PARIS, 2 March 1996
Greenpeace today announced the
receipt of a letter from French Admiral Philippe Euverte
detailing arrangements proposed by France for the release of
Greenpeace's 2 ships, 3 yachts and a helicopter arrested
during protests at France's nuclear testing programme last
year. Greenpeace has asked a French court to appoint a
surveyor to assess the seaworthiness and condition of its
ships.
French commandos seized the Rainbow Warrior in French
Polynesian territorial waters and the M/V Greenpeace in
international waters on September 1, smashing navigation and
communications equipment and holding crews for six days.
The French public prosecutor said in a statement on March 1
that there were no grounds for France to continue holding the
ships.
"Greenpeace welcomes this indication that France will at last
return our boats but we will believe it when we see it," said
Greenpeace's legal advisor Duncan Currie. "Greenpeace's ships
should never have been seized in the first place and they have
now been held for six months despite no charges being brought
against any Greenpeace activist in all that time."
Greenpeace has protested the ship seizures as illegal under
international law and Greenpeace's lawyers argued before a
Papeete court in November that France had no right to keep the
vessels under French law.
"We are anxious for the urgent return of our vessels and
equipment so we can continue our environmental campaigning
around the world," Currie said. "However the French Government
cannot undo the damage it has done to the Pacific, to the
rights of the islanders, or the pursuit of peace, simply by
releasing Greenpeace's boats."
Greenpeace is concerned about the condition and seaworthiness
of its vessels and their ability to travel long distances.
The organization said its first concern is for the safety of
its crews and the damage to the boats.
France's announcement came just three days after a judge in
the Los Angeles Federal District Court refused a French
request to dismiss a claim by Greenpeace for return of the US
flagged Manutea and kidnapping, assault and battery against
Greenpeace personnel. Greenpeace will pursue its case for
compensation for the illegal seizure and detention of its
vessels in French and U.S. courts until an agreement has been
reached on outstanding issues.
According to a letter Greenpeace received from Admiral
Euverte, who was in charge of the French military operations
last year, Greenpeace's vessels -- the SV Rainbow Warrior, MV
Greenpeace, yachts La Ribaude, Vega and Manutea, along with a
helicopter and dozens of inflatables -- will be released
between March 11 and March 18. Local observers on Hao, where
the ships are being held by the French, say the ships have
been painted recently, presumably to cover any damage
sustained during the boarding and detention.
Greenpeace said the MV Greenpeace and SV Rainbow Warrior would
be readied for urgently required campaigning work as soon as
possible.
Greenpeace continues to campaign for an end to all nuclear
testing and is currently working to ensure a Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is signed in 1996 now being negotiated
in Geneva.
Contacts:
GREENPEACE RESPONDS TO FRENCH OFFER TO RETURN PROTEST SHIPS
Duncan Currie: +31 20 523 6201 or +31 20 682 5122 (home)
Penelope Komites, Greenpeace Paris: +33 1 47 70 46 89/or on
mobile +33 0783-2759
Blair Palese, London +44 171 833 0600 or via pager on +44181-
840-7000 quote pager number 0442364
Josh Handler, Greenpeace USA: +1202-588-1817
Stephanie Mills, Greenpeace NZ: +64-2579 0817