Login / RegisterSea Shepherd Conservation Society says it's business as usual
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has tried to set the record straight regarding an Interpol "red notice" against the group's founder Paul Watson.
The organization has distributed a list of questions and answers—based on correspondence with Watson's German lawyer Oliver Wallasch—to explain the legal situation concerning the former Vancouver resident, who skipped bail in Germany in late July.
Watson was being held on a warrant from the Costa Rican government relating to him allegedly shooting a water cannon 10 years ago to stop shark finners.
Q.: What is the impact of Captain Watson forfeiting bail to leave Germany?
A.: "Skipping bail in Germany is not a crime! This is totally different from U.S. jurisdiction and from other countries in the world. Article 2 of the German Constitution states that Germany grants personal freedom. Therefore it is not even a crime in Germany to escape from prison. The decision of the client to leave the country leads only to the consequence that the local (not international!) arrest warrant of the Higher Regional Court was set into force, and that bail is seized (forfeited) on decision by the court. Because of the fact that the client was arrested in an extradition procedure, Germany is not actively searching for Mr. Watson locally or internationally."
Q.: What is the extradition procedure in Germany as it pertains to this case?
A.: "In the case of Mr. Watson, we knew that besides the request of Costa Rica, there was also a ‘blue’ note issued by Interpol on charges from Japan against the client. This ‘blue’ note on the warrant from Japan has been active since 2010 and has not converted into a ‘red’ notice with Interpol during the whole extradition procedure with Costa Rica. But we learned that Japan was highly interested concerning the procedure with Costa Rica because they sent requests through Interpol Tokyo to the Higher Regional Court to gather more information on the procedure itself. This was absolutely unusual. The German authorities are allowed to extradite even without a special treaty with the requesting country. Therefore it was very likely that Japan would ask for extradition itself on a bilateral basis; after Mr. Watson left the country, we learned that such an extradition request was forwarded by the Japanese Embassy through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the General Public Prosecution Office in Frankfurt. The scenario would have been that Mr. Watson would have been extradited to Costa Rica, and then extradited after the procedure to Japan.
"These facts show that there was a link between the extradition request from Costa Rica and the upcoming extradition request from Japan. Having in mind that the president of Costa Rica visited Japan at the end of 2011, having in mind that Japan granted an enormous amount of money for 'environmental protection in Costa Rica, it is obvious that these two countries have a very close relationship."
Q.: Is the Interpol "red" notice a warrant and what is its impact?
A.: "Interpol notices are international alerts allowing police in member countries to share information. Interpol is not actively issuing arrest warrants, Interpol is not actively searching for the defendant, and Interpol is not involved in the extradition procedure. Interpol just exchanges information between the police in the member countries. "The information that Interpol has issued a ‘red’ notice against Mr. Watson on the charges of Costa Rica only means that the police in the member countries shall be aware that Mr. Watson is wanted by Costa Rica. It is up to the police and the judicial authorities within the Interpol member countries whether or not they want to act on this local arrest warrant from Costa Rica."
Q.: What is the impact of the ‘red’ notice on Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (S.S.C.S.)?
A.: "Because of the fact that these are individual cases and charges against Mr. Watson (in Costa Rica and in Japan) which are as stated probably politically motivated, there is no impact on the work of S.S.C.S. as an NGO itself; it is a general principle that criminal charges are against individuals, not against legal bodies."
Q.: Will Captain Watson be able to travel for the upcoming Antarctic and other campaigns?
A.: “I am convinced that Captain Paul Watson is able to continue his work, even with these bogus charges against him,” his lawyer, Oliver Wallasch, said.
Paul Watson is a hero for humanity and what is right....may there be many more Paul Watsons to come....
They are charging Watson with attempted "murder by drowning" for allegedly ordering a fire hose to be turned on some Costa Rican high-seas poachers. All that happened is some thieving, shark-killing bastards got wet. "Dangerous criminal"?
By the way, is your real name Patrick?
Just askin'.
i don't think so ;-)
As for those who think Watson endangered no one (which the evidence certainly does not support), let him stand trial and face his accusers. Germany, Costa Rica and Japan are all established democracies with transparent and fair judiciary systems and rule of law.
Personally, I think Watson should just admit that his tactics were dangerous and out of line, and re-dedicate himself to non-violent means of civil disobedience.
Please cite the statutes on which you base your claim that Watson's German lawyer is lying.
Thank you.
Otherwise.....
Fox News would be proud of this piece of "journalism".
He is quoting an article of the German constitution, not a European legal association. There is a big difference. Whether or not returning to that jurisdiction would involve a legal challenge is not up to the Straight to research.
We are merely publishing what the group is claiming, and you are free, as always, to comment upon those claims.
Like any Internet-age Google expert.
And just who are we to be telling the Japanese what they can and cannot harvest for food. We North Americans slaughter hundreds of thousands of animals a day to meet our needs. Whale has been part of the Japanese diet for centuries. Only arrogant self absorbed North Americans could honestly believe that they are righteous in condemning the Japanese in their pursuit of a non-threatened species.
"Therefore it is not even a crime in Germany to escape from prison." I'm still chuckling about that statement. Does anyone actually believe that?