sinking of the Rainbow Warrior

sinking of the Rainbow Warrior was a major international incident that occurred on July 10, 1985, in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand, involving the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior. The ship was preparing to sail to Mururoa Atoll in French Polynesia to protest against France's nuclear testing program, which was also opposed by Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific Islands Forum member states. The incident was widely condemned by United Nations Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, European Economic Community leaders, and Commonwealth of Nations member states. The International Court of Justice later ruled that France had breached its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Background

The Rainbow Warrior was a trawler converted into a protest ship by Greenpeace, a non-governmental organization founded by Jim Bohlen, Dorothy Stowe, and Irving Stowe. The ship had previously participated in protests against whaling and seal hunting in the North Atlantic, and had also sailed to Amchitka Island in Alaska to protest against United States nuclear testing. The Rainbow Warrior was crewed by environmental activists from around the world, including New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, and Netherlands. The ship's mission to Mururoa Atoll was supported by Pacific Island nations, including Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Vanuatu, which were concerned about the impact of nuclear testing on their environment and public health.

The Sinking

The Rainbow Warrior was sunk by explosives planted by French secret agents, including Dominique Poirier and Alain Mafart, who were members of the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure (DGSE), France's external intelligence agency. The explosives were detonated on July 10, 1985, while the ship was docked in Auckland Harbour, killing Fernando Pereira, a Portuguese-Dutch photographer who was on board. The incident was widely condemned by New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange, Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke, and other world leaders, including United States President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Investigation

The New Zealand government, led by David Lange, launched an investigation into the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, which was assisted by Australian and British intelligence agencies. The investigation revealed that the French government, led by François Mitterrand, had authorized the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior to prevent it from interfering with France's nuclear testing program. The investigation also identified the French secret agents involved in the operation, including Dominique Poirier and Alain Mafart, who were later arrested and charged with murder and sabotage. The incident led to a major diplomatic crisis between France and New Zealand, and also strained relations between France and other European Union member states, including Germany, Italy, and Belgium.

Aftermath

The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior had significant consequences for France and New Zealand. The incident led to a major overhaul of New Zealand's intelligence agencies, including the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB). The incident also led to a strengthening of New Zealand's anti-nuclear policies, including the passage of the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987. The incident also had significant consequences for France, including the resignation of French Defence Minister Charles Hernu and the French Minister of External Relations, Roland Dumas. The incident also damaged France's reputation internationally, particularly in the Pacific Islands region, where France had significant colonial and economic interests.

Legacy

The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior is remembered as a major international incident that highlighted the risks and consequences of nuclear testing and the importance of environmental activism. The incident is commemorated annually by Greenpeace and other environmental organizations around the world, including the Sierra Club, the World Wildlife Fund, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The incident also led to a significant increase in public awareness and opposition to nuclear testing, particularly in the Pacific Islands region, where France continued to conduct nuclear tests until 1996. The incident is also remembered as a major victory for environmental activism and non-violent direct action, and has inspired a new generation of environmental activists around the world, including Greta Thunberg, Extinction Rebellion, and 350.org. Category:Maritime incidents