Press release - 4 July, 2003
Greenpeace received word this afternoon, that the Government of Spain through its Ministry of Public Works and Transport has resolved to lower the bond that was placed on the organisation's flagship, the Rainbow Warrior, from €300,000 to €6,000.
Valencia (Spain) Greenpeace activists from the SV Rainbow Warrior boarded today the MV Honour, which is carrying timber from forest destruction in Cameroon. The Honour was forced to anchor outside Valencia harbour.
In the official communiqué from the Spanish authorities, the
Ministry admitted that "the amount [€300,000] corresponds to a
violation of 'very grave' character", that "The facts that have
given way to the current measures have not tended to secure any
personal profit or interest, therefore the existence of any
commercial or lucrative gain is discarded" and that "it should be
taken into account the time which has already transpired since June
13, when the ship was detained in the port, and the inherent
consequences of said detention all parties have suffered."
Greenpeace will deposit this bond as soon as possible to allow
the ship to depart the Port of Valencia and continue its campaign
to protect the world's last remaining ancient forests. Moreover,
Greenpeace will appeal to the appropriate courts as the facts
contained within the process have already been tried.
"Common sense has finally prevailed," said Juan Lopez de Uralde,
executive director of Greenpeace in Spain. "In any case, we will
continue to defend in the courts the illegality of this case, but
the ship must continue its work to protect the ancient forests and
the environment."
The reduction in the amount of the bond, comes after weeks of
international pressure to demand the release of the Rainbow
Warrior. On 2 July, activists in 14 cities around the world
protested in front of Spanish embassies. Also, over 30,000
Greenpeace supports world-wide sent e-mails to the Spanish
government asking for the release of the ship.
The Rainbow Warrior was detained by Spanish authorities on 13
June after activists carried out a peaceful, non-violent protest
against the timber transport ship, Honour. The Honour was carrying
timber from Cameroon, belonging to companies known to be involved
in illegal and destructive logging. After the demonstration, the
Rainbow Warrior was boarded by the Spanish Civil Guard and detained
in the Port of Valencia.