This is the fourth hearing since his arrest in July. The Greenlandic justice system rules this Wednesday, October 23, on the continuation of the detention of environmental activist Paul Watson, pending the decision of the Danish government on Japan’s extradition request for a case linked to its fight against whaling. .
This new meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. (local time) in Nuuk, capital of the Danish autonomous territory, and will last approximately one hour.
“Obviously we are going to ask for his immediate release, but unfortunately it is realistic to think that this will not happen,” his lawyer Julie Stage told AFP. “We consider that the criteria to deprive him of liberty are not met,” he stressed.
“Law Enforcement”
At the same time, the lawyer will also appeal to the Supreme Court of Denmark the previous decision of the Greenlandic courts on the continued detention of the 73-year-old American-Canadian.
Founder of Sea Shepherd and the ocean foundation that bears his name, Paul Watson was arrested on July 21 while en route with his ship, the John Paul DeJoria, to intercept a Japanese whaling factory ship.
Japan has been demanding his extradition since 2012, accusing him, according to his supporters, of “obstructing a commercial activity”, but also of being jointly responsible for the damage and injuries that occurred during clashes with a Japanese whaler in the Antarctic Ocean in 2010.
This request is more “law enforcement” than whaling, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya declared in early October.
“Inhuman treatment”
Specifically, Paul Watson is being prosecuted for the injuries that, according to the prosecution, were inflicted on February 11, 2010 on a sailor on the Shonan Maru 2 by a powerful stink ball containing butyric acid, and for the collision of the same ship with four days later.
Wednesday’s hearing will focus solely on the issue of the activist’s preventive detention. The extradition decision rests with the Danish Ministry of Justice, which is still examining the case.
“The Greenland police recently sent, following their investigation, an assessment of the case to the attorney general, who will also issue a ruling,” the ministry said in a message to AFP.
Once these two evaluations have been transmitted to the Danish Ministry of Justice, a decision will be made, he added, without giving a timetable.
In mid-September, the septuagenarian’s lawyers contacted the United Nations special rapporteur on environmental defenders, denouncing in particular the risk he runs of “suffering inhumane treatment (…) in Japanese prisons.” “.
Call to mobilization
Paul Watson requested political asylum in France on Wednesday, October 16, in a handwritten letter sent to President Emmanuel Macron.
France’s position on this matter “is not clear,” declared government spokesperson Maud Bregeon the following day.
This request raises legal questions and is therefore largely symbolic. “In principle, an asylum application can only be submitted in the territory of the country in which it is submitted,” observed French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on public radio.
On Tuesday, October 22, the Brigitte-Bardot foundation, through a handwritten message from the actress, launched a call “to mobilize for the release of Paul Watson” in Paris. The rally is scheduled for Wednesday at 12 noon in the town hall square.
Source: BFM TV