French blast at Mururoa

Press, 1 December 1987, Page 8

French blast at Mururoa

PA Wellington France exploded a third nuclear device for the month at Mururoa. Atoll early yesterday — a small blast measuring about three kilotons, a D.S.I.R. spokesman said. The blast was recorded by New Zealand seismologists stationed at Rarotonga in the Cook Islands at 6.59 a.m. New Zealand time. Previous blasts this month measured 20kt (November 6), and about 60kt (November 19) — the largest this year. So far this year the French have exploded eight devices at Mururoa — two in May, two in June, one in October and three this month. . There have been eight explosions each year since 1984, the D.S.I.R. spokesman said. There have been 91 recorded explosions at the atoll since 1975, A kiloton is equivalent to 1000 tonnes of TNT. £he Government has condemned the latest

nuclear'test "France continues to disregard the long-stand-ing and deeply-held view of South Pacific countries that nuclear testing should not be conducted in the South Pacific," said the Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control, Mr Marshall. “This is all the more disappointing from a country with which New Zealand shares so many democratic traditions.” Mr Marshall said New Zealand and Australia had been promoting for 15 years a resolution at the United Nations calling for a comprehensive nuclear test ban. “The overwhelming majority of the international community supports the call for a halt to all testing. France is one of the few countries that does not,” he said. “Nuclear testing is an important factor in the escalating arms race. We will not cease to condemn it wherever and whenever it occurs.” > V