COSTA RICA: LEGISLATOR CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON

Source: Costa Rica Star.

Posted by Jaime Lopez on May 15, 2012 in World

Legislator Claudio Monge. Source: Facebook

SAN JOSE – The office of legislator Claudio Monge Pereira, a representative of Partido Accion Ciudadana (Civil Action), an opposition political party in Costa Rica, has issued a strong statement of support for Paul Watson -the controversial founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society who is currently in custody in Germany awaiting extradition proceedings for an attempted murder charge.

Legislator Monge posted his message of support on his Facebook Timeline. Digital newspaper El Pais, which often takes a strong environmental conservation stance and reports on opposition issues, also published Mr. Monge’s message.

Mr. Monge starts off his communication with a statement of solidarity with Mr. Watson and a call for authorities to evaluate the need to put this old matter to rest. He labels the arrest warrant of 2002 as unfortunate.

He continues with advice for the government of Costa Rica and President Laura Chinchilla. Mr. Monge thinks that the government, which has been awarded with the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards for excellence in the national stewardship of the oceans, is contradictory in its actions; namely the persecution of renowned ecologists who are dedicated to the protection of marine life.

Mr. Monge also suggests that the matter may have gone past the proscribed statute of limitations, although he does not cite the pertinent law. He then cites what he thinks is a moral dichotomy: the arrest of Mr. Watson against the non-prosecution of former President Jose Maria Figueres.

Later in his message, Mr. Monge vehemently decries the arrest of Mr. Watson and invites the government to get back on track and practice coherent environmental discourse. He also called attention to a legislative proposal that has been stuck in the National Assembly since 2008: File number 16890, which seeks an investigation into shark finning practices -although legislation that prohibits shark finning and established penalties already exists in Costa Rica.

The message from Mr. Monge ends in all capital letters. He writes:

“[…] in case Mr. Watson is extradited (to Costa Rica), he should be welcomed in a manner that he truly deserves, symbolically granting him the keys to our oceans, so that he can do what our governments are incapable of doing: to set things right once and for all! Freedom for Captain Watson, Defender of Marine Life!”

After the message, Mr. Monge adds a link to a YouTube clip of the film Sharkwater.
You can read the message (in Spanish), at Mr. Monge’s Facebook Timeline.

The Costa Rica Star has previously reported on Mr. Monge and his legislative record in the article:  “Hotel Chain and Bungee Jump Provider Accused of Greenwashing in Costa Rica“

Original source:
http://news.co.cr/legislator-costa-rica-calls-for-immediate-release-paul-watson/6563/

CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON ARRESTED IN GERMANY: CENTRAL AMERICAN MAFIA OF ILLEGAL SHARK FINNING

Text source: YouTube.

SEA SHEPHERD STATEMENT - MAY 13 2012:

Captain Paul Watson was arrested yesterday in Germany for extradition to Costa Rica. The German police have said that the warrant for Captain Watson's arrest is in response to an alleged violation of ships traffic in Costa Rica, which occurred during the filming of Sharkwater in 2002. The specific "violation of ships traffic" incident took place on the high seas in Guatemalan waters, when Sea Shepherd encountered an illegal shark finning operation, run by a Costa Rican ship called the Varadero. On order of the Guatemalan authorities, Sea Shepherd instructed the crew of the Varadero to cease their shark finning activities and head back to port to be prosecuted. While escorting the Varadero back to port, the tables were turned and a Guatemalan gunboat was dispatched to intercept the Sea Shepherd crew. The crew of the Varadero accused the Sea Shepherds of trying to kill them, while the video evidence proves this to be a fallacy. To avoid the Guatemalan gunboat, Sea Shepherd then set sail for Costa Rica, where they uncovered even more illegal shark finning activities such as dried shark fins by the thousands on the roofs of industrial buildings.

Conservationists around the world maintain hope that the Costa Ricans will drop the charges against Captain Watson. There is also a chance that the charges have already been dropped, but Sea Shepherd has been unable to confirm that with the Costa Rican officials. With Costa Rica's rich biodiversity, it would be a travesty for them not to stand up for sharks, which sit at the highest levels of the food chain assuring balance among ecological communities in the ocean.

While in jail, Captain Watson is being assisted by the European Parliament Vice President Daniel Cohn Bendit and the European deputy Jose Bove. Our hope is that these two honorable gentlemen can set Captain Watson free before this nonsense goes any further. The European Sea Shepherds have also mobilized to support Captain Watson.