Former Solomon Islands whaling officials revealed the biggest non-secret about the annual International Whaling Commission meetings — Japan is paying some countries to vote to overturn the moratorium on commercial whaling.
Former Solomon Islands IWC Commissioner Albert Wata told ABC’s Four Corners,
Yes, the Japanese pay the government subscriptions. They support the delegations tot the meetings in terms of meeting air fares and per diem.
Solomon Islands Fisheries Minister Nelson Kile told the program that Japan paid the Solomons membership fees in the IWC,
Yes they do (pay the fees). I’m not really sure but probably for 10 years I think.
So far, though, Japan’s efforts have yet to pay off. Its efforts to overturn the moratorium again failed earlier this year at the 2005 meeting of the IWC.
Source:
Japan ‘brought Solomons whaling votes’. Associated Press, July 18, 2005.