FRENCH POLYNESIA: Temaru Launches Open Challenge To France
Monday: March 27, 2006
French Polynesia’s President Oscar Temaru has publicly challenged France and its minister for overseas territories to enter into a public debate on the move towards independence.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of a public seminar in French Polynesia’s Austral islands (South) on Saturday (25 Mar), President Temaru, in an unannounced address, lashed out at the French State, saying, “to maintain colonialism is a stumbling block to economic, social and cultural development of a country.”
“This resolution has been ratified by all countries of this planet, including France. The right of peoples to self-determination is recognised by the French Constitution and the United Nations Charter. And this right is unalienable. If we want to have he power to decide, let’s go, it’s up to us”, Temaru told a stunned audience.
He went on further to make references to the French government’s stance, expressed over the past few years, to encourage a better integration of its Pacific countries and territories in their regional environment.
“I’m glad I have heard (French President) Chirac say that French overseas territories should integrate with Pacific countries and regional organisations. But we have to go further than this. This country (French Polynesia) must be a sovereign State, an independent State,” he said.
Earlier this month, Temaru’s statements triggered a controversy on the local political scene, when, travelling to neighbouring Cook Islands, he was reported as saying that from now on, he wanted French Polynesia to be called “Tahiti Nui” (which is the indigenous name for the French Pacific country).
There were swift reactions from former ruling party, former President Gaston Flosse’s Tahoeraa Huiraatira, but also from Temaru’s Tavini current coalition partner within the Union for Democracy (UPLD) coalition.
All these parties claim to be “pro-autonomy”, which in local politics means they want French Polynesia to remain French.
After his latest controversial speech, Temaru told local media “we absolutely need to be a free country, a free people, a sovereign people”.
“But a country’s sovereignty does not mean severing ties with France, I have said this before, one can negotiate cooperation agreements”.
Temaru has been in power since March 2005.
He said all parties forming the current coalition had signed a petition, in 2004, asking in substance for a change of government, but also containing a request to re-enlist French Polynesia on the United Nations list of non-sovereign countries to be decolonised.
“Now in case some people are interested to publicly debate the issue during a face-tot-face debate, I’m ready. If Baroin comes here and accepts such a face-to-face debate, to talk about this country’s independence and sovereignty, I’m ready”.
French minister for overseas territories François Baroin was scheduled to visit French Polynesia next week, as part of his second Pacific trip this month.
The first Pacific tour included Australia and New Caledonia.
This time, Baroin was also scheduled to visit New Zealand and sign with the local government a joint statement on a France-Australia-New Zealand initiative to fight against illegal fishing activities in the South Pacific region…OCEANIA FLASH/PNS
www.pacificislands.cc . . .
French Polynesia - Facts and Figures
French Polynesia is a tiny nation made up of little islands.
In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996.
It is one-third the size of Connecticut and not much larger than the English county of Wiltshire
Its population is only around 271,000.
Around 60% of its people speak French, and around 30% speak Polynesian.
Monday: March 27, 2006
French Polynesia’s President Oscar Temaru has publicly challenged France and its minister for overseas territories to enter into a public debate on the move towards independence.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of a public seminar in French Polynesia’s Austral islands (South) on Saturday (25 Mar), President Temaru, in an unannounced address, lashed out at the French State, saying, “to maintain colonialism is a stumbling block to economic, social and cultural development of a country.”
“This resolution has been ratified by all countries of this planet, including France. The right of peoples to self-determination is recognised by the French Constitution and the United Nations Charter. And this right is unalienable. If we want to have he power to decide, let’s go, it’s up to us”, Temaru told a stunned audience.
He went on further to make references to the French government’s stance, expressed over the past few years, to encourage a better integration of its Pacific countries and territories in their regional environment.
“I’m glad I have heard (French President) Chirac say that French overseas territories should integrate with Pacific countries and regional organisations. But we have to go further than this. This country (French Polynesia) must be a sovereign State, an independent State,” he said.
Earlier this month, Temaru’s statements triggered a controversy on the local political scene, when, travelling to neighbouring Cook Islands, he was reported as saying that from now on, he wanted French Polynesia to be called “Tahiti Nui” (which is the indigenous name for the French Pacific country).
There were swift reactions from former ruling party, former President Gaston Flosse’s Tahoeraa Huiraatira, but also from Temaru’s Tavini current coalition partner within the Union for Democracy (UPLD) coalition.
All these parties claim to be “pro-autonomy”, which in local politics means they want French Polynesia to remain French.
After his latest controversial speech, Temaru told local media “we absolutely need to be a free country, a free people, a sovereign people”.
“But a country’s sovereignty does not mean severing ties with France, I have said this before, one can negotiate cooperation agreements”.
Temaru has been in power since March 2005.
He said all parties forming the current coalition had signed a petition, in 2004, asking in substance for a change of government, but also containing a request to re-enlist French Polynesia on the United Nations list of non-sovereign countries to be decolonised.
“Now in case some people are interested to publicly debate the issue during a face-tot-face debate, I’m ready. If Baroin comes here and accepts such a face-to-face debate, to talk about this country’s independence and sovereignty, I’m ready”.
French minister for overseas territories François Baroin was scheduled to visit French Polynesia next week, as part of his second Pacific trip this month.
The first Pacific tour included Australia and New Caledonia.
This time, Baroin was also scheduled to visit New Zealand and sign with the local government a joint statement on a France-Australia-New Zealand initiative to fight against illegal fishing activities in the South Pacific region…OCEANIA FLASH/PNS
www.pacificislands.cc . . .
French Polynesia - Facts and Figures

French Polynesia is a tiny nation made up of little islands.
In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996.
It is one-third the size of Connecticut and not much larger than the English county of Wiltshire
Its population is only around 271,000.
Around 60% of its people speak French, and around 30% speak Polynesian.