Saturday 8th July
At 1500 hours the S/V Rainbow Warrior met up with S/V Vega and commenced re-supplying her with fresh water and provisions. We were closely watched by three French warships. All our boats were in the water buzzing around being very busy hoping to confuse the navy. By sunset this operation had been completed and we took back on four boats whilst the fifth disappeared into the darkness fully provisioned to set out on her lone expedition.
The legendary David McTaggart, Henk Haazen and Chris Robinson are
on board. The Rainbow Warrior then moved south keeping three
miles
outside the exclusion zone so that the French Navy would not, we
hoped, be able to board us. We now had a naval escort of 5
vessels boxing us in - very cozy!!
9 July
At 0100 hours all crew were called giving them time to take breakfast and make final checks on their boats. All boats were fully equipped with provisions and safety equipment i.e. flares, compass, GPS position receivers, EPIRB radio location beacons, and automatic RADAR transponders etc. My priority, as always, is the safety of my boat crews.
Before the crews were given the call to stand by their boats launching, Monsignor Jacques Gaillot a kindly, quiet man, who is also a Roman Catholic Bishop from France known for his good works on behalf of the homeless, immigrants and unemployed, said prayers for the safety of us all. Many then joined in reciting the Lord's Prayer. Even those of us who do not prescribe to a faith were deeply moved. I looked round at my crew and saw some tears. God created this planet and does not want it destroyed by the stupidity of man - I always refer to him as the Executive Director in the Sky.
At 0200 hrs, under cover of darkness, we launched Group Two comprised of 2 boats with two persons per boat. A hazy moon gave enough light to launch without putting on deck lights and attracting the Navy's attention.
The first launch was beautiful, the training of the past month was bearing fruit. Within 10 minutes the two boats slipped quietly into the Pacific and were away to their kick off point. I then turned north and made for my second launch position 10 miles north of Group Two. At 0350 Group One comprised of two more boats were launched and made off into the darkness. The Navy had a suspicion that boats had been launched and used a helicopter to hunt for them. They also launched their own search craft.
After launching Group One I steamed a further 10 miles north to be at my start point for 0500 hrs. We now had three groups over an arc of 20 miles which succeeded in dividing the Naval vessels. We were all going to cross the exclusion zone at 0500 hrs or thereabouts. Sunrise was 0600 hours: plenty of light to enter into Moruroa Lagoon. At 0500 hrs precisely, Rainbow Warrior kicked in her second engine and away we went at 11 knots towards the exclusion zone line. We all were acting independently of each other, three groups dashing for the lagoon from different directions at full speed. I was called by French Naval vessels stating I was entering the exclusion zone and should turn back. I replied that I would maintain my course and speed.
At 0615 we saw inflatables being launched by a French naval vessel. A French frigate steamed past at speed but did not impede me As we got closer to the channel we could see clearly the fairway buoys and a tug blocking the pass. At 0600 Marine Commandos had boarded us, dressed all in black with face masks.
The wheelhouse had bars on all the windows and both doors were locked securely. The officer in charge of the eight commandos ordered me to open the door, I refused and next thing I remember, a sledge hammer was breaking the wheelhouse windows and two tear gas canisters were popping and fizzing like fire works! We were rammed starboard side by the naval tug A234 whose role was to stop us entering the channel. The tear gas took quick effect and I and the cameraman Gene evacuated the bridge. Andy, the mate, opened the forward door and we evacuated the accommodation of all personnel.
The commandos then entered and made for the radio room. They told me to open the radio room door, I refused. They then set about it with axes. Thom the radio officer, Stephanie Mills and Jean-Luc were still getting film out and doing live interviews as the commandos battered the door. They forced a hole large enough and squirted tear gas inside. The effect on face and eyes is devastating. Stephanie and Thom escaped out of the porthole onto the bridge deck. Jean-Luc kept his head out of the porthole, breathing fresh air. Eventually the door was forced open and Jean-Luc taken - but the film had been sent out to the world.
We were herded on deck under the watchful eye of a commando. We were initially refused access to toilets, food, refreshment. I argued with the nasty little zealous officer, pointing out the question of human rights , the UN Charter and E.C law and that I would inform the world if he did not conceded these basic rights -- he did.
We were then towed to a mooring buoy in the lagoon. In charge of the operation, a harbour master resplendent in white shirt, long white trousers and binoculars around his neck -- what a sight! We immediately nicknamed him the "Admiral".
At 1400 hours the squad of heavies -- a gang of French foreign legionnaires -- removed my crew forcibly to a boat where they were taken ashore for questioning. I was held on board to meet the commander of the French Navy at Moruroa who was interested to know the whereabouts of our fifth inflatable. I honestly answered I did not know where they were.
I was then taken ashore to the Gendamerie and held for eight hours while the rest of my crew were interrogated at two different locations on the atoll. They were marched back to the quay and told they would be taken back to the Rainbow Warrior.
They then staged a sit down protest refusing to move until I could join them -- I felt very proud of them! I was then released, and joined their sit in, saying we would not move until all four of our inflatables and their safety gear were returned to the ship.
By this time about 60 legionnaires and commando style troops surrounded us, and it was beginning to look "heavy". I asked the press to stay with us because if they had left I believe we would have been beaten. Thankfully, Janet Gibson and Rob, the cameraman of Channel 9 in Sydney, Roger Maynard of the London Times and Juliette Larousse Hollier of AFP stayed watching -- I thank them all for that.
The "Admiral" gave the command and the troops moved in on us,
forcibly moving us to a waiting launch. We were taken back to
the Rainbow Warrior where the "Admiral" and his merry men were
10 July
We arrived outside the 12 mile limit at 0230 hours and our uninvited guests -- who had been controlling the bridge and engine room and had posted guards on the deck -- left. We drifted over night so everybody - except the campaigners who were left answering never-ending phone calls - could get well earned rest.
In the afternoon we met "Vega" and the Danish Viking ship,
"Bifrost". A barbecue on the deck to honour Steve Sawyer's
birthday was a fitting way to end the last 48 hours!
11 July
We stocked both the Vega and Bifrost with more fuel and food,
and at 1830 hours bid them farewell. We are making passage to
Papeete to continue the campaign against nuclear testing. We
will arrive on Bastille Day - the 14th of July -- ironic that
this is a celebration of liberty, fraternity and equality.
13 July
We are now 15 hours from Papeete and wonder what our reception
will be. We have and will continue to have the support of the
majority of people in the South Pacific and the world. Our
thanks go to the people of Australia for their support and
encouragement. I send my love to Nick and Tina Lorenson and
family and two special people in Leura: Take care Judith and
Alexander.
Warm Regards
Dave Enever