Aust. denial of U.S. pressure

Press, 19 September 1985, Page 23

Aust. denial of U.S. pressure

NZPA-AAP Canberra It was not true that Australian authorities had failed to detain French secret service terrorists after the bombing of the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior, Senator Gareth Evans said in the Australian Parliament. Senator Evans, representing the Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Bill Hayden, said the New Zealand police had sought assistance from Australian Federal police officers stationed on Norfolk Island, when a yacht carrying suspects put in at the island. “The Australian police maintained a watching brief on the suspects until the arrival of the New Zealand police investigation team on Norfolk Island. “Their members co-oper-ated fully with the New Zealand police who were sent to question the subjects,” Senator Evans said. The New Zealand police

completed their interviews with the crew members, no charges were laid by the police and “as there was no reason to further detain the suspects” the yacht was allowed to sail, he said. Senator Jo Vallentine, an Independent, had asked if the Australian Government had failed to speak out against the sinking because it had once again succumbed to the United States Administration. Senator Vallentine further asked if it was true that the Australian authorities had failed to detain French secret service terrorists as they made their escape via Norfolk Island and Sydney. Senator Evans said there was no foundation for any suggestion that the Australian Government had been soft in its reaction to the Rainbow Warrior bombing. The Australian Government had been “forthright and explicit” in the matter.