Suva, Fiji, July 28th 1995:- The Rainbow Warrior will arrive in the Fijian capital of Suva at 8am tomorrow (Saturday July 29) to appeal to the South Pacific Forum and governments of the Pacific region to make last-ditch efforts to stop a resumption of nuclear testing at Moruroa atoll in September.
The Rainbow Warrior will also undergo some repairs and general maintenance, and be re-supplied to enable it to return to the Moruroa test site in August to join a large peace flotilla of yachts carrying protestors from around the world.
Greenpeace's Stephanie Mills said the ship would be outfitted for several months at sea. "We are preparing to stay as long as it takes, and to do whatever it takes, to peacefully protest at Moruroa against President Chirac's decision to begin testing again," she said. "More tests undermine progress toward nuclear disarmament, threaten the environment and betray France's pledges to pursue a comprehensive test ban treaty as quickly as possible."
Re-provisioning the ship, which will be docked at South King Wharf, will include loading new inflatables to replace those seized by the French military when Greenpeace activists entered the lagoon at Moruroa on July 9th.
Mills said the Rainbow Warrior and her crew were looking forward to visiting Fiji, where the public had clearly expressed very strong opposition to nuclear testing and support for the Rainbow Warrior's crew, particularly for the ship's Fijian doctor, Mili Tarai.
"We look now to the Fijian government and all the other countries of the South Pacific to show continued leadership in the international campaign to stop France's nuclear testing at Moruroa," Mills said. She said Greenpeace would be meeting with representatives of the South Pacific Forum Secretariat and with officials from a number of governments with representation in Fiji.
The Rainbow Warrior will arrive at 0800 hours Saturday morning, and after completing customs and immigration formalities, will be open to the public until 12 noon. The ship will again be open to the public on:
The ship will also be open for visits by schools, by arrangement with the ship's captain, during weekdays from July 31-August 4th. The Rainbow Warrior is currently scheduled to depart from Fiji to return to Moruroa on August 13th or 14th.
ENDS
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