Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior

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1985 bombing of Greenpeace ship in Auckland, New Zealand

The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior occurred on 10 July 1985, when the flagship of the environmental organization Greenpeace, the Rainbow Warrior, was bombed and sunk by operatives of the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure (DGSE), the French foreign intelligence service. The attack took place in the port of Auckland, New Zealand, and resulted in the death of photographer Fernando Pereira.

Background

The Rainbow Warrior was a former fishing trawler that had been repurposed by Greenpeace for environmental activism. At the time of the bombing, the ship was preparing to lead a flotilla of vessels to protest against French nuclear testing in the Pacific Ocean.

The Attack

On the night of 10 July 1985, two explosive devices were attached to the hull of the Rainbow Warrior by DGSE agents. The first bomb detonated at 23:38 NZST, creating a large hole in the ship's hull. A second bomb exploded shortly after, causing the vessel to sink. Fernando Pereira, a photographer documenting the protest, drowned as a result of the explosions.

Aftermath

The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior led to a major international incident. The New Zealand government launched an investigation, which quickly identified the involvement of French agents. Two DGSE operatives, Alain Mafart and Dominique Prieur, were arrested and later pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and wilful damage. They were sentenced to ten years in prison but were transferred to French custody after serving a short period in New Zealand.

The incident strained relations between New Zealand and France and brought significant attention to Greenpeace's campaign against nuclear testing. In 1987, France agreed to pay compensation to Greenpeace and the family of Fernando Pereira.

Legacy

The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior remains a significant event in the history of environmental activism. It highlighted the lengths to which governments might go to protect their interests and underscored the risks faced by activists. The incident also led to increased support for Greenpeace and its campaigns.

Related Pages

• Greenpeace
• Fernando Pereira
• Operation Satanic
• Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure
• Nuclear testing in the Pacific Ocean
• Auckland