Anti-whalers say Japan buys votes

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http://www.asahi.com/english/national/K2002052200458.html

 

Anti-whalers say Japan buys votes

 

By JUN SAITO, The Asahi Shimbun

 

Despite setback, Japan insists support for whaling is

growing.

 

SHIMONOSEKI-Forces against commercial whaling

prevailed by a slim one-vote margin against a Japanese

bid Tuesday at the International Whaling Commission's

general meeting amid accusations of ``vote-buying'' by

Japan.

 

The criticism escalated after a Japanese proposal for

limited coastal whaling was rejected. In the past,

Japan has maintained there is nothing wrong with

soliciting more support for whaling by using official

development assistance (ODA) as a tool.

 

Masayuki Komatsu, a senior official at the Fisheries

Agency, frankly asserted in an Australian TV interview

last year, ``It is not wrong to gain approval by such

measures as offering ODA, as Japan does not have

military power.''

 

In the morning IWC session Tuesday, Japan proposed

that four whaling communities be allowed to catch a

collective total of 50 minke whales as a relief

measure until the IWC lifts its 1982 moratorium on

commercial whaling.

 

The 20-21 vote-three abstained and one nation did not

participate-demonstrated the near-equilibrium on the

issue. Outside the IWC venue Monday, Greenpeace

demonstrators accused the Japanese government of using

its economic clout, in the form of ODA, to get

developing nations to support its pro-whaling

position.

 

``Some developing nations have been under pressure

from Japan,'' said Motoji Nagasawa, a Greenpeace Japan

representative on the whaling issue. ``Japanese

officials are trying to expand the support base of the

whaling camp by encouraging more developing nations to

join the IWC.''

 

The whaling commission has six new members this year,

of which four are regarded as supporters of Japan's

position.

 

One, landlocked Mongolia, said Japan solicited its

entry.

 

Three other nations-Benin, Gabon and Palau-denied any

pressure from Japan to seek IWC membership.

 

The four endorsed the Japanese position on coastal

whaling in voting on two touchy issues-re-admission of

Iceland to the group and the propriety of secret

ballots.

 

In voting Monday, Iceland's return was rejected 25-20

and secret ballots were rejected 25-19, with one

abstention.

 

Komatsu denied any Japanese government vote-buying.

``It is rude to new member countries to say such a

thing,'' Komatsu said. ``They decided to enter the

commission of their own accord.''

 

Fisheries Agency officials said that they are

confident support is growing gradually for Japan's

position.(IHT/Asahi: May 22,2002)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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