Government criticises former defence chief

Press, 23 March 1988, Page 13

Government criticises former defence chief

PA Wellington The Governnjent has criticised the former New Zealand defence [chief,] Sir Ewan Jamiesonj for supporting ; French! nuclear testing, accusing him of raising cold-war fears to try and bolster his case. That Sir Ewan, who; retired as Chief of Defence Staff two , years i ago, should be so remarkably out of touch .with [the views of i most New Zealanders ! was disappointing, said the Minister of Foreign [ Affairs, | Mr Marshall. I p France began underground tests: at| Mururoa atoll in French [Polynesia on June 5, 1975, with a five-kiloton test; and ] has since set off nearly 100 explosions at the site.] Sir Ewan told, a Melbourne .seminar on Soviet

ambitions in the Pacific! that scientific surveys had; produced no conclusive evidence that dangers [extended beyond the immediate. test. site [was probably more;" Iremote from habitation; t’han any other facility of; its I kind. ' j I‘ , -I p ! 1 [I He said the intensity of ! the objections was illpgi-l I cal and probably selfdefeating and it was the “ragirig” betweeri France and; New Zealand Stopped: fl Mr Marshall said Sir Ewan w’as misguided about French nuclear testing- I 1 1 “New Zealand and many other nations reject all nuclear testing," , lie ■; 1 “In the South Pacific, the French Government continues to disregard op-

position to its testing pro- 1 gramme and the very clear wishes of the people, in the region.” ||l . I j : ; At a time when super- ; ! Powers were scaling down i ! their! nuclear weapon, de- ; ■ ploymehts, it was surely . time to put a stop to all! i testing of .nuclear, .weapons. ’I • / ![■ ?!.'. | I “Fam appalled that Sir Ewan resorts to ll raising cold-war fears to try to bolster his case,” Mr Marshall, said. ; . . !i il I - "Of course, we ( have to be vigilant about activities by the Soviet Union in the region, but the. [days of coldywar paranoia | are over. “What is needed today is encouragement. for the direction the super- . Powers are taking —■ one of consultation, co-opera-tion and negotiation.”