Hard-line feeling on Warrior sentences

Press, 27 December 1985, Page 2

Hard-line feeling on Warrior sentences

Nearly 80 per cent of New Zealanders believe the two French agents convicted in the Rainbow Warrior bombing should serve at least five years of their sentences in New Zealand.

sentenced by the Chief Justice, Sir Ronald Davison, in the High Court at Auckland to 10 years imprisonment for the manslaughter and seven years, to be served concurrently, for the wilful damage. New Zealand opinion contrasts sharply with that in France, where a poll in October found a 61 per cent belief that the agents should not be punished by a court in Auckland “as they were only obeying orders.” Sixty-nine per cent thought France should try to negotiate their release if they were imprisoned. Only 17 per cent of French opinion thought the agents should be punished for a “reprehensible” act. The “Herald”-N.R.B. poll put this question: “Which of the statements on uiis card best matches your feelings concerning the two French officers convicted in connection with the Rainbow Warrior sinking?” The options on the card were:— 1. They should be deported as soon as satisfactory arrangements can be negotiated with France.

A majority — 55 per cent — believe the full 10 year sentence should be served here.

This hard-line feeling is indicated by responses in the latest “New Zealand Herald’-National Research Bureau survey.

The proportion supporting early deportation after satisfactory negotiations with France is 17 per cent. The “Herald”-N.R.B. survey involved face-to-face interviews with 1000 men and 1000 women aged 16 and over, selected on a random probability basis in the country’s 20 main population centres. The poll was taken between December 7 and 14.

The two agents, Major Alain Mafart, aged 35, and Captain Dominique Prieur, aged 36, pleaded guilty in the District Court at Auckland on November 4 to charges of manslaughter and wilful damage. Fernando Pereira, a photographer with the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, died in the bombing. On November 22 the agents were The responses were:—

2. Deportation should only be considered after they have served at least five years of their sentence in New Zealand. 3. They should serve their full sentence in New Zealand.

The poll figures are subject to a maximum statistical sampling error of plus or minus 2 per cent. . , There is no evidence of significantly differing views on the matter in the various areas of New Zealand, but there is a trend for young people to take a harder line than older people. Most severe are those aged 16 to 24. Only 12 per cent favour early deportation; 61 per cent consider the full sentences should be served here. Among those aged 55 and over, 23 per cent support early deportation and 43 per cent are for the full sentence to be served here. The following table shows the views of the five age groups: Age group 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+ Attitude % % % % %

Copyright 1985 — The “New Zealand Herald.” Tomorrow: Views on the open-road speed limit.

Total Men Women Attitude % % % Deportation after satisfactory negotiations 17 19 15 Deportation after 5 years . Full sentences served in N.Z 24 21 27 55 57 54 No opinion 4 3 4

Deportation after satisfactory negotiation 12 15 16 18 23 Deportation after 5 years . Full sentences served in N.Z 24 23 ' 22 21 28 61 59 59 57 43 No opinion - • ■ S 3 3 3 4 6