14 DAY TRIAL // Not very long ago, Captain Paul Watson from green organization Sea Shepherd was arrested in Germany, presumably for having breached the existing legislation on ships' traffic. Apparently, Japanese officials asked that the environmentalist was extradited to their country.
For those unaware, Captain Paul Watson was at one point accused of trying to sink an illegal shark fishing vessel by crushing his boat into it.
The incident occurred close to Guatemala and caused the conservationist to be detained in Germany for as much as 70 days until he was finally allowed to leave and hide in an undisclosed location.
Although plans were made to extradite Captain Paul Watson to Costa Rica, it now seems that the Japanese Government wished that Sea Shepherd's leader was instead sent to this country.
The organization's official website quotes the conservationist's attorney, who just made it public news that, “I received confirmation today from Germany's General Public Prosecutor that Japan filed an extradition request against Paul Watson on July 19th.”
Given the fact that Japan and the Sea Shepherd organization have long been engaged in an ongoing battle concerning whale hunting activities carried out in this part of the world by Japanese citizens, one may seriously question the reasons for which this nation's government officials were so keen on having Paul Watson extradited there.
Sea Shepherd member Susan Hartland makes a case of how, “Germany was proceeding with Captain Watson's extradition to Costa Rica and, once there, there is no doubt he would have been delivered into Japanese custody. Upon being extradited to Japan, he would not have received a fair trial and would never have seen the outside of a prison again.”
Furthermore, “Japan is under the false impression that if they jail Captain Watson, they will halt our campaigns to protect ocean wildlife. It's time Japan realizes nothing they do will stop us from protecting whale and other marine wildlife for future generations everywhere.”