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Greenpeace has demanded a prominent British politician
apologise for congratulating the French for bombing the Rainbow
Warrior, resulting in the death of a photographer.
Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Godfrey Bloom was
filmed at last year's climate change summit in Copenhagen
posing next to the organisation's new flagship boat, Rainbow
Warrior II, criticising the group's "junk science" use in
regards to the environment.
In the footage, he said: "Here we have one of the most, most
truly fascist boats since 1945.
"Well done the French for sinking (the boat).
"Viva la France."
But Mr Bloom yesterday said he had forgotten Dutch
photographer Fernando Pereira was killed in the 1985 incident
and French secret service agents convicted of manslaughter
after the bombing, the Guardian newspaper reported.
When asked whether he regretted his statements given the
death of Mr Pereira in the bombing, Mr Bloom first said he
did not know a man had been killed, then said he had
forgotten.
Prime Minister John Key last night refused to wade into the
stoush and said he had no comment on the matter.
Greenpeace New Zealand campaign director Chris Harris told
NZPA said it was "amazing" anyone could condone what was an
act of state terrorism.
Mr Harris said it made no difference Mr Bloom had forgotten a
man had died in the sinking of the ship.
"The fact that he got his facts wrong I don't think changes
the situation.
"I don't think forgetting something like that's any sort of
excuse or condones the remarks in any case."
He expected New Zealanders would want an apology from the
MEP.
"Given the fact that it was the French trying to stop us
working on an issue in our own backyard I would imagine
pretty much everyone in New Zealand would want an apology
over this."
Greenpeace International head of media Ben Stewart also
demanded an apology from Mr Bloom.
"It's extremely upsetting to see this guy saying those things
in front of the Warrior.
"Our dear colleague Fernando Pereira was murdered the day the
French secret service planted that bomb," he said.
"It was an act of terror, pure and simple, and to see a
member of the European Parliament lauding it is
jaw-dropping."
Mr Bloom owed the crew of the Rainbow Warrior and the Pereira
family an apology, he said.
"We can disagree about climate change without celebrating the
killing of a man."
The video appeared to have been uploaded to Mr Bloom's
YouTube channel Goddersvision on December 16 during the last
days of the summit, but was later taken down.
However, the "politics magazine and discussion" blog Liberal
Conspiracy obtained and uploaded a copy of the video to
YouTube.
