GB No. 2(17)/95
10th July 1995
Today is the tenth anniversary of the French bombing of the Rainbow Warrior ship whilst peacefully berthed at Auckland harbour in New Zealand. This act resulted in one death. The death toll would have been considerable had the the bomb exploded an hour or so earlier. There should be no place for such state sponsored terrorism - this was not the action of a civilised nation.
Now it is proposed by France that nuclear tests will resume in the Pacific in spite of widespread protest. I consider that France has no right to conduct tests in the Pacific, as indeed has any other country. The current tests show a degree of colonial arrogance that should not be part of this age. Just when it seemed we were eliminating the scourge of nuclear testing France recommences its testing programme and gives motivation to others to resume tests. For several years the Pacific has been a nuclear free zone and now France chooses arrogantly to ignore the wishes of the peoples of the Pacific and exercise its colonial policies. French people rightfully object to tests in France and should likewise object to imposing tests on other peoples.
Even as I write, French commanders have launched a cowardly tear gas attack on Rainbow Warrior II, one day short of the tenth anniversary of the French terrorist sinking of the original Rainbow Warrior. The peoples of the Pacific are very angry at the continued abuse of the Pacific by the French nation. Past abuses by France and other nations are no justification for restarting such abuses. As a former resident of New Zealand I strongly appeal to all French scientists to restore the honour of France and to demonstrate to the world that France is a civilised country by vigorous protest to all appropriate French authorities.
B. G. Wybourne
Instytut Fizyki (Institute of Physics)
Universytet Mikołaja Kopernika
(Copernicus University)
Toruń, POLAND