There is something seriously amiss when states target individuals like Captain Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd. In this case, the power of the Japanese state and its multi-million-dollar whaling industry is being used to attempt to extradite Watson to Japan on what appear to be trumped up charges, the aim being to castrate Sea Shepherd’s campaign to stop whaling.
Watson has just issued a message explaining the reasons why he fled Germany a few days ago after being held there for 70 days.
Watson writes:
I am presently in a place on this planet where I feel comfortable, a safe place far away from the scheming nations who have turned a blind eye to the exploitation of our oceans.
The German government said I betrayed their trust by leaving Germany, yet they had already betrayed my trust. The German politicians had made up their minds politically before the German court had made a decision, and during the time I was held in Germany, the Japanese negotiated with Germany to file for an extradition order to Japan on fabricated evidence provided by former Sea Shepherd Crewmember, Peter Bethune.
In 2010, the Japanese ship Shonan Maru #2 deliberately rammed and destroyed the Ady Gil, nearly killing 6 people. The Japanese captain was not even questioned, damages were never paid, no charges were filed and they took the Ady Gil captain, Peter Bethune, back to Japan where he cooperated to provide false evidence to the Japanese Coast Guard to blame me for the boarding actions, despite the on-camera documentation that I specifically advised against the boarding by Bethune.
We have cost the Japanese whaling industry tens of millions of dollars and in October 2011, they were allocated a war chest of some thirty million dollars in misappropriated Tsunami Relief Funds to combat Sea Shepherd. With that money they have increased security at sea, filed civil suits in the U.S. Courts against us, and they have researched just where we might be vulnerable.
The core problem would appear to be efforts being made by the Japanese government to extradite Watson to Japan. He is now residing in safety in an undisclosed location.
Watson one of thousands
What has happened to Watson is shocking. But also what happens to thousands of activists fighting for what is right is also shocking. Around the world activists are struggling to protect whales, sharks, seals, forests, mountaintops, rivers, you name it. They are doing what is right. Yet so often they are victims of the state and big companies, a situation where money rules. Many are arrested, jailed, some even murdered.
So often these individuals or small groups are vulnerable and at the mercy of the authorities.
Enough is enough
Such a situation is totally unacceptable. The people have to take back the power and push for what is right.
Activists like Watson should not be chased down like dogs and thrown in jail. These are the people who have the courage to stand up and put their lives on the line for what they believe is right.
It is up to people around the world – individuals – to make a stand. People like you.
This is a new era, one in which, one by one, people are rising up and challenging the unjust.
Individuals can bring change if they have support.
