Stop the dubious extradition of Canadian Captain Paul Watson to Costa Rica

Dear Mr. John Baird, minister of Foreign affairs of Canada,

Paul Watson, Canadian citizen and founder of Greenpeace and The Sea Shepherds has been detained in Germany pending extradition to Costa Rica.  The warrant against Paul Watson was laid 10 years ago, and later dismissed by the government of Costa Rica after reviewing footage of the incident.
* Ref1: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/antiwhaling-activist-paul-watson-arrested-for-ramming-boat-10-years-ago-7746817.html

The Sea Shepherd Captain had been filming a documentary at the time (2002), based on the illegal shark fin poaching activities taking place in Costa Rican waters. Paul Watson responded to a call asking him for help, and made an attempt to stop and bring an illegal shark hunting vessel to port in Costa Rica. While on route to port, port authorities were sent not to help the captain in his attempt, but to detain him because of his effort.
* Video Reference1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5gN0wBRcXA


It is only 10 years later, after many confrontations between Paul Watson's crew with Japanese whalers in Antarctic waters and the whaling fleet's alleged return to port early in their season -  with less than 1/3 of their quota met - for the second year in a row, that these allegations see a resurrection.
* Ref2: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2012/s3449987.htm

 INTERPOL has refused to issue a red warrant arrest against the captain of Sea Shepherds on the basis that the request was not in compliance with INTERPOL's constitution and rules.
* Ref3: http://www.interpol.int/News-and-media/News-media-releases/2012/N20120514/]

Shark fin poaching activities remain illegal worldwide, yet the laws are not enforced due to the extravagant amounts of money these poachers can count on making when exporting these mutilated shark body parts to black markets in Asia.
* Ref4: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/7907/title/Food_for_Thought__New_Estimates_of_the_Shark-Fin_Trade

It is only reasonable to therefore conclude that corruption in the legal system and government of Costa Rica is to blame for these illegal actions still being an issue.

Due to a bounty on Mr. Watson's head by the illegal group of black market poachers, it is reasonable to think his life would be placed in direct danger were he to be extradited to Costa Rica.
* Ref4: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/may/18/anti-whaling-activist-paul-watson

No matter our personal opinions of the Captain's actions, he remains a Canadian citizen whose life is in direct danger based on foreign political pressures.

People who do not agree with Paul Watson's means of action should also take heed to return the captain back to Canadian soil since his death would ultimately make of him a Martyr in conservation movements worldwide. Therefore, only reinforcing and perhaps emboldening groups to take actions that were before disregarded by these organizations as being too dangerous to human lives or even illegal - realizing the lack of governmental support and enforcement of laws. This would only be a natural, direct human response to being left to fend for yourself without representation from your government.

I am dismayed, as a Canadian citizen, that the plight of captain Watson has not been made known in the Canadian news media. This is the reason of my letter to you today. I would very much like for him to be represented by his government and his country's media, and that diplomatic pressures be put upon the German and Costa Rican governments for their dubious detention of Mr. Watson, and impending extradition.

This letter will also be part of a petition that will be circulating on the internet in order to accumulate and prove the amount of support Mr. Watson is receiving from fellow Canadian citizens, also - citizens of the planet worldwide.

Manon Mercier
Canadian Citizen