GP Responds to French Offer of Release of Ships

[the.greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)
Original-Cc:      The Greenbase (Green2:Green2:Gnl:Main)
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               GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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>> GREENPEACE RESPONDS TO FRENCH OFFER TO RETURN PROTEST SHIPS   
PARIS, 2 March 1996  (GP) 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. 
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Contacts: 
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
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