Paul Watson arrested

by adamhanlon Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

Paul Watson, founder of the environmental organization Sea Shepherd, was arrested at Frankfurt Airport, Germany on 12 May, pending extradition to Costa Rica. This was carried out due to a warrant that had been issued in Costa Rica relating to events in Guatemalan waters in 2002 when Watson’s boat, the Farley Mowat, encountered an illegal shark-finning operation run by a Costa Rican ship, the Varadero. Crew on the Varadero accused Watson of attempting to ram their boat and Watson was charged by Costa Rican authorities with attempted murder. The events were captured on video, and subsequently formed a part of the film Sharkwater.

This video evidence led to the charges being dropped, however it would seem that they have been re-investigated by a newly appointed prosecutor, and this has led to the arrest. Support for the campaigner has flooding in, and an online petition has been set up to call for his release. UPDATE. It looks like Germany will extradite Paul Watson to Costa Rica. Sea Shepherd are calling for people to contact the German authorities and ask them not to do so.

Urgent Call to Sea Shepherd Supporters - Help Save Captain Watson from Extradition to Costa Rica!

In shocking news, German officials have decided to proceed with the extradition of Captain Watson to Costa Rica. Our last hope of saving Captain Watson from extradition is to convince German officials at the Ministry of Justice to step in and overturn their decision. Show your support for Captain Watson by contacting Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, the Federal Minister of Justice in Berlin, Germany. Let her know that the warrant for Captain Watson’s arrest is politically motivated and thus should be ignored by the German government. With international support we can set Captain Watson free, and keep him from the possibility of facing an unfair trial in Costa Rica.

Please contact: (Please be respectful in your communications)

Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger
Federal Minister of Justice
Deutscher Bundestag
Platz der Republik
11011 Berlin

Telephone 030 - 227 751 62
Fax 030 - 227 764 02
E-Mail: sabine.leutheusser-schnarrenberger@bundestag.de

Federal Ministry of Justice
Mohrenstrasse 37
10117 Berlin, Germany

Telephone: +49 (030) 18 580-0
Telefax: +49 (030) 18 580-9525

Sample Letter:

Dear Ms Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger,

I was very concerned to hear that Germany has detained Sea Shepherd’s Captain Paul Watson for possible extradition to Costa Rica. I understand that the warrant for Captain Watson’s arrest is politically motivated and possibly due to an incident in which Sea Shepherd uncovered an illegal shark finning operation.

I support Sea Shepherd’s efforts to monitor and publicise illegal fishing and whaling around the world and recognize that some illegal fishing operations try to use international law to shut down the Sea Shepherd operations. I urge you to consider the valuable work Captain Watson and Sea Shepherd are undertaking globally to highlight the dangers to our oceans in considering this extradition request.

Sincerely,

Your Name.

Done
Posted by muckdiver on 2012-05-26 07:04:11 Signed and contacted German authorities. What a travesty!!
Posted by Tim of the Deep on 2012-05-22 20:13:03 Paul Watson is both hero and criminal: he is breaking laws for a cause in which he believes. It is necessary that he be prepared to pay the price for his beliefs, and I can only feel that he should be punished if found guilty after due process. The bravery is meaningless without the risk and I, for one, am not going to petition for his release if due process has been observed. My own opinion is that he is responsible for more harm than good, is personally irresponsible, and subjects his crew to unnecessary risk for the hell of it...
Posted by tdpriest on 2012-05-21 07:24:14 "U/W photographers are hopefully engaged on environmental issues." And videographers as well. ;-) We always get thought of last in line.
Posted by Steve Douglas on 2012-05-19 13:17:06 Hi Doug, I am responsible for the content of the front page including this article. It has provoked a debate. Please note that I have not asked you not to debate it, but to refrain from personal attacks on Wetpixel members and extremely provocative statements. There is nothing wrong with anyone holding an opinion and I make no claim (and nor does Wetpixel) about any neutrality on issues like this. U/W photographers are hopefully engaged on environmental issues. We will continue to inform and be active on issues that we feel are of concern. If you see that as peddling a agenda, I'm sorry but that is the way it is gong to be. Paul Watson's arrest is a newsworthy event, and many people may choose to support efforts to get him released. You have made it abundantly clear that you do not. However, that doesn't make your stance any more correct than anyone else's. Lastly as a point of fact, until he is tried and convicted for an offence, he cannot be labelled as as criminal. As far as I am aware, the current events are that he has been arrested pending extradition and then a trial. Accusing me of supporting an international criminal is a step too far as this stage:)
Posted by adamhanlon on 2012-05-19 12:59:17 This is also not the place for asking for support for international criminals. This is an U/W photography site. Go peddle your agendas elsewhere!
Posted by diverdoug1 on 2012-05-19 12:17:27 Guys-this is not the place for flames or personal attacks. I have just deleted the worst of it. By all means state an opinion and disagree, but leave out all the personal invective, labelling and name calling please.
Posted by adamhanlon on 2012-05-19 11:19:34 I'm with Doug, ego drives Paul Watson not the cause.
Posted by becks0079 on 2012-05-19 02:15:28 Break eggs to make omlettes??? Pull your head out of your rear end. The men on thoses boats make their living fishing year round. When big boss tells them to fish whale, they fish whale. Ramming them in freezing seas could kill them. If you don't agree with another persons actions, threatening their life is not the way to deal with it. A cavalier attitude about endangering the lives of others to get your way is the result of being an egocentric jerk.
Posted by diverdoug1 on 2012-05-18 22:33:24 You got to break eggs to make omelettes- there is no sky daddy Doug! Keep it real!!!!!
Posted by DamonA on 2012-05-18 19:44:07 I think he belongs in jail for a long time. I can maybe see how he justifies being a lying drama queen to draw attention to his cause, but his direct actions of ramming another fishing vessel in the southern ocean has caused me to stop contributing to the sea shepherd foundation. Those fishermen on the whaling ships do not deserve to have their lives put in danger by Watson's protest actions. I also feel that whaling should be abolished, but endangering the lives of fisherman is evil. I also think abortions are wrong, but do not support bombing abortion clinics. Both instances are good causes being fought for by criminals commiting evil crimes.
Posted by diverdoug1 on 2012-05-18 12:18:48 Becks0079 I don't think that you will be shot down, and I understand your comment. Paul has devoted his life to try and make many countries see sense regarding several marine issues including whaling, shark finning, long lining to name a few. Sea Shepherd relies on public donations to keep up their fight against all the harm that is being done on a daily basis around the world. With recent events of Pauls arrest I am sure that the Sea Shepherd spin doctors will work his arrest to gain more publicity for the organisation and to get the message out to even more people. If this is means that more attention is drawn to Sea Shepherd and Paul then this can only be good for the animals that he is trying to protect.
Posted by stewsmith on 2012-05-18 07:56:36 I know I'm going to get flamed for this but sea shepard are a bunch of tossers. Paul Watson is probably happy he is being charged, he enjoys drawing attention to himself more than Lady Gaga.
Posted by becks0079 on 2012-05-18 00:46:07 This is crazy. I just sent a letter to the ministry of (in)justice.
Posted by Danny Charlton on 2012-05-17 09:03:19 this is a call for everyone. Don't just read about it, act now
Posted by Steve Douglas on 2012-05-16 15:21:36 save paul!!! he does what all of us wish we could do but don't have the guts :)
Posted by tiburondefender on 2012-05-15 21:07:06 done!
Posted by DamonA on 2012-05-15 20:16:32 Paul Watson is a hero. He deserves our support.
Posted by Don in Colorado on 2012-05-15 19:17:29