ACTION ALERT: S.O.S. Day – Save Our Skipper – Wednesday May 23rd

“A dolphin surfs the wake of a research boat on the Banana River - near the Kennedy Space Center” (Wiki)

UPDATE: May 22, 2012

S.O.S. Day – Save Our Skipper – Wednesday May 23rd

For the past week, we have implored Sea Shepherd supporters to write to the Honorable German Ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs. The decision to release Captain Watson on bail this Monday is the unmistakable result of the thousands of letters, emails, faxes, and phone calls that were sent this week. Granting bail to a non-German national is almost unheard of in an extradition proceeding.

While we have won a victory with the decision to allow Captain Paul Watson out on bail, the battle to save his life must now intensify. The Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt has confirmed, together with the General Public Prosecutor, that the authority to save Captain Paul Watson’s life belongs to the Honorable German Minister of Justice. Continue to write, call, email, and fax the Honorable German Ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs.

These Honorable Ministers must see their way clear to act now as delineated by the General Public Prosecutor and Higher Regional Court. Captain Paul Watson is expecting his supporters worldwide to take our demands to save his life to the doorsteps of Germany’s diplomatic missions around the globe. We are calling for a Global Day of Action on Wednesday May 23rd. On this day the President of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, will be visiting German Chancellor Merkel in Berlin. Wednesday May 23rd is S.O.S. Day – Save Our Skipper!

Greetings From Germany

COMMENTARY BY CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON

http://www.seashepherd.org/commentary-and-editorials/2012/05/22/greetings-from-germany-537

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May 18, 2012

The German Higher Regional Court, in Frankfurt, granted Captain Watson bail but also approved the prosecutor’s request to move forward on the Captain’s extradition to Costa Rica, where he will certainly NOT receive a fair trial, if he even makes it to trial. BUT the court also implied the Ministry of Justice has the power to free the Captain and end this.

From Sea Shepherd

“In a press release, received towards the end of business hours Friday, the Higher Regional Court stated that “the question of whether or not Mr. Paul Watson will be extradited is not ultimately a decision by the Higher Regional Court but by the executive body which is the Ministry of Justice”.

“Even the Higher Regional Court is stating that the Ministry of Justice in Germany can step in and prevent his extradition at any time. The international campaign to save Captain Paul Watson from a politically-motivated extradition to Costa Rica where he will not receive a fair trial, nor is it likely that he would even survive jail to see the inside of a courtroom, is having an effect. The Taiwanese shark fin mafia in Costa Rica has made threats on Captain Paul Watson’s life.”

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It’s imperative we continue to appeal to the Ministers for Captain Watson’s release!!

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Please Call, Email, and Fax the following Ministers

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

Dr. Guido Westerwelle – Minister of Foreign Affairs
FDP-Bundestagsfraktion
Platz der Republik 1 11011
Berlin

Tel.: 030 / 22771636
Fax: 030 / 22776562
E-Mail: guido.westerwelle@bundestag.de

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May 18, 2012

Bogus Extradition Process to Proceed, but Captain Paul Watson Granted Bail

Higher Regional Court Defers Judgment to Ministry of Justice

In an extraordinary move by the German Higher Regional Court in Frankfurt, the court has granted the general public prosecutor’s request for Captain Paul Watson’s preliminary arrest for extradition to Costa Rica. However, the court has also granted bail for Captain Paul Watson during the time the court considers whatever documentation Costa Rica is able to provide to substantiate their bogus allegations against Captain Paul Watson. It is expected that Captain Paul Watson will be freed on bail on Monday, May 21, 2012. Sea Shepherd’s legal team says this is an unusual, but promising move on the part of the Higher Regional Court and is further indication that the international campaigning efforts for Captain Paul Watson’s release are being heard in the chambers of justice in Germany.

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Paul Watson freed on bail while extradition considered

Posted: Friday, May 18, 2012 – By AFP

Court in Frankfurt said a Costa Rican extradition request would be considered.

BERLIN – A German court Friday granted bail to Paul Watson, the founder of marine conservation group Sea Shepherd, while authorities decide whether he can be extradited to Costa Rica.

The higher regional court in Frankfurt said in a statement a Costa Rican extradition request would be considered on charges stemming from a high-seas confrontation with alleged shark finners in 2002.

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Statement from German Court

Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main provisional arrest orders against animal protection activist Paul Watson and sets out safety warrant for execution

05/18/2012 – Press Release
The Higher Regional Court Frankfurt (OLG) has just been arranged at the request of the Attorney General’s Office against the animal protection activist Paul Watson, the provisional arrest warrant based on a Costa Rica (on the facts, see previous press release of today). In its decision the Court of Appeals noted, that the delivery of Watson’s outset is inadmissible, especially because the alleged actions would be punishable under German law and are not barred.At the same time, the OLG has the extradition warrant, under the condition set out enforcement, that a security of 250.000, – € will be provided.
After the performance security, as Watson himself had offered, he is therefore set at liberty. However, it may leave the Federal Republic of Germany until the conclusion of the extradition proceedings and does not need to follow additional requirements.Since both the victims of persecution or his authorized representative has been informed and the Attorney General already has the decision could be contrary to earlier announcement of a press release today.Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main, Decision of 05.18.2012, file number two foreigners A 106/12

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Photo: Bottlenose Dolphin Wikimedia Commons

Posted in: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Tags: Free Captain Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, bail, political prisoner, German Ministers of Justice, keep up the pressure, Costa Rica, extradition, illegal shark finning

Published in:

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

on May 22, 2012 at 3:31 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: bail, Costa Rica, extradition, Free Captain Paul Watson, German Ministers of Justice, illegal shark finning, keep up the pressure, political prisoner, SEa Shepherd Conservation Society

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