End Japan's illegal whaling and FREE CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON!

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  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    ...and the injustice continues.  :frowning:
    INDEFINITE DETENTION CONTINUES IN CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON CASE AS JUDGE RULES WATSON TO BE HELD UNTIL JUSTICE MINISTRY’S DECISION

    The legal battle surrounding Captain Paul Watson took another frustrating turn today. Judge Lars-Christian Sinkbæk extended his remand by an additional three weeks, postponing his next hearing until December 2, 2024, which coincides with Watson’s 74th birthday. The delay comes amid increasing global scrutiny and rising concerns over the fairness of the proceedings.

    Today marks Paul’s 6th court appearance, which was very brief. The judge postponed the hearing once again. The court of Greenland referred to the verdict from the High Court, stating that keeping Paul is not disproportionate. The judge expects a decision on this to be presented before the next court date, indicating that the case needs to be expedited.

    “Today we argued that being held is disproportionate but the decision is currently in the hands of a higher court”, said Finn Meinel, Paul Watson’s defense attorney.

    Watson, who has been detained since July 21, 2024, is fighting extradition to Japan over allegations stemming from a 2010 protest in the Antarctic against illegal Japanese whaling operations. The charges claim Watson injured a crew member during a non-lethal stink bomb protest, which his supporters argue is being blown out of proportion to silence his decades-long fight against whaling. While the video evidence of the incident was once again not able to be presented in court today.

    “115 days and they haven’t made a decision”, stated Captain Paul Watson, commenting on his indefinite detention.

    Despite growing international calls for his release, the prosecution was granted yet another extension today, with the judge advising that evidence cannot be considered until the Justice Ministry has made a decision on whether to proceed with extradition, blocking yet again critical evidence in Watson’s defense, which his legal team insists would exonerate him.

    With esteemed conservationists like Sylvia Earle, David Attenborough, and Jane Goodall, among many others, speaking out in support of Captain Watson, it is deeply troubling that his fundamental human right to defend himself and present his evidence continues to be denied. 

    His legal team maintains that these charges are politically motivated, aimed at silencing Watson and intimidating other activists who are working to expose Japan’s unlawful whaling practices, which have been condemned by the International Court of Justice. The case is set to proceed to criminal court, where Watson’s defense team will present evidence of his innocence, pending a decision by the Danish Justice Ministry on whether to move forward with his extradition.

    Please continue to email the Danish Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard and ask for the immediate release of Captain Watson
    Phone: +45 7226 8400
    Mail: jm@jm.dk

    Tag Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen on your social posts @mette

    Use the hashtag #FREEPAULWATSON on all social media posts

    Sign the Petition by clicking here

    Coordinate protests, contact celebrities, contact your local governments, and share this message with everyone you know. Thank you for all of your efforts!

    Write to Paul in Prison
    Anstalten Prison
    C/O Paul Watson
    Nuuk, Greenland
    DK-3900

    For the Oceans, For Justice -

    The Captain Paul Watson Foundation





    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    Please consider emailing Danish Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard and requesting the release of Cpt Watson.
    The latest on Paul Watson:

    In a dystopian reality, Captain Paul Watson, who has dedicated his life to protecting the oceans, stepped out of a police vehicle in freezing temperatures, greeted by the songs of “Happy Birthday” from his supporters and colleagues. He was only able to give a few brief words before he was quickly ushered into the courtroom—an all-too-familiar scene that felt like Groundhog Day. When will there be progress?

    Once again, Judge Lars-Christian Sinkbæk decided to extend Captain Paul Watson’s remand, this time to December 18, 2024. The defense successfully argued for the hearing to be moved to two weeks instead of the initially proposed December 30, emphasizing the urgency of a resolution. The court is still awaiting a decision from the Ministry of Justice regarding the grounds for Watson’s extradition to Japan.

    “In court today, there was a promising sign that within the next 14 days, the Minister of Justice will make a decision on Captain Paul Watson’s extradition, which we hope will end his over four-month-long unjust detention. We urge the Minister to deny Japan’s extradition request, which is driven by revenge rather than justice.”  Omar Todd, CEO CPWF

    Jonas Christoffersen, Watson’s defense attorney, expressed frustration over the ongoing delays: “We are disappointed that the Danish authorities have taken so long. We very much hope that the Minister of Justice will reject the extradition request so Paul can be home with his family before Christmas.”

    Watson’s detention stems from an Interpol red notice issued by Japan, related to his efforts to disrupt illegal whaling activities in the Antarctic Whale Sanctuary in 2010. His legal team maintains that the charges are politically motivated and designed to silence Watson and intimidate other activists working to expose Japan’s unlawful whaling practices, which have been condemned by the International Court of Justice.

    When the judge requested further remarks, Watson seized the opportunity to defend himself, emphasizing the international pressure involved: “The fact is that Japan has threatened Denmark that they will cut a contract on windmills unless they get an extradition. Japan has threatened France that they will drop out of a UN conference and also will impact trade relations unless I get extradited.”

    Reflecting on his continued detention, Watson said, “Well, I never thought in July that I’d see my 74th birthday here in this courtroom because in July, I was confident that the evidence and documentation would show and prove that not only was I not involved in any planning or participation in the alleged incident, but that the evidence should have led to my release because I was not involved in any crime. Japan, on the other hand, destroyed the ship and injured crew members with no legal consequences.”

    Please continue to email the Danish Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard and ask for the immediate release of Captain Watson.
    Phone: +45 7226 8400
    Mail: jm@jm.dk



    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    Please, every little bit helps.


    Please continue to email the Danish Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard and ask for the immediate release of Captain Watson.
    Phone: +45 7226 8400
    Mail: jm@jm.dk

    Sample Text: Dear Minister Hummelgaard, Denmark has a proud history of upholding human rights and justice. Now is the time to stand on the right side of protecting the environment and free Captain Paul Watson. This has gone on too long, and Captain Watson is innocent. #FreePaulWatson

    Tag Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen on your social posts @mette

    Sign the petition here

    Use the hashtag #FREEPAULWATSON on all social media posts

    Contact local and mainstream media and news outlets, contact celebrities, contact your local governments, and share this message with everyone you know. Thank you for all of your efforts!

    Please continue to write to Paul in Prison
    Anstalten Prison
    C/O Paul Watson
    Nuuk, Greenland
    DK-3900




    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Posts: 10,410
    edited December 2024
    Freed!

    https://apnews.com/article/denmark-paul-watson-extradition-release-7e84fd63fb5cbfcdff21f6e575d9ba5f
    Post edited by tbergs on
    It's a hopeless situation...
  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    tbergs said:
    Freed!

    https://apnews.com/article/denmark-paul-watson-extradition-release-7e84fd63fb5cbfcdff21f6e575d9ba5f

    HALLEFUCKINGLUJAH!  I just got up and this is the first I heard of it.  I am overjoyed with this news.  Thanks for posting it!


    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,664
    Happy endings and justice actually do happen sometimes!

    MY LETTER TODAY TO GREENLAND PROSECUTOR MARIAM KHALILM
    To: Mariam Khalilm
    Prosecutor – The Greenland Court
    December 31st, 2024
    Dear Mariam,
    I would like to express my gratitude for your playing your part so exceptionally well in our little courtroom dramas over the last five months.
    As a prosecutor, you were right out of central casting, a combination of vindictiveness, personal bias and overt hostility. For the movie that is being made I will make sure we have an appropriate actor capable of colorfully portraying your viler characteristics....
    What you failed to appreciate is that you contributed greatly to what was a very successful five-month campaign to focus international attention on Japan’s continuing illegal whaling operations with the added benefit of focusing global attention on the barbaric and illegal slaughter of pilot whales and dolphins in the Faroe Islands, illegal as defined by the European Berne Convention.
    Every day you made me stay in Nuuk prison was an opportunity for our movement to publicize Japanese and Faroese crimes. By the way it is a very nice prison, a room with such a view is difficult to come by and my fellow prisoners and the guards were friendly and helpful.
    I noticed that you failed to make eye contact with me except on that one occasion when the judge ordered another remand, and you looked across at me with a disdainful smirk. You made no pretense of your hostility.
    Despite your bias, I knew from the beginning that an extradition to Japan would not happen. The fourteen-year-old bogus accusation on such a minor charge was blatantly political. You just chose to ignore the evidence.
    I know you made your decision to extradite. That was predictable but your decision was not in the best interest of Denmark and the Minister of Justice was aware of that fact and overturned your decision. However, it did not make you quite popular in the Faroes and in Japan. You did not deliver them what they wanted but at least you tried.
    It was tough being away for so long from my wife and two young sons, but the benefits have helped to compensate me for lost time.
    I have never injured a single person in my life nor have I have ever been convicted of a felony crime and that is a record I intend to keep. My driving ambition is to end the cruel and illegal slaughter of whales and dolphins and dear Mariam, you have contributed greatly to that objective.
    I hope your future brings you an understanding that there are some things that require passion, courage, imagination and even sacrifice to achieve.
    What I have done and will continue to do is appreciated now and more so in the future because I have for fifty years served a cause greater than myself and that is the conservation and protection of the Cetacean Nation.
    Yours in the Interest of a Better World
    Captain Paul Watson
    Director – Sea Shepherd France
    Director – Sea Shepherd Brazil
    Founder – Captain Paul Watson Foundation. (2022)
    Founder – Sea Shepherd Movement (1977)
    Co-Founder – Greenpeace Foundation (1972)

    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

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