New Rainbow Warrior doco makes 'uneasy viewing' over terrorism in Pacific
Title -- 3868 INTERNATIONAL: New Rainbow Warrior doco makes 'uneasy viewing' over terrorism in Pacific
Date -- 4 December 2002
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- PMW, 4/12/2
Copyright -- PMW
Status -- Unabridged
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RAINBOW WARRIOR SAGA UNFOLDS LIKE PULP SPY NOVEL
TORONTO (Pacific Media Watch): A new Canadian television documentary about the sinking of the Greenpeace environmental ship Rainbow Warrior by French state terrorists in 1985 has shed fresh light on the conspiracy.The 47-minute programme, Death of a Warrior, produced by Barner-Alper Productions Inc as part of the Canadian History television series, includes interviews with former New Zealand prime minister David Lange and then chief police investigator Alan Galbraith.
Their insights, along with the views of key Greenpeace strategist Steve Sawyer and some previously unseen footage, make this documentary "uneasy viewing" in the post Twin Towers global terrorism climate.
The documentary, directed by Manfred Becker, traces the Pacific operations of the French secret service against the environmental organisation campaigning to halt nuclear testing at Mororua Atoll in French Polynesia.
Journalists and film-makers on board the bombed ship, including the Portuguese-born photographer Fernando Pereira killed by the saboteurs, contributed archival material for the project.
A review by Globe Television columnist Andrew Ryan described the programme in a headline saying "Rainbow Warrior saga unfolds like pulp spy novel".
Ryan's review of the programme said:
"The documentary Death of a Warrior rewinds a grim terrorist act from the recent past.
"In July of 1985, the Rainbow Warrior, a former fishing trawler and mother ship of Greenpeace, was preparing to lead a peaceful flotilla of ships to French Polynesia to protest France's nuclear testing there. They never made it [although the flotilla carried on].
"A late-night explosion on the night of July 10 rocked the ship and tore open its hull in Auckland port. It sank like a stone and one crew member died. There was understandable outrage and the subsequent investigation fell to New Zealand authorities.
"This programme is a fine recap of that investigation, which took more than a year. The immediate suspects in the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior are the French and this seems to bear out as evidence pops up everywhere: a boat and diving equipment of French origin are found near the scene; they even used French-made pantyhose to tie up some equipment.
"The story unwinds at dime-store spy-novel pace: A French couple with Swiss passports are arrested; Australian police arrest three French sailors, then let them go; British secret service MI5 admit they knew in advance of the attack but said nothing. Subterfuge abounds. In the end, no one person or group is held accountable.
"There are interviews here with several of those involved in the case, most notably New Zealand police investigator Alan Galbraith, the smart chappie who ran the show. You can tell he's still frustrated by the results.
"First and foremost, it was a dreadful terrorist act. The film makes one uneasy in a post 9/11 world, but it is still required viewing."
Background:
www.asiapac.org.fj/PJR/issues/back95/95rainbow.html
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