The Players in the Farce

So many figurative cloaks, daggers, bombs and black hats fill the chronicle of what was, in many respects, an incredible spy farce that it is necessary to provide a cast of characters. They are: 1. Lieut. Christine Gabon (alias Frederique Bonlieu). An agent of the Direction Generate de la Securite Exterieure (D.G.S.E.) in the intelligence-gathering/evaluation wing, assigned to infiltrate Greenpeace in Auckland. In early 1985, using an old D.G.S.E. file to trace a former French anti-nuclear activist, Jean-Marie Vidal , and convince him to give her a written introduction to New Zealand Greenpeace. Gabon, using the name Bonlieu, arrives in Auckland in mid-April and makes contact with Greenpeace. She spends time in the office, eventually helping with translation of publicity material.

Spends time on her own checking out Auckland harbor frontages, makes numerous trips around the North Island taking pictures of remote coastal areas, gathers information on yacht hire, camping facilities, diving, etc. Leaves Auckland for Tahiti on May 24. Returns later to Paris via San Francisco. Later goes to Israel for archaelogical dig from which she suddenly disappears after getting telegram from the D.G.S.E. that her identity in New Zealand uncovered. 2. Capt. Dominique Prieur (alias Sophie Turenge), a D.G.S.E. controller in intelligence-gathering/evaluation wing, and Gabon’s controller. A specialist in European pacifist and ’’green” movements. Arrives on a false Swiss passport at Auckland on June 22 with: 3. Major Alain Mafart (alias Alain Turenge), a D.G.S.E. agent, former deputy-commander of a secret underwater frogman school in Corsica. Also using a false passport which claims he is Prieur’s husband. 4. Chief Petty Officer Roland Verge (alias Raymond Velche) A D.G.S.E. agent for 11 years, a training officer at the frogman school in Corsica. 5. Petty Officer Gerald Andries (alias Eric Audrenc) A D.G.S.E. agent for six years, also from the Corsica camp. 6. Petty Officer Jean-Michel Bartelo (alias Jean-Michel Berthelo) A D.G.S.E. agent for four years, also from the Corsican underwater school.

Verge, Andries and Bartelo hire a yacht called the Ouvea from Noumea Yacht Charters in the company of: 7. Dr Xavier Maniguet (his true name). A freelance D.G.S.E. agent, a specialist doctor in underwater and diving medicine. 8. Philippe Dubast (real name unknown), a D.G.S.E. agent and the commander of the Corsican frogman camp. He travels to New Caledonia: to supervise the departure of the yacht Ouvea after its charter by Verge, Andries, Bartelo and Maniguet.

Christine Gabon

Dominique Prieur

Roland Verge

Gerald Andries

Jean-Michel Bartelo

And, of course, “Rainbow Warrior”