Chequers, UK--29 October 1995--Several hundred Greenpeace
protestors descended upon Chequers today, overrunning the grounds
and using whistles and foghorns to disrupt the arrival of French
President Jacques Chirac.
Waves of protestors waving 9ft French flags painted with "NON"
and "DeTESTable" swarmed over fields to approach the driveway to
Chequers. Dozens of police, some of them on horseback, were
clearly outnumbered and unable to prevent the noisy 'invasion'.
At least six demonstrators got into the grounds, along with a
number of sheep which also added to the chaos. There were 13
arrests altogether.
Chirac was in Britain today to discuss Anglo-French nuclear
collaboration with Prime Minister John Major. Chirac was forced
to travel by helicopter to see John Major, instead of by car as
previously planned. He was delayed by 20 minutes.
The meeting takes place just two days after the third in the
current series of nuclear tests - a 60 kiloton bomb, four times
the size of Hiroshima - was detonated at Moruroa Atoll.
"John Major's welcoming to Britain of Jacques Chirac just days
after the third nuclear test is a slap in the face to the 85% of
British people who want French nuclear testing to stop,"
Greenpeace campaigner Janet Convery said.
"John Major has isolated himself as a world leader openly
supporting President Chirac's nuclear testing programme. These
two nuclear collaborators stand accused of openly defying world
opinion," she said.
Since announcing a series of eight nuclear tests in June this
year, Jacques Chirac has been the target of world-wide protest
and condemnation from almost 160 countries.
John Major can now expect to share Chirac's position as a world
pariah.
John Major is expected to be lambasted by angry Commonwealth
countries for his support of President Chirac when he attends the
Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in New Zealand next
month.
Seven Greenpeace people were arrested at Chequers; and six other
protestors from either CND or the Green Party, who also protested
Chirac's talks with Major. The sheep were free to go, although
banned from the grounds in future.
FOR FURTHER DETAILS OF TODAY'S PROTEST CONTACT THE GREENPEACE
PRESS OFFICE: 0171 359 4837.GREENPEACE GOES TO CHEQUERS TO TELL CHIRAC: THE PROTEST WON'T
STOP UNTIL YOU STOP TESTING!
