SEPTEMBER 26, 1995

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

BRITISH GOVERNMENT "ACTING ILLEGALLY" BY IGNORING FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTS AND ENDANGERING BRITONS IN TEST ZONE

The British Government may be acting unlawfully by not protecting UK citizens in the Pitcairn Islands affected by French Nuclear Testing. Greenpeace UK has received a legal opinion from Geoffrey Robertson QC that the indifference of the Government towards the welfare of British nationals in the test area is unlawful if it is the result of a secret agreement to share data obtained from the French nuclear test programme.

Lawyers instructed by Greenpeace have explained that under European law Britain is entitled to intervene to stop the tests until they comply with safety standards laid down by the Euratom Treaty. This is because the UK Government is legally responsible for the welfare of Pitcairn Islanders - who live less than 500 miles from Moruroa Atoll - and for other Britons who have lawfully visited the test area in order to protest.

According to the lawyers, the Government's refusal to consider invoking the safety procedure under the Euratom Treaty is a breach of its duty to safeguard the lives of British subjects and may be open to challenge in the High Court. It is also unlawful if it is done in bad faith: for the ulterior motive of wanting to share data resulting from tests that have not complied with Euratom Treaty safeguards.

The legal opinion was delivered for Greenpeace by Geoffrey Robertson QC who led the defence at the Matrix Churchill trial and who has made a number of successful challenges to the British Government in European Courts, and by Kate Markus, Chair of the Public Law Project.

"This legal opinion makes it a matter of urgency for the Government to come clean about its policy over French nuclear tests", said Greenpeace Campaigner William Peden. "It is either collaborating with the French for its own shady reasons, or it is showing callous indifference for the health and safety of the British dependents on the Pitcairn Islands who have the misfortune to live next door to Chirac's nuclear madness".

Greenpeace has today written to the British Government asking what steps they intend to take to protect Pitcairn Islanders and reveal the true extent of Anglo-French nuclear collaboration.

For further information please contact Greenpeace UK Press Office on 0171 359 4837 or 0171 354 5100.

Copy of legal advice prepared by Geoffrey Robertson and Kate Markus can be provided on request.