Mexican Warship Stalks Peace Ship "Rainbow Warrior"

["Greenbase" <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>]

MEXICAN WARSHIP STALKS PEACE SHIP "RAINBOW WARRIOR"

April9, 1997 The flagship of the environmental and peace
organization GREENPEACE  is being stalked by the Mexican Navy
ship "A45". The Rainbow Warrior  sailed from Ciudad del Carmen
after two week campaign highlighting  the devestation of
petrolium production in the Tabasco and Campeche  regions. Since
the ship sailed at 18:00 hours on the 7th of April  "The Mexican
Navy has followed us like a shadow" said Capt. Bart  Terweil of
the Rainbow Warrior.

 A small warship has been visible on the horizon behind the
Rainbow  Warrior since the ship left Ciudad del Carmen two days
ago, the  captain reported. "It's unfortunate that if the
Mexican Navy has  resources to escort an environmental and
peaceship through their  waters, that these resources are not
directed to protecting the  marine environment". "The
international conventions to prevent oil  pollution at sea are
not adequate, and are not being enforced  effectively" the chief
engineer added.

 The international crew of the Rainbow Warrior representing ten
world  nations witnessed extensive oil pollution in the area
during the last  two weeks while the Rainbow Warrior visited the
Mexican Gulf coast in  the Tabasco and Campeche Regions. "The
impacts of oil production to  the wetland area have been
enourmous, and PEMEX continues to threaten  the few ecological
reserves through continued drilling operations of  reckless oil
production and exploration from within these sensitive  areas"
the Rainbow Warrior crew reported.

 "Coastal marine estuaries and wetland areas are threatened
globally,  and PEMEX operations in this region are devestating
these important  ecosystems", Greenpeace says.

 Yesterday the Rainbow Warrior sailed along the perimeter of
PEMEX  offshore operations in the Gulf of Mexico and the Rainbow
Warrior  found that offshore oil and gas fields account for
obvious,  tremendous and unjustifiable environment impacts.
Greenpeace demands  that PEMEX officials be held criminally
responsible for the acts.  "These are criminal acts against our
planet and those responsible for  executing these offences need
to be held accountable" says Capt.  Terwiel.

 Greenpeace is an organization dedicated to non violence,
environmental protection and world peace. The Rainbow Warrior
crew  finds it deplorable that the Mexican Government has
executed its Navy  to shadow their peace ship. "The idea to send
a warship to shadow a  peaceship is absurd and a violation of
pacifist principles", Captain  Terwiel said. "The Mexican Navy
could be stalking tankers who  illegally discharge oil waste
into the sea, and protect marine  habbitats by enforcing the
laws which are in place, not following  us".

 The Rainbow Warrior will leave Mexican territorial waters
tomorrow  afternoon and continue her innocent passage to
Guatemala.

Present position: "Banco de Campeche" 30 miles North of
"Lagartos" Yucatan Peninsula, 22º14.2'N 088º19.7'W Best Regards
Bart