Fri trip not just a protest—crewman

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34037, 29 December 1975, Page 2

Fri trip not just a protest —crewman

f.Vew Zealand Press Association—Copyright!

HONG KONG, December 28.

The crew of the peace ship Fri want her present voyage, which began in New Zealand 16 months ago, seen as a “positive, constructive action” rather than as a protest, according to a New Zealand crew member, Mr Alistair Reese.

Mr Reese, a 27-year-old musician from Hamilton, said that the 13 members of the crew, which includes five New Zealanders, were concerned that many people regarded them simply as protestors because of the Fri’s role in the 1973 Mururoa Atoll nuclear test protests.

“Our aim on this voyage ■ is positive and constructive,” ‘he said. The Fri. which arrived in Hong Kong two weeks ago after being refused permission to enter Shanghai because the crew had no visas, is now berthed in Hong Kong while they try to get visas from Peking. Mr Reese, in a letter to the English-language “Hong Kong Standard,” said the Fri’s 1973 effort to end France’s nuclear testing in the South Pacific had been widely and popularly described as a protest voyage. “The tactics of that action involved a highly emotionally charged confrontation, first

[with the unknown factor of the possibility of irradiation by an atomic test, and subsequently with the ‘protective’ interference in international waters by the French Navy. Pacifist principles [ "The crew of the Fri at the [time found through the turbulent personal contact with the French that confrontation is not always productive, especially if peaceful resolution and understanding are the goals.” The ship’s present voyage, which began at. Wellington in August, 1974, was a positive constructive action, based on pacifist, co-operative principles, Mr Reese said. “The ship is acting as the [courier ■ of thousands of people who have chosen to express their views on disarmament and world peace through the special peace cards which the ship offers to carry' for people to the

I people and Heads of State of; ; nuclear Powers.” | (Some of the cards, exi pressing opposition to all nuclear testing, were signed by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) when he visited the Fri as Leader of the Opposition.) Mr Reese, in his letter to the newspaper, said: 'Throughjout the 16 months of the [voyage we have worked hard; ito establish friendly contact' ; with the people and govern • [ments of each of the coun- ! tries we have visited. "We believe, and our ex-i perience has reinforced our[ belief, that people everywhere want peace without nuclear threat.”

He said that the ship’s intended visit to China should be a positive continuation of the peaceful airns of the voyage. In a reference to a story about the Fri in the “Hong Kong Standard” which said the crew had been “kicked out of China,” Mr Reese said: “We do not feel that we were kicked out of China, but we were sorry that our lack of visas has temporarily blocked peaceful contact with the Chinese people, for we feel that the messages we have reflect their • own wishes.”