Wednesday 28th June
A day out of Tahiti and a good swell is right on the bow. At an evening crew meeting we run through the forthcoming events in Tahiti. This week a two-pronged march has been circling the island of Tahiti, one half going clockwise, the other anti- clockwise. This anti-nuclear march is due to converge on the wharf at Papeete around the time the Rainbow Warrior docks in port. Many thousands of people are already involved, opposition to the testing of nuclear weapons covers a very broad spectrum of organisations in French Polyensia - not only environmental and peace groups, but most of the churches, the independence movement, and several of the political parties. Even the long time president of the local assembly, Gaston Flosse, has had to reflect the prevailing sentiment. Previously an avid supporter of testing, he has swung with the wind: two weeks ago opposing a resumption, now "indifferent" (after a trip to Paris he declared himself neither for nor against). In Tahiti, as everywhere else in the Paciifc, most people would prefer that if the French must test their nuclear weapons, they should test them in France. French people would surely react to that!
Alice Leney on board the Rainbow Warrior
From: Greenpeace Vessel SV Rainbow Warrior
Date: Wednesday 28-JUN-95 07:32:39 GMT
Subject: Campaign update
President Chirac got chewed out at a dinner party during the European Union heads of government Summit in Cannes earlier this week: the Dutch Prime Minister led a strong complaint joined by "most other European governments", according to the Swedish Prime Minister.
At the same time, tensions are rising 12,000 miles away in Tahiti. Already 3000 people have joined a march organised by one of the political parties, with more than 5000 expected in the town centre tomorrow to coincide with the entrance of the Rainbow Warrior into Papeete harbour. Meanwhile, riot police have been flown in to Tahiti by the French authorities, who have also indicated that the Rainbow Warrior will be barred from docking at the main quay. The authorities may try to hide the Rainbow Warrior amongst military and industrial dockyards, but the international media have descended on Tahiti and it is clear that France cannot make invisible the depth of protest from both local people and the world community.
Bye for now,
Steph on board the Rainbow Warrior