Protesters angry at N-ship cordon

Press, 27 July 1983, Page 1

Protesters angry at N-ship cordon

PA Auckland The police will prevent protesters from getting closer than 600 metres to the nuclear-powered warship Texas when it enters Auckland Harbour next Tuesday. The restriction has upset the Peace Squadron which planned to block the approaches. A squadron spokesman, Mr Jim Keogh, learnt of the restriction when he met the police yesterday to discuss protests against the arrival

of the warship. He did not know who had decided on the 600 metre limit, instead of the 100 metre one enforced on previous protests. He believed it was designed to achieve a “propaganda victory” by making the protest fleet appear very thin. “You can imagine it out there. You would need a wide-angle lens to get them in a photograph.” Mr Keogh learnt that the frigate Canterbury would escort the Texas, sailing 100 metres ahead, into harbour.

Two fisheries patrol boats, two Navy motor launches and Zodiac inflatables will be used to enforce the cordon. The police had said they would also provide rescue boats but the squadron would have 12 rescue boats of its own because experience had shown that protesters rescued by the police also were arrested, Mr Keogh said. It would be a very wide cordon but Mr Keogh said: “It looks like they think they can plug it up."

The squadron had 125 boats registered for the protest and expected more to join. Skippers from some of the 125 boats met on Monday evening and Mr Keogh advised them to “keep things cool.” “But some of the most mild-mannered people get angry when they see the ship coming down the channel. We are trying, to impress on,our members not to do anything silly.” The squadron had no control over breaches of the

law, but under its policy to prevent the entry of any nuclear-powered ship by filling its course with small craft it was obvious breaches would occur. The Insurance Council has warned that boat owners placing their craft in hazardous positions which result in loss or damage are most unlikely to have their claims met by insurance companies, the Insurance Council warned yesterday. However, it said, demonstrators who complied with all police instructions and

requirements and did not deliberately place their craft in danger would have any claims met subject to policy conditions. The Wellington Education Board has said parents are not entitled to keep their children home from school when the Texas berths in Wellington. The principal of an Auckland high school had said that a pupil’s absence as a protest against Texas would be .v«itiL.;te if a parental note was provided.