French pay $162,000 in compensation for Ouvea

Press, 5 December 1985, Page 2

French pay $162,000 in compensation for Ouvea

NZPA-AP Noumea The French Government has paid 700,000 francs ($162,000) in compensation for the loss of the yacht Ouvea, chartered by secret agents involved in the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior. A cheque for 700,000 francs was received in Noumea in the last few days by John Louzier, a lawyer acting for Noumea Yacht Charters which owned the yacht, Mr Louzier said.

He said it barely covered the value of the yacht and did not represent the com-

pany’s total loss. It would not be known until December 10, when one of the company’s owners arrived here, if further legal action would be taken, he said. The yacht was chartered from Noumea by members of the French General Directorate for External Security (D.G.S.E.) who were in contact in New Zealand with two French agents now jailed there for manslaughter. They were arrested and tried after the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior was sunk by mines in Auck-

land Harbour on July 10, causing the death of a Por-tuguese-born Dutch photographer, Fernando Pereira.

An official French Government report prepared by a civil servant, Bernard Tricot, said the Ouvea was “abandoned near a dangerous coast” after leaving New Zealand and calling at Norfolk Island.

There has been speculation that the yacht was scuttled when it became clear to the agents they were under suspicion by the New Zealand police.