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New Zealand siding with Japan - anti-whaling activist

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NZ siding with Japan - anti-whaling activist

3News NZ

Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson (Photo: Interpol)

Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson (Photo: Interpol)

By 3 News online staff

An anti-whaling activist is "shocked" the New Zealand Government appears to be siding with Japan on the contentious issue of whaling in the Southern Ocean.

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society founder Paul Watson is trying to avoid being extradited to Japan after Interpol issued two red notices.

Three Sea Shepherd ships docked in New Zealand over the weekend, and crews say they were asked if Mr Watson was on board and one ship was searched for him, Fairfax reports.

However Mr Watson was not on any of them, having transferred to another ship in international waters.

Mr Watson told The Press he needed to switch ships to continue his work.

"My concern was, if I went into New Zealand I’d be detained and not be able to lead my ships down to the Southern Ocean."

He worries if he is extradited to Japan, he may never be released.

He also told the paper he was "pretty shocked" New Zealand appeared to be siding with Japan over the matter.

"From what I gather, New Zealand will comply with Japan. The Government has made its position very clear."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully told Fairfax that New Zealand has an obligation to notify issuing countries if someone named in an Interpol red notice enters the country.

The two red notices issued on Mr Watson are from Japan and Costa Rica. In Japan he is charged with breaking into a vessel, damage to property, obstruction of business and injury. In Costa Rica there were claims Mr Watson had threatened to kill fishermen while filming a documentary about shark finning.

Mr Watson also skipped bail in Germany last year.

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Comments

2/02/2013 5:21:07 a.m.

jenia wrote:

this bloke is typical of the loony animal rights nutcases we are seeing,thinks he can do what he likes.pity the selfish bastard didnt spend the money he has wasted on something worthwhile like starving kids in the third world.

19/01/2013 6:24:14 a.m.

josh wrote:

OK let me boil this down for all you Paul Watson haters say you are walking down the street when you see a guy kicking the crap out of a dog. Do you keep walking and look the other way? (if you do your a looser) Or do you proceed in kicking the crap out of him? ( like any normal minded person would) Or another example say a person was to rob your families houses night after night and the authorities would not come check it out do you move? Or do you defend at all cost? To touch on another note in these comments to say he is hiding racism behind whales YOU kujirakira ARE AN IDIOT !!!!!!!!!!

12/01/2013 1:59:56 p.m.

atrout wrote:

I'd love to see a study done on the remaining SS supporters. The results would certainly show that facts, legal decisions and other normal criteria for decision making are of little value to the average SS supporter. Full of passion and devoid of reasoning! Inadequate self esteem compensated for by blind hero worship. You only have to watch a few episodes of Whale Wars to see the personality type at its most extreme. The Faeroe Islands series is the best to see the sort of follower that Paul attracts. Paul's time has come - now that he's resigned as Hero in Chief for the flotilla. His extravagant and illegal activities are just about over.

9/01/2013 10:06:49 p.m.

Elena wrote:

It is all about money and politics in the end of the day....none of the governments are interested in the animal welfare, otherwise whaling would be stopped for good a long time ago. In a normal society people like captain Watson will be called heroes , he is trying to save the species...when a lot of species will become extinct thanks to the insatiable appetite in Asia them maybe humans will realize how wrong they were...i just hope it is not too late....shame on the world leaders for allowing this barbaric slaughters to take place!

9/01/2013 7:42:35 p.m.

Veronica wrote:

Tom. You're an idiot. Watson is the only person who has the courage to stand up to the unacceptable slaughter that is taking place in this legally established 'SANCTUARY'. You cannot plunder oceans like Japan are doing and expect people to stand by and do nothing. The 'charges' against Watson are fake and politically motivated. Shame on Costa Rica for their blatant corruption. Paul Watson has my vote! The man should be made a saint for what he's done for our planet. Bravo Sea Shepherd!

8/01/2013 5:23:43 a.m.

MJW wrote:

It's not kowtowing to Japan or any other country when NZ follows established procedure in clearing a ship through customs when a known fugitive is suspected of being on board. Regardless of one's views on whaling, Mr. Watson has chosen to run from his problems with Costa Rica and Japan and he now has two Interpol red notices hanging over him. NZ has treaty obligations regarding Interpol and it is both arrogant and insulting that Watson should claim that NZ is taking sides or knuckling under to pressure.

8/01/2013 3:06:53 a.m.

kujirakira wrote:

It's amusing how Watson and his followers spin everything to be about Japan. He's wanted for fleeing Germany while be extradited to Costa Rica. Not Japan. But hey, we all know what this is really about anyway... if you hide your racism behind whales, it becomes socially acceptable.

8/01/2013 2:22:31 a.m.

craig wrote:

why are people on here saying paul is a pirate when he is not all he has done is stand up for the whales and the other life in the sea japan is not the only ones hunting whales iceland and norway do aswell but belive me if them whales could sceam they would not hunt them no one would horpooning a whale in the back is insane i wish them poor whales and dolfins could talk i really do its sad .

8/01/2013 1:09:35 a.m.

Duysterbos wrote:

it,s a political mess worldwide when it comes to saving nature. so far Sea Shepherd is allmost the only one who's taking care of that heavy job whatever it takes. they have my vote!!

7/01/2013 11:57:08 p.m.

Rhyan wrote:

Stop whaling that is the message the Japanese government needs to hear. Humanity needs to to have a good look at itself as a whole and realize we only cause destruction our wants out weigh common logic, and our mouths should be feared as it will bring us to extinction.