Twenty-one years ago

Twenty-one years ago today the French government blew up the Greenpeace boat the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour.

It’s interesting reading this matter of fact report published in The Guardian immediately following the incident knowing what we do about what actually happened. This was a major incident in New Zealand’s recent history but remains merely an embarrassing footnote for the French.

The Rainbow Warrior was in Auckland, New Zealand, preparing to visit Moruroa Atoll as part of a major campaign against French nuclear testing.

The first bomb exploded at 11.38pm, then there was a second explosion and Fernando Pereira, the ship's photographer, drowned.

The French wanted to stop Greenpeace’s plans for a peaceful protest against nuclear testing. They were particularly concerned about Polynesians launching outrigger canoes from the Rainbow Warrior. Polynesia is a French territory and the French feared any hint of independence.

Police later questioned a French ‘couple’, who were in fact agents Prieur and Mafart of the French secret service. Although neither of these were the bombers.

Initially, the French government denied all knowledge but it soon became obvious that they were involved. The French minister of defence resigned.

The trial itself was a surprise. It had been expected to last for weeks but 34 minutes into the preliminary hearing agents Prieur and Mafart pleaded guilty to manslaughter and wilful damage, attracting sentences of 10 and 7 years. It turns out a deal was struck before the agents entered the courtroom. A UN negotiated settlement meant that the two agents were transferred to Hao atoll, a French military base in French Polynesia to serve their time. They were each released in less than two years.

The Rainbow Warrior website has more.