Rimpac exercise draws protest

Press, 20 April 1982, Page 6

Rimpac exercise draws protest

From

A. J. PETRE

in Kona, Hawaii

“If nuclear war starts, we will be the first to go — there is no doubt about that,” Honolulu radio listeners were told by an anti-nuclear campaigner yesterday. As the 60 ships, 120 aircraft, and 29,000 men of five “Rim of the Pacific” nations worked towards the end of the month-long Rimpac exercise off Hawaii, .pressure groups are taking' aim at public opinion ashore. Hawaii’s “ground zero” campaign against nuclear weapons is well under way, with radio, television and newspaper coverage of actitivities and speeches. Greenpeace conservation-

ists have threatened to launch rubber boats against naval vessels if the exercises off-shore disturb hump-back whales.- Other conservationists protest against the use of part • of the uninhabited island of Kaho’olaw for bombing and exercises. One of their number, 67-year-old Harry Mitchell, is reported to have sculled across to the island on a modified surfboard in protest.

“Reported” because the Navy has found no sign of him in spite of helicopter searches and 300 men being on the island. He may not even be there — but the possibility of his presence has reaped the protest movement a fine crop of publicity.

The. movement has already bombarded newspapers and embassies throughout the Rimpac countries — including New Zealand — with protest letters and handbills. Japanese attention — and Japanese protest marches — have centred on the involvement of Japanese Self-De-fence Forces in the . exercise with both aircraft and ships. The Japanese constitution forbids the Self-Defence Forces from exercising with the forces of any other nation except the United States. The Japanese force in the exercise thus treads a delicate line — too delicate for the protest movement in Japan. Lieutenant-Commander R. Copeland was quick to ex-

plain yesterday that the Japanese forces would not be in the multi-national amphibious assault on an area of the Big Island of Hawaii, near Kona tomorrow.

. The Japanese forces, he said, were restricting their exercising to being with the United States forces.

Having searched Kaho’olawe for Mr Mitchell without success the Navy plan for live-wiring of naval gunfire and bombs for use on the island goes ahead. New Zealand’s frigate Canterbury, with the exercise, was not expected to take part in the shoot against island targets, , but - plans could change. Any Greenpeace rubber

boats will be dealt with by the United States Coastguard for being in a prohibited area, the Navy says.

At a briefing yesterday Mr Mitchell and his island protest seemed to be the main item of interest to the nine Hawaiian Television and .newspaper reporters present and even for many of the .18 Japanese newsmen — by far the biggest national contingent with the exercise.

The news reporters will watch today an assault on the Big Island of Hawaii. It will be what the United States Navy quaintly terms a “vertical insertion” — .which means a helicopter landing by marines from a. United States aircraft carrier. •