Transcript of radio coverage on the 11th of July, 1985.
Man: Somebody blew up our boat. They ripped her guts out and killed one of our crew. I feel like someone had ripped some of my guts out in the process. I and the rest of Greenpeace will not rest until she or her successor is sailing again.
Second man: Well I just lost a good friend, and now I have to go to the morgue to identify him, so I guess that says it.
Female announcer: Explosions rang out from the 40-metre ship at around midnight and the crew scrambled to get off the vessel to safety as she began going under, but one crew member was caught below decks, and police recovered his body this morning. Stunned Greenpeace people say the vessel was priceless, but right now they are still mourning for their dead colleague who went down with the vessel.
Man: All we know is that between the first and second explosions he went back on board, presumably to retrieve his camera gear, and he never made it out.
Male announcer : Rainbow Warrior didn't go to a warrior's death; she sank in her sleep just after midnight, tied up at an Auckland wharf. It's a tragic end to what was probably the world's number one peace vessel, small as she was. In recent months, Rainbow Warrior has plied from Pacific island to Pacific island, moving people from the ravages of the troubled years we live in. What blew her up and killed a man of peace?
Man: I'd say half of the world leaders of Greenpeace are in New Zealand at the moment.
Interviewer: So the one big question mark in your mind at the moment is?
Man: Is, what happened on the boat last night? Is it an accident, or was it not an accident?
Man: Somebody blew up our boat. They ripped her guts out and killed one of our crew. I feel like someone had ripped some of my guts out in the process. I and the rest of Greenpeace will not rest until she or her successor is sailing again.
Second man: Well I just lost a good friend, and now I have to go to the morgue to identify him, so I guess that says it.
Female announcer: Explosions rang out from the 40-metre ship at around midnight and the crew scrambled to get off the vessel to safety as she began going under, but one crew member was caught below decks, and police recovered his body this morning. Stunned Greenpeace people say the vessel was priceless, but right now they are still mourning for their dead colleague who went down with the vessel.
Man: All we know is that between the first and second explosions he went back on board, presumably to retrieve his camera gear, and he never made it out.
Male announcer : Rainbow Warrior didn't go to a warrior's death; she sank in her sleep just after midnight, tied up at an Auckland wharf. It's a tragic end to what was probably the world's number one peace vessel, small as she was. In recent months, Rainbow Warrior has plied from Pacific island to Pacific island, moving people from the ravages of the troubled years we live in. What blew her up and killed a man of peace?
Man: I'd say half of the world leaders of Greenpeace are in New Zealand at the moment.
Interviewer: So the one big question mark in your mind at the moment is?
Man: Is, what happened on the boat last night? Is it an accident, or was it not an accident?
Death of Fernando Pereira
An immediate consequence of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior was the death of photographer Fernando Pereira. The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior was planned simply to sink the ship, disrupting New Zealand and Greenpeace’s ability to protest, and also sending a message to the protesters, that there was opposition to this anti-nuclear protest. This attack was made significantly more controversial and personal to both Greenpeace and New Zealand, as Fernando Pereira was killed. The point of using two different bombs was that the first bomb was meant to cause people to evacuate the boat, and the second bomb was meant to cause the actual damage. But, unexpectedly, Fernando Pereira came back on board to photograph the damage, and was caught in the second explosion. This caused for the bombing to be more than just arson and willful damage. This brought a whole new level of crime to the bombing, murder. The fact that A man was killed during the bombing caused outrage among the New Zealand public, and when the information was released, this outrage was directed toward the French government.
An immediate consequence of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior was the death of photographer Fernando Pereira. The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior was planned simply to sink the ship, disrupting New Zealand and Greenpeace’s ability to protest, and also sending a message to the protesters, that there was opposition to this anti-nuclear protest. This attack was made significantly more controversial and personal to both Greenpeace and New Zealand, as Fernando Pereira was killed. The point of using two different bombs was that the first bomb was meant to cause people to evacuate the boat, and the second bomb was meant to cause the actual damage. But, unexpectedly, Fernando Pereira came back on board to photograph the damage, and was caught in the second explosion. This caused for the bombing to be more than just arson and willful damage. This brought a whole new level of crime to the bombing, murder. The fact that A man was killed during the bombing caused outrage among the New Zealand public, and when the information was released, this outrage was directed toward the French government.
The arrest and trial of Dominique Prieur and Alain Mafart
A short-term consequence of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior was the arrest of Dominique Prieur and Alain Mafart by New Zealand Police. These were two of the French DGSE agents that were captured and arrested for their part in Operation Satanique, the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior. After their arrest, on the 22 November, 1985, both pleaded guilty to manslaughter of Fernando Pereira, and were sentenced to ten years imprisonment. Due to political pressure from the French government, in 1986, David Lange and the New Zealand government, agreed to a United Nations arbitration ruling which saw both agents transferred to French custody on the island of Hao in French Polynesia. Then, on 6th of May, 1988, having served less than two years of their sentence, both Mafart and Prieur were released. As Prieur’s husband had been allowed to join her on Hao, she was returned to France as she was pregnant. Mafart also returned to France due to illness, and neither returned to Hao. On top of this, upon return, both were highly decorated and promoted. The arrest and subsequent trial of Prieur and Mafart was a direct consequence of the Rainbow Warrior bombing, and their part in the bombing, and early release from imprisonment severely affected New Zealand's relationship with France.
Effect on New Zealand's relationship with France
A major consequence of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior was the direct and severe effect it had on New Zealand's relationship with France. At the time, France and New Zealand were considered allies, so this attack came as even more of a shock to New Zealand. When it became known to the public that it was France who had coordinated the bombing, New Zealand began to show resentment toward France, which very negatively affected relations between the two countries. David Lange expressed his anger toward the French, and was annoyed that French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius would not name the French agents involved, and exonerated them from blame. Immediately, trade between the two countries was threatened, as New Zealand began boycotting French imports, and France began boycotting New Zealand exports. The United Nations ended up settling the issue, with UN Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar announcing on July 8th 1986 that New Zealand would receive an apology as well as compensation of NZ$13 million from France, and France was banned from interfering in New Zealand trade negotiations. Media in New Zealand began to convey New Zealand's anger toward the French government, with biting satirical comics about the French being published in national and local newspapers. relations between New Zealand and France were at an 'all time low' when it was announced that the two DGSE agents, Dominique Prieur and Alain Mafart, were released from imprisonment early and upon return to France, decorated and promoted. This just aggravated the New Zealand public and government further. Two countries which before the bombing were allies, were now enemies. The bombing severely poisoned the public and governments view on France at the time, and has had a lasting effect on the relationship between the two countries. The Rainbow Warrior bombing remains significant today, and is still a main point of conversation and controversy throughout New Zealand, some thirty years later. The bombing is still referenced in media, and is often related to current events. The Rainbow Warrior remains a key point in the history of New Zealand's anti-nuclear movement, and the bombing helped shed light on the movement internationally and throughout New Zealand, helping to gain support for the movement. Greenpeace continued the legacy of the Rainbow Warrior by building a second Rainbow Warrior, which they used to continue the protest against French nuclear testing, and a third Rainbow Warrior which was used to protest other Greenpeace issues. The Rainbow Warrior has become a staple of Greenpeace and its work in both New Zealand and worldwide, and the bombing of the original is remembered throughout the world.
A short-term consequence of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior was the arrest of Dominique Prieur and Alain Mafart by New Zealand Police. These were two of the French DGSE agents that were captured and arrested for their part in Operation Satanique, the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior. After their arrest, on the 22 November, 1985, both pleaded guilty to manslaughter of Fernando Pereira, and were sentenced to ten years imprisonment. Due to political pressure from the French government, in 1986, David Lange and the New Zealand government, agreed to a United Nations arbitration ruling which saw both agents transferred to French custody on the island of Hao in French Polynesia. Then, on 6th of May, 1988, having served less than two years of their sentence, both Mafart and Prieur were released. As Prieur’s husband had been allowed to join her on Hao, she was returned to France as she was pregnant. Mafart also returned to France due to illness, and neither returned to Hao. On top of this, upon return, both were highly decorated and promoted. The arrest and subsequent trial of Prieur and Mafart was a direct consequence of the Rainbow Warrior bombing, and their part in the bombing, and early release from imprisonment severely affected New Zealand's relationship with France.
Effect on New Zealand's relationship with France
A major consequence of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior was the direct and severe effect it had on New Zealand's relationship with France. At the time, France and New Zealand were considered allies, so this attack came as even more of a shock to New Zealand. When it became known to the public that it was France who had coordinated the bombing, New Zealand began to show resentment toward France, which very negatively affected relations between the two countries. David Lange expressed his anger toward the French, and was annoyed that French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius would not name the French agents involved, and exonerated them from blame. Immediately, trade between the two countries was threatened, as New Zealand began boycotting French imports, and France began boycotting New Zealand exports. The United Nations ended up settling the issue, with UN Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar announcing on July 8th 1986 that New Zealand would receive an apology as well as compensation of NZ$13 million from France, and France was banned from interfering in New Zealand trade negotiations. Media in New Zealand began to convey New Zealand's anger toward the French government, with biting satirical comics about the French being published in national and local newspapers. relations between New Zealand and France were at an 'all time low' when it was announced that the two DGSE agents, Dominique Prieur and Alain Mafart, were released from imprisonment early and upon return to France, decorated and promoted. This just aggravated the New Zealand public and government further. Two countries which before the bombing were allies, were now enemies. The bombing severely poisoned the public and governments view on France at the time, and has had a lasting effect on the relationship between the two countries. The Rainbow Warrior bombing remains significant today, and is still a main point of conversation and controversy throughout New Zealand, some thirty years later. The bombing is still referenced in media, and is often related to current events. The Rainbow Warrior remains a key point in the history of New Zealand's anti-nuclear movement, and the bombing helped shed light on the movement internationally and throughout New Zealand, helping to gain support for the movement. Greenpeace continued the legacy of the Rainbow Warrior by building a second Rainbow Warrior, which they used to continue the protest against French nuclear testing, and a third Rainbow Warrior which was used to protest other Greenpeace issues. The Rainbow Warrior has become a staple of Greenpeace and its work in both New Zealand and worldwide, and the bombing of the original is remembered throughout the world.
One of the French agents who bombed the Rainbow Warrior apologizes 30 years after the incident.
Key Historical Ideas
The death of Fernando Pereira during the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior was a major consequence, which caused severe damage to New Zealand's relationship with France.
The arrest and trial of Dominique Prieur and Alain Mafart was a significant consequence of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. Their subsequent early release was also a point of controversy, and caused further damage to New Zealand's relationship with France.
Another major consequence of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior was its overall effect on New Zealand's relationship with France. The bombing, death of Pereira and the arrest and early release of the agents heavily poisoned New Zealand's relationship with France, both at the time, and with a lasting significance and effect into the future.