FREE THE RAINBOW WARRIOR CALL BY GREENPEACE

TAHITI - September 2, 1995-- Greenpeace called today for international support to free the Rainbow Warrior, the MV Greenpeace and their crews. The two ships and 55 crew members were seized by the French while attempting to prevent a resumption of nuclear testing at Moruroa yesterday.

The SV Rainbow Warrior was attempting to get into the lagoon at Moruroa when it was boarded by commandos inside the exclusion zone. Nine Greenpeace inflatables were launched outside the zone. Three inflatables made it into the lagoon and dropped off two divers at the drilling platform. The French claim they have arrested all nine inflatables, their crews and the divers

The MV Greenpeace was boarded a few hours later while outside the exclusion zone. "French justifications for boarding the MV Greenpeace in international waters on the basis that the helicopter pilot breached regulations by failing to clear customs only reveals its real intentions," said Greenpeace campaigner in Tahiti Thomas Schultz. "This is a blatant attempt to remove Greenpeace from the scene."

The French commandos then proceeded to smash the communications equipment on board the Rainbow Warrior.

"The Rainbow Warrior is a symbol of hope against the nuclear arms race," said Schultz. Ten years ago the French sank the original Rainbow Warrior to prevent Greenpeace from protesting against nuclear testing, killing crew member Fernando Pereira. "Today the French are again attempting to silence the protest by taking the boat and its crew and casting them as the lawbreakers."

"France is acting as a law unto itself and expediently forgets its own obligations in the international community," said Schultz. "France, together with the other four nuclear weapons states have committed themselves to the elimination of all nuclear weapons. Nuclear testing is the most visible manifestation of a lack of that commitment."

"The Warrior is a more potent symbol today because of the many millions of people around the world who are no longer willing to accept the environmental and security threats that nuclear weapons pose," said Schultz.

Greenpeace said is it preparing to take legal action to challenge the seizure of its boats and crews, confiscation and damage of equipment. "France cannot be allowed to get away with this cynical attempt to silence protest."

US Congressman E Faleomavaga, Oscar Temaru (Tahitian independentist) and Vito Mamaatua were among those on board the Greenpeace ships.

For more information, contact: Thomas Schultz, Greenpeace International, Tahiti: +689 770 613; Greenpeace Communications: +44 171 833 0600

Greenpeace Executive Director Steve D'Esposito has issued a plea for all protests taking place in the event of French testing to be peaceful. For a copy of the statement, please contact the numbers above.

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