Source: The International Harpoon, No. 2, October 21,1997
Last night, IWC participants were invited to a State-sponsored reception
at l’Hermitage, where both the ambience and champagne were excellent.
The guest list, however, left much to be desired.
The action of our host can almost be considered an insult, said Norwegian
delegate Prof. Lars Walløe to the news agency NTB. For in attendance
was none other than terrorist Paul Watson, president of the Sea Shepherd
Conservation Society.
As soon as Watson was spotted, the Norwegian and Japanese delegations walked
out in disgust, followed by many others. The question on everyone’s
lips was: «What can Monaco be thinking to allow this man in?»
Watson has the distinction of being one of only two individuals ever to be declared persona non grata by the IWC (along with Sam LaBudde of the Earth Island Institute), and with good reason. The latest installment in his career of violent and illegal behaviour against whalers was an 80-day stint in a Dutch prison for attempting to scuttle a Norwegian whaling boat in 1992.
While we are grateful for the kindness shown by Monaco in hosting this
reception, we would appreciate an explanation as to why an event is staged
at which we are supposed to share space with a convicted terrorist.