V70 Tailgate not opening

[tedex593]

Hi everyone
I am new to this site and have a 2001 V70 (since new).
However, the tailgate is now locked and I cannot open it. There seems to be no resistance on the outside handle and the interior locking system on the drivers door doesn't release the catch either.
I have looked through this site and noticed that a lot of rear vlight problems seem to stem from a broken wiring harness in the rear door pillar. Is this the cause of my problem?
Previously I have had intermittent dashboard warnings for stop light malfunction, as well as indicator problems only for these to disappear the next time we use the car.
My question is how do I open the tailgate?
There is no interior handle and it looks as if the tailgate has to be open in order to remove the door trim and to get at the wiring harness in the door pillar (from the inside I can only get at part of the harness with the door closed)?
It is now the 16th March and I still cannot open the tailgate.
Has anybody got any ideas how this can be done?