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Whaling: Arrest of Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson sparks controversy
On a mission to stop a whale hunt, activist Paul Watson, a great defender of cetaceans and founder of the NGO Sea Shepherd, was arrested on Sunday July 21 in Greenland. A petition with more than 400,000 signatures is circulating, supported by Stéphane Bern and Pierre Niney.
(France 2)
On a mission to stop a whale hunt, activist Paul Watson, a great defender of cetaceans and founder of the NGO Sea Shepherd, was arrested on Sunday July 21 in Greenland. A petition with more than 400,000 signatures is circulating, supported by Stéphane Bern and Pierre Niney.
His ship was supposed to make a short stopover in a port in Greenland. Activist Paul Watson never set sail again. He was handcuffed and taken away by Danish police. They say they have “an international arrest warrant from Japan”. Since Sunday, the arrest of the founder of the NGO Sea Shepherd has sparked indignant reactions. A petition calling for his release already has more than 400,000 signatories, including Pierre Niney, Stéphane Bern and the actor Pierre Richard.
Since 2012, Paul Watson has been living under the threat of an international arrest warrant from Interpol issued at the request of Japan. The country accuses him of his shock actions, going so far as to ram Japanese whalers. Spectacular operations that have become the trademark of the activist and his NGO. In Japan, Paul Watson risks 15 years in prison. His lawyer fears a summary trial. “In Japan, when you are suspected of committing an offence, in more than 95% of cases you are convicted.”explains the latter, Me Jean Tamalet.
