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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SEA SHEPHERD CREW NOT ALLOWED TO GO TO JAIL Go Directly to Jail - "Sorry, No Can do!" says Canada FRIDAY HARBOR, WA, March 2, 2006 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- On January 11, the crewmembers that were arrested from the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel Farley Mowat were found guilty of violating the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) regulations that prevents citizens from witnessing the slaughter of the seals without a permit. Captain Paul Watson, Founder and President of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, was found not guilty because it was established that the ship Farley Mowat was a place of residence, and therefore, allowed to be within a half of a nautical mile of the place where seals were being slaughtered. The court has, however, ordered the Sea Shepherd crew to be jailed because they have refused to pay the $1,000 fine the court imposed for the offense of witnessing the seal slaughter. The crew immediately indicated they were willing to be jailed and agreed to enter the jail in Charlottetown on the beginning of the 1st day of the seal killing in 2006. This date still has not been set by DFO. The crew also indicated that they would go on a hunger strike for the three weeks they were expected to serve in jail and that supporters would pledge donations for each day they were interned. This would serve to raise funds for the seals without giving funds to the government in the form of fines. In an effort to prevent the Sea Shepherd crew from turning this sentencing into a positive campaign, the government has retaliated by issuing bulletins to the border authorities requesting that the 10 non-Canadian crew members be turned back at the border if they intend to enter the country. The conviction was a misdemeanor. To be excluded from Canada for a felony is understandable but it is unusual for a person to be excluded for a summary conviction. This makes expulsion from the country a non-ordered part of the sentencing. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, represented by Charlottetown attorney John Mitchell, is appealing the guilty verdict against the 11 crew especially since the evidence clearly demonstrated that many of the crew members were never closer than a half of a nautical mile of a seal killer. The DFO is appealing the judge's acquittal of Captain Watson. "In other words," said Captain Paul Watson, "The Canadian government has decided to impose extraordinary additional penalties on the sentence independent of the orders of the judge." By not surrendering for their court-ordered internment, the crew will have bench warrants issued for failure to appear despite the fact that they were prevented from appearing by the government of Canada. Failure to appear will also result in permanent expulsion from Canada until the crew members appear, which they can't do unless they are allowed to enter Canada. If they enter the country illegally in order to appear to satisfy their sentence, they will be charged with unlawful entry in addition to the charges they were convicted on. "We are hopeful that the appeal will resolve this politically inspired boondoggle." said Captain Alex Cornelissen of the Netherlands, one of the convicted Farley Mowat crew. For pictures and more information, please visit: http://media-seals.seashepherd2.org/ About Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an International non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to defend, conserve, and protect the world's marine wildlife and ecosystems. Their website, www.seashepherd.org, documents SSCS research, direct action, public education and outreach programs, and illustrates how SSCS has continuously worked for decades to eradicate pirate whaling, poaching, shark finning, sealing, unlawful habitat destruction, and other violations of established laws intended to protect the world's oceans. Captain Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd's founder and President, also co-founder of Greenpeace Foundation, is a Director of Sierra Club USA, and is a renowned, respected leader in environmental issues. CONTACT: Heather Callin Phone: +1-360-370-5650 Website: www.seashepherd.org Email: media@seashepherd.org |
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