Watson Extradition To Be Ready On Friday

While environmentalist Paul Watson sits in a jail in Germany, Costa Rican authorities have been busy translating into English, German and French the extradition documents.

The formal presentation for the extradition of the Canadian, who was detained earlier this week in Frankfurt on an international warrant, is expected to be made on Friday.

Federico Morales, member of the law firm Quirós Abogados Central Law, is lead counsel to defend Watson, a statement from Watson said. Morales, if you will recall, represented Edgar Valverde, the president of Acatel Costa Rica in the ICE-Alcatel case.

For the government, the case is being led by Luis Peraza, who said "It is unconscionable for reasons of environmental protection, to endanger the lives of eight people, who all have Costa Rican families, hence it was necessary to start a judicial process against Captain Watson".

Watson has been held in custody at Frankfurt airport since last Sunday. The case stems from a collision between Watson's then ship, Farley Mowat, and the Costa Rican shark fishing boat Varadero in April 2002. At the time, Sea Shepherd was campaigning in the central Pacific against shark finning.

The accusation and decision to extradite Watson had public opinion divided.

The ministero de Ambiente, Rene Castro, said publicly, "I respect the cause, but not methods".