Kategorie: News
A secret service attack that made the fight against nuclear testing and environmental destruction a symbol
Exactly 40 years ago, on July 10, 1985, an event shook the world: In the port of Auckland, New Zealand, the Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace's flagship, sank after an attack planned and carried out by France. The death of an activist, the destruction of a symbol of the global environmental and peace struggle. A secret operation whose consequences are still being felt today.
The Rainbow Warrior was originally a Dutch fishing vessel built in 1955 as the Sir William Hardy. Greenpeace acquired the ship in 1978 to convert it into a protest vessel. It became the symbol of a wave of resistance against whaling, seal hunting, and nuclear weapons testing, and a sign of a global movement that raised awareness of environmental issues and risked major political confrontations.
The summer of 1985 was to bring a decisive turning point. The target was the Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific – a French territory where nuclear weapons had been tested repeatedly since 1966. On behalf of the French government, the military planned a drastic measure: on July 10, special forces attached mines to the ship, which exploded at around 11:38 p.m. This first detonation, which was intended to “only” disable the ship, caused unplanned damage. One of the victims was Fernando Pereira, a Dutch-Portuguese photographer who was killed in the explosions.
The operation, codenamed “Operation Satanique,” was part of a top-secret plan. The goal was to sabotage the protest against French nuclear tests in the Pacific. Documents later showed that the operation was financed by a slush fund of the French government and was covered up by the highest authorities. There were a few mishaps...
Six to twelve people were involved in the operation, including agents who were arrested in the course of the operation. Two of them, Dominique Prieur and Alain Mafart, were later sentenced to ten years in prison but released after a short time. Another, Jean-Luc Kister, managed to escape and still talks about an order to sink the ship – “It must be sunk!” he was told.
The “big picture” remained hidden for a long time: The French government initially denied any responsibility, but it soon became clear that the attack had been approved at the highest level. Interior Minister Charles Hernu resigned, as did intelligence chief Pierre Lacoste. The scandal led to diplomatic entanglements, especially between France and New Zealand, which strongly condemned the incident.
One month after the disaster, the wreck was salvaged and examined. It became apparent that repairs would be futile, and so the Rainbow Warrior was sunk off Matauri Bay on December 2, 1985. The ship remained a reminder to those in power: the victim of a state-orchestrated act of sabotage.
The memory of the Rainbow Warrior lives on today – in 1989, a successor, the Rainbow Warrior II, was put into service, later joined by the Rainbow Warrior III in 2011. For Greenpeace, these ships symbolize the ongoing commitment to environmental protection and resistance to nuclear and ecological dangers.
The legacy of nuclear testing
The scandal surrounding the sinking and destruction of the Rainbow Warrior is not an isolated incident. It symbolized global criticism of nuclear armament and the dangerous tests that continued until the late 1980s. The French nuclear tests on Mururoa, but also the tests carried out by other powers, have left deep wounds, both ecologically and in human terms! Greenpeace and many other organizations repeatedly drew attention to the long-lasting consequences: radioactive contamination, effects on health and the environment, and the deliberate endangerment of entire population groups!
The tests on the Marshall Islands and in the South Pacific made it clear that those responsible systematically underestimated the risks to people and the environment – and even knowingly accepted them. The inhabitants of the atolls were forcibly resettled, often without clear information about the risks. It was recognized that these tests were part of a dangerous arms race that continues to leave its mark on global security to this day.
The attack on the Rainbow Warrior highlighted to the world how deeply rooted the conflicts surrounding nuclear weapons, environmental destruction, and geopolitical power are. The movement symbolized by Pereira's death and the sacrifice of the ship increased pressure on states to dismantle nuclear facilities and develop alternatives in the decades that followed. The younger generation has learned that a sustainable world can only be achieved through courageous protests, international solidarity, and the protection of natural resources.
Today, the successor ships and the numerous actions of Greenpeace remind us of the unbroken commitment to fighting the dangers of nuclear energy and working for a peaceful, healthy world. The memory of the Rainbow Warrior is therefore not only a reminder of a tragic incident, but also a warning to remain vigilant—for the environment, peace, and the future of humanity.
More information:
Rainbow Warrior Memorial