
Activists believe that in building the new ship, Japan intends to resume whaling in the Southern Ocean, but the company operating the vessel has denied this.
Watson's arrest attracted major public support, with a petition attracting over 200,000 signatures.
Backers included actress-turned-activist Brigitte Bardot and prominent British conservationist Jane Goodall, who urged French President Emmanuel Macron to grant him political asylum.
Macron pressed Danish authorities not to extradite the campaigner, who applied for French nationality.
Supporters of whaling however accuse their critics of double standards given the methods used to produce much of the millions of tons of meat from other animals consumed every year.
In September, Watson's lawyers contacted the U.N. special rapporteur on environmental defenders, claiming that he could be "subjected to inhumane treatment" in Japanese prisons.
"My arrest has focused international attention on Japan's continuing illegal whaling operations and their intent to go back to the Southern Ocean... So, in fact, these five months have been an extension of the campaign," Watson told AFP on Tuesday after his release.
Jean Tamalet, one of his lawyers, told AFP that "the fight is not over."
"We will now have to challenge the red notice and the Japanese arrest warrant, to ensure that Captain Paul Watson can once again travel the world in complete peace of mind, and never experience a similar episode again," Tamalet said.
Japanese government has been tight-lipped throughout Watson's incarceration.
In a rare public comment on the case, Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said in October that the extradition request was "an issue of law enforcement at sea rather than a whaling issue".
Hideki Tokoro, president of Japan's main whaling operator Kyodo Senpaku, said Wednesday that the Japanese government should keep pressing to bring Watson to justice.
"They slammed into our ships... What they do is simply a business to collect donations," Tokoro told AFP.
© 2024 AFP
31 Comments
NipponGlory
He is a troublemaker and should be punished
Daniel Neagari
well a shame... good things naver last long
Jay
It's actually quite hilarious to see Japan's so-called "justice system" humiliated on the global stage as crazy ol' captain Watson walks free. Their attempt to extradite a man for defending marine life from barbaric slaughter shows just how deeply their government is in the pocket of the whaling industry. Sorry, J-Gov Inc., but the world doesn't bow to your outdated, eco-destroying traditions or your sham legal system. Bravo to Denmark for standing up to this nonsense and well done to Watson on his vital work.
rivx
what a joke Demark! So a pirate gets freed! Hey Demark you’re a damn joke
robert maes
its the whalers that should be jailed
Daniel Neagari
Do you came with that sentence by your own??
It sure it sound so, because I doubt you really understand the situation and position of Japan regarding several environmental protection matters (that includes the sea environment). In fact many informaton that internatiional organisation use related to sea protection and eco system comes from Japanese research.
... but then again, the stance people like you have comes from "whale intelligent as I, me don't eat meat, meat is evil" or something of that sort
JJE
This article touches upon an important aspect of this saga that was largely overlooked, especially by the "hang Watson up by his ankles" mob who were insisting he needed to face "justice" in Japan, without a hint of irony, knowing full well he would face anything but.
There was an absence of an extradition treaty - but the elephant in the room was the incompatibility of Japan's legal system with EU law.
While certain quarters trumpeted it was an agreement between Japan and Denmark, but that ignored one basic fact: Denmark, as a member of the EU, is bound by their laws. When you join that bloc, a country cedes part of its sovereignty; this was the fundamental point many completely missed - it wasn't Denmark's call alone.
Sure, Copenhagen could have just blown it off, extradited him but then there would be repercussions in Brussels (that's how that organization works). Because, as the article mentions, Macron took a personal interest - which explains much - because essentially Paris has the final say on foreign policy (Berlin controls the purse strings).
Imagine Macron having to explain to the Paris establishment social scene over champagne and hors d'oeuvre how he'd allowed their buddy to be extradited (refer to previous article for photo of significant public support for Watson) and worse - he'd never have lived it down. His French lawyer François Zimeray is a former prominent politician (in France and EU), ambassador to Denmark and continent-wide plugged in guy.
Suspect Denmark was never too keen on it, and even some non-EU states such as Canada, probably contacted discretely counselling against. This was never going to be a starter as Watson had too many friends in the EU and in high places.
Matt
Justice has been served. Get over it Japan. Japan doesn't know what justice is. The courts do whatever their political or gangster paymasters tell them to do. I agree with the commenter above. The whalers should be jailed for their crimes against nature.
browny1
As JJE indicated - incompatibility with Denmark/EU law.
From AP world news -
The ball was in Japan's court but they hit it into the net.
Bobby Franks
I’m so happy that Denmark, a Rule of Law nation, took the time to appropriately gather evidence and reach a proper decision.
Wasabi
Ecoterrorist get a free pass this time...
JJE
Mentioned this in the previous article - the red notice is still active, and it is not actually an arrest warrant in itself (I.E. totally separate from the Japanese arrest warrant).
This saga raises broader questions about the use of Interpol notices in cases involving political or environmental activism, blurring the line between legitimate law enforcement and politically motivated persecution.
ClippetyClop
He committed no terrorist acts against the ecosystem.
It was against whalers, who commit acts against the ecosystem.
Glad to help you out
JJE
Fair enough and worthy to point out. Slammed into the net in that case.
Also fair to assume that statement was more of consolation prize. A face-saving excuse for everyone.
Keep in mind the court process would have gone to Denmark itself in appeals, if not Strasbourg (ECHR) - but that was never going to happen once Macron got on the horn to Copenhagen.
Tokyo Guy
I'm not usually into conspiracy theories, but I reckon something's being hidden from us here.
My guess is that this all happened because Japan insisted on sending their extradition request by fax, and Denmark was like "we stopped using those 30 years ago and there are no functioning machines left in the country".
The_Beagle
I think after the world saw how CG was treated by the Japanese, and then saw how those who helped him escape were treated, they cottoned on that justice doesn't have the same meaning in Japan. Extraditions are not going to happen as fast or as easily as in the pre-CG era.
The_Beagle
This video probably didn't help Japan's case:
https://youtu.be/anXPPTk-jY8?si=uMNVqD_rXTScyQPF
Jay
Sure, let's talk about that “research,” which conveniently involves harpooning whales under the guise of science and then selling their meat in markets. If Japan's whaling industry is the pinnacle of environmental stewardship to you, then I suppose dumping radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean is just a "cleansing ritual."
And no, my stance isn't some vegan fairy tale about whale intelligence - I'm a meat eater who knows the difference between ecologically sustainable, ethical hunting and slaughtering endangered species to prop up a dying, unnecessary industry.
Meiyouwenti
Now Denmark proved itself to be a country that condones and even encourages acts of terrorism on the high seas by releasing the dangerous criminal who never hides his intention to resume attacks on Japanese whalers. Danes should be responsible for any damage this old idiot causes to Japanese ships, crew and other property.
Daniel Neagari
Jay
I am not necesary refering to only whale research but in general the overall ECOSYSTEM of the sea...as the word cleary states it. Just to be sure, when ecosystem is used, we are talking about the entire system that includes goes from the minerals. phytoplacton to the macro fauna (whales mostly) in the sea, not only talking about one particular speacies or order (in the scientific sense just in case).
As for the "radioactive water" as you mentioned. please refear to the multiple reports and research done by the IAEA https://www.iaea.org/topics/response/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-accident/fukushima-daiichi-alps-treated-water-discharge/reports
"Ethical hunting and slaugthering".... hahahaha ethical from the point of view of whom? the humans? Ethics comes form the morals, which differ from person to person, from culture to culture.... and I assume from spieces to spieces. So the "etchical hunting and slaugthering" is form the ethical point of view of humans not the animal being sacrificed for eating. That is a "feel good" wording and nothing more.
But, I do give you points that, to choose to sacrifise the animals to be eating in a manner less stressful from them... that way the meat taste better
@The_Beagle
The video you pointed is in line with international procedures as counter meassures agains piracy and attacks violent attacks in open waters.
Meiyouwenti
“ I'm a meat eater who knows the difference between ecologically sustainable, ethical hunting and slaughtering endangered species to prop up a dying, unnecessary industry.”
Jay, would you have no qualms about killing and eating whales if they were not endangered species?
deanzaZZR
The LDP goes to extreme lengths to help a few hundred aging whalers found in the boonies of Ishikawa, Wakayama and a few other places I suppose. Japanese taxpayers pay for the ships and subsidies.
Jay
Great question and thank you for the opportunity to share.
The answer is no, because a hunter can dispatch a deer with a single shot, resulting in an almost instantaneous death with minimal to pain. Harpooning a whale on the other hand is off-the-charts inhumane due to the their massive size and complex anatomy, as well as the fact that whales endure prolonged agony, sometimes lasting hours, as they bleed out or suffocate. This level of suffering is 100% ethically unacceptable to me regardless of whales' conservation status.
Jay
No mate, ethical hunting and slaughtering are not "feel-good" concepts... they're standards rooted in our culture with an emphasis on minimizing unnecessary suffering.
Reducing pain and respecting nature should transcend your nihilistic "anything goes" approach, otherwise, by your logic, we should abandon all standards and let barbarism reign because "it’s just a matter of perspective." Ridiculous.
aaronagstring
As someone else usually says at this point - their country, their rules! GO GO DENMARK!
factchecker
Japan says it regrets release of anti-whaling activist Watson
Tough. Go and have a big sulk about it.
Tokyo Guy
Bit off topic, but If we're talking about the ethics of whale hunting, etc. then really the only people who can comment objectively and without hypocrisy are vegetarians and vegans. Killing an animal "nicely" and killing it "not nicely" both involve killing. Given that there seems to be a general agreement that the strongest urge in any living thing is to survive, then it seems sort of bizarre to argue that killing this way is better than killing that way. I doubt the animal thus killed appreciates the finer points of debate...
syniksan
As someone else usually says at this point - their country, their rules! GO GO DENMARK!
Too right. LOOOOOOL!
OssanAmerica
Watson got arrested while he was on his way to obstruct Japanese whaling in the north Pacific.
However, "Japan eventually halted its hunts in the Antarctic and North Pacific and since 2019 has only caught whales in its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone."
So Watson is now free to Charlie Mike and get arrested by the Japan Coast Guard.
fallaffel
Sadly, the Japanese government will probably respond by increasing whaling subsidies.
itsonlyrocknroll
Watson is a environmental extremist, willing to resort to extremism, violent unlawful acts of intimidation against civilians.
Watsons agenda/terrorism has clear political aims.
Like all terrorists hunt Watson down.