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Sea Shepherd’s Paul Watson released on bail in Germany

Paul Watson, president of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, answers questions while sailing aboard a trimaran off the harbour of La Ciotat, southern France. In the background is the Sea Shepherd vessel, Steve Irwin. Watson has spent roughly 40 years developing a reputation as one of the most combative defenders of the ocean. — Photo by The Canadian Press/The Associated Press

Paul Watson, president of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, answers questions while sailing aboard a trimaran off the harbour of La Ciotat, southern France. In the background is the Sea Shepherd vessel, Steve Irwin. Watson has spent roughly 40...

Published on May 21, 2012
Published on May 21, 2012
The Canadian Press ~ OBJ  RSS Feed
Topics :
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society , Frankfurt Airport , Germany , FRANKFURT , Toronto

FRANKFURT, Germany — The Canadian founder of an anti-whaling group who was arrested in Germany on an international warrant has been released on bail.

Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society left a Frankfurt jail on Monday after a court ordered him freed on bail pending a decision on whether he will be extradited to Costa Rica.

Watson is wanted for allegedly endangering a Costa Rican fishing boat while filming a documentary in 2002.

The Toronto-born activist said he was relieved to be free, a week after his detention at Frankfurt Airport.

“I didn’t expect something that happened 10 years ago to sneak up on me in Germany,” Watson told reporters.

Last Friday, a Frankfurt court ruled that Watson could be freed on $320,000 bail.

Sea Shepherd says the money was put up by a donor and Watson must remain in Germany while the extradition case against him is underway.

“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,” Sea Shepherd said in a statement posted on their website.

Watson also issued a statement from his cell last week saying his group has “made some powerful enemies” in its efforts to defend the lives of whales, sharks, seals and other sea life.

“Therefore the question must be asked why Germany is now taking into account accusations made by illegal poachers,” he said.

Sea Shepherd continues to maintain that Watson’s arrest was politically motivated and is calling on its supporters to come together in a day of action on May 23, when the Costa Rican president visits Germany.

“We’re asking for people all over Germany to let the minister of justice know that captain Paul Watson must be released immediately,” society spokesman Peter Hammarstedt says in a video posted on the group’s website.

Comments

  • Username
    sam
    - June 28, 2012 at 01:53:52

    i agrey with all the people out there but you can debate all you want with wether he should be stopping the companies that use the whale stuf i dont know what they use from them but he is saving the whales insted of sitting in a corpret biulding telling them to stop abusing whale while they stone wall him with paper work its bin said that the best way is the direct way and the most diect route to stopping the use of whale oil and such is to take the whales out of the picture no whales no whale products and ovisly he cant get rid of the whales so he gets rid of the harvisteres

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  • Username
    wayne holloway
    - June 2, 2012 at 04:50:57

    i am not for whaling but this group is attacking the wrong people if you want to stop whaling go after the people who seek it for their perfumes and other unneeded items, not the guys who are just making a living. And by the way if you throw a glass bottle at someone that is battery and criminal act and the acid can cause health issues for those who are susceptible to such substances. And as far as the norse whaling ya'll have no right to tell people what they can and can not eat for food. i think all individuals who are involved is this group should be treated as they are terrorists, they terrorize the whalers. and if they keep puttingtheir ships in the way of the larger ships they should be arrested for endangerign the lives of the people on the other lives. YOU ARE ALL CRIMINALS

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  • Username
    Kevin Power
    - May 21, 2012 at 19:21:33

    Wind Bag Watson.

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    • Username
      ron
      - May 22, 2012 at 08:33:14

      mr. watson should be treated as any other mortal and be charged with attempted murder,and whatever other criminal activities he has committed . he has made a opersonal fortune on the backs of school children all over the world through his illegal activities . germany , throw the book at him.

  • Username
    Eli
    - May 21, 2012 at 18:41:13

    Good ol' NTV gave him about 10 minutes tonite. Just what this clown wanted. Well done Fred....naught!

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