On July 21, 2024, Paul Watson was ambushed and arrested in Nuuk, Greenland. But this is not the first time he has faced injustice, nor will it deter us from our mission. This article explains the current charges against him.
Paul Watson Arrested - ACTIONS to take
On July 21, 2024, Paul Watson was ambushed and arrested in Nuuk,
Greenland. But this is not the first time he has faced injustice,
nor will it deter us from our mission.
How did we get here? Let's go back to February 11, 2010. Two
crewmembers on the Japanese whaling vessel, Shonan Maru 2,
fired pepper spray at four anti-whaling activists in an inflatable
boat. The wind turned their weapon back on them, but they claimed
that a glass stink bomb injured them instead. That incident, based
on distorted facts, became the first of many charges against Paul.
To see footage of the actual event filmed by Animal Planet by
helicopter, click here.
Charge #1. Bodily injury (§204 of the penal code) Anyone who
injures the body of another is liable to imprisonment for up to 15
years or a fine of up to 500,000 yen.
On February 15, 2010, New Zealand citizen Peter Bethune cut a small
net in order to board the Shonan Maru 2. Peter Bethune gained entry
onto the whaling ship to request reimbursement from the Japanese
Captain who rammed his vessel, the Ady Gil, (formerly Pet Bethune’s
vessel called EarthRace) on January 6th 2010, slicing it in two and
ultimately causing it to sink. To see footage of the attack on the
Ady Gil and its crew, click here.
Charge #2. Intrusion into boats and ships (§ 130 of the
Penal Code) and damage to property (1) Any person who intrudes into
the home of another or into the houses, buildings or boats or ships
under the surveillance of a person and does not leave these places
when requested to do so by the authorised person shall be liable to
a term of imprisonment not exceeding three years or a fine not
exceeding 100,000 yen.
Despite the destruction of his ship, Peter Bethune was sent to
prison in Japan and served a suspended sentence (4 months in jail, 2
year suspended sentence and deportation). Under duress, Peter
confessed that Paul Watson ordered him to board the ship—a claim he
later retracted, revealing the coercion he faced in Japanese
custody. This fabricated confession added a conspiracy charge
against Paul.
Charge #3. Conspiracy: If two or more persons commit an
offence together, all persons are considered to be the main
offenders.
From 2010 until May 2012, Paul traveled freely. But suddenly,
Japan's influence led to his arrest in Germany. A decade-old warrant
from Costa Rica, driven by Japan, sought to silence him. Yet, the
charges were dismissed, and Paul resumed his fight for the oceans.
Fast forward to July 21, 2024. Paul is arrested once more, this time
by Denmark, under Japan's influence. It's clear that Japan’s
obsession with revenge outweighs any concern for justice. Their
whaling practices were exposed to the world by Animal Planet’s TV
show Whale Wars, and their retaliation is to persecute the man who
brought their illegal Antarctic whaling operations to light.
Japan's latest accusation claims Paul conspired to impede commerce.
Yet, Japan claimed at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that
its whaling activities in Antarctica were authorized under Article
VIII of the IWC Convention, which provides for each Contracting
Government to issue special permits for whaling involved in
scientific research. So which is it, research or commerce? Their
contradictory claims only highlight the truth: these charges are
baseless and politically motivated. Furthermore the ICJ at the Hague
determined Japan was whaling illegally in Antarctica, a suit filed
by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand.
Paul Watson is a symbol of our collective resolve, and his
imprisonment will not stop us. This year, Japan built a new killing
machine, the Kangei Maru, aimed at whaling in the Southern
Ocean Whale Sanctuary. We cannot and will not allow this to happen.
We will not rest until whaling is banned globally. We fight not just
for ourselves, but for our children, our grandchildren, our great
grandchildren, and our planet.
For the Oceans,
The Captain Paul Watson Foundation