HARARE - It was win one, lose one yesterday at the Cites (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) conference, as Japan won a vote to reject the establishment of a marine fish-monitoring body and then lost a vote to separate Cites from the International Whaling Committee, which maintains a strict whaling moratorium, writes Andrew Meldrum.
Participants and observers alike expressed serious concern over the fact that Japan managed to have both votes conducted by secret ballot. Japan was supported in its bids to hold secret ballots by nations that have received significant Japanese aid, according to observers. It is expected that next week's controversial votes on proposals to relax protection of elephants and rhinos will also be held by secret ballot.