German Court Wants Fugitive Activist Paul Watson Extradited

07/25/2012

FRANKFURT, July 25, 2012 (AFP) - A German court Wednesday called for the extradition to Costa Rica of Paul Watson, the founder of marine conservation group Sea Shepherd, as he had skipped bail and apparently left the country.

The higher regional court in Frankfurt said Watson's lawyer had informed it that he had left Germany "for an unspecified destination" and that they had therefore decided to resume extradition proceedings against him.

Earlier this year, Costa Rica filed an extradition request on charges stemming from a high-seas confrontation over shark finning in 2002.
  
Watson, a Canadian national who leads the Sea Shepherd organisation noted for its muscular attacks on Japanese whalers, is accused of "putting a ship's crew in danger".
  
The 61-year-old, whom Sea Shepherd members affectionately call "the captain" -- and who looks the part with a thick shock of white hair and beard, was arrested at Frankfurt airport in western Germany in May.
  

He was detained for a week before being released on bail but has not adhered to the terms of the bail since July 22, the court said.
  
"Since by fleeing, Watson has shown that he cannot justify the trust placed in him, the extradition process has been restarted," the court said.
  
In an interview with AFP after he was arrested, the activist vowed that his campaign would continue even if he were tried and jailed.
  
"They hope that by getting me out of the way, they'll shut down our operations. They won't," Watson said.
  
"This is not about me. It is about our oceans and the ever-escalating threat of diminishment of the diversity of life in our seas. It is about the sharks, the whales, the seals, the sea turtles and the fish," he said.
  
On a visit to Germany in May, Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla said Watson would have a fair trial if extradited to the Central American country.

Comments

[JennB]

Ugh, why did he do that? I understand the reasons why he felt he needed to "escape" but...

[Ritchie Hicks]

The world really is a vampire.

[Ninette]

Captain Watson is a hero not a criminal-- His arrest is political and all charges against him should be dropped. Captain Watson was asked by the Costa Rica government to stop the shark poachers -- and Sea Shepherd complied and stopped the real criminals on the open seas those who de -fin sharks--No shark poachers have been hurt--this act is documented on video-- the whole world knows this arrest of Captain Watson is politically motivated-- by those who seek short term profits off the destruction of the planet's precocious oceans. The ocean destroyers and shark poachers need to go to jail not-- Captain Watson.

[Fatherfunk]

FAT RACIST CANADIAN SCUMBAG! Go back to your own country and stop whaling and killing baby seals you miserable inbred, white trash, pedophile canadian neck beard!

[Jennifer]

Paul, you are a hero! Save our seas at all costs and screw Germany and Costa Rica!

[LMAO]

I find it funny that real freedom fighters like MLK were arrested several time for their cause.

Watson is a coward. Stand up to the govt. and fight the laws.

[bob]

Eco-Terrorists!!!

[Luiz]

Why you wait for so long? Well done Captain. Good luck Mr. Paul.

[Barbara G Daniel]

Japan paid a great amount of money as a gift to Costa Rica..not political, and what about the statue of limitations? Trumped-up charges as he has the video of the accusations against him. Who is saving the slaughter of our ocean's creatures? Remember, the ocean is our water supply for the whole Earth. Why aren't more countries backing and stopping the illegal and useless killing of our whales, sharks, and the blue fin fish of our oceans? My passion is to be one of the voices, please stop the illegal killing of the whales in restricted areas of the oceans. Peace, pause, and pray for them!

[Thomas Woolverton]

Way to go Captain Watson. I back you and am a member of Sea Shepherd online. I support you and your efforts to stop the killing of the whales, sharks, sea lions, and fish around the world. You do what you have to in order to get the word out. You are a hero to the oceans and the species that live within it. You are a hero to the so-called species that is the highest on the food chain, supposedly its the human species.

[ra757]

Paul Watson is a Great Man!
I wish we have more people like him!
FREE Paul Watson german NAZIS!!!!!

[Jackwagon]

He says he will die for the cause, but apparently not get arrested for the cause! Hypocrite!!!!

[Gail Bogle]

Captain Paul Watson is a Hero, the only man that has had the guts to stand up against poachers... Iv got his back and several more here in Texas do to... GO PAUL

[michelle]

Good luck Mr. Watson!!! 100% with u

[LA Tall Man]

@LMAO and @Jackwagon: I would suggest to both of you that you spend some time reading up on Paul's life. He's been fighting to protect the oceans for his whole life, and has been arrested many times.

In the 1980's, his own government jailed him and beat him badly while he was locked up.

Paul has sacrificed everything in his life for his mission ... family, financial security, safety ... everything. Paul is as far away from being a coward as you can possibly imagine !!

Many years ago, a Japanese newspaper called him "Samurai"! A JAPANESE newspaper !!! Do you realize how significant that is? I can't even think of a term in this county that conveys anywhere near the honor and esteem that "Samurai" does in the Japanese culture.

[boni]

Go Paul...this was a monkey court to begin with! We will always have your back...f*** costa rica!

[katherine]

Good luck n God bless u Mr. Watson. God speed. 100% with u. Will continue to pray for u. GO SEA SHEPHARDS !!!!!

[TomB205]

The Taiwanese Shark Fin Mafia is known to have a $20,000 bounty on Watson, and is very influentual in the Costa Rican prison system. And while he sais he would die for the cause, wouldnt you think he would try to avoid having to do that?

[justme]

I really wish these television networks would quit giving this group of terrorist troublemakers air time. Hopefully if Costa Rica gets a hold of this piece of trash they'll make him walk the plank.

[charley]

The world needs more people willing to stand up for what is right. Sea Shepherds should post their Pay Pal info with every story!

[Helen]

Father Funk, before you call someone a Fat Racist Canadian Scumbag, which this man is not, get your facts right. He is the one trying so hard to save the whales and the seals not kill them you wingnut. You are just rambling, does that make you feel better calling Paul that, and you know nothing. I wish the Japanese would nail you with one of their harpoons you nut.

[love whale wars]

justme is an idiot also!

[speaktrue]

@ justme and bob:
You just repeat like the parrots. Use your own brain at least the minimum of it. You are sad people.

[herbie]

Keep up the good work Paul. Japan used the money from the tsunami to beef up their ships. They didn't put it into the country or to the family's who lost everything. What a great place to live were your own government doesn't care if your kids have a home GO SEA SHEPHERDS

[Jocelyn]

I totally understand why he fled. It was taking a ridiculous amount of time. Germany and Costa Rica has proven to everyone how horribly they handle justice.