Tahiti, 27.10.2006 : Press Release by ABP
Requests from French Polynesia: the UN should classify Polynesians as a colonised people; France should recognize the existence of diseases due to nuclear tests and add the independence option to the autonomy statutes.
Tahiti Nui and New Caledonia were invited as associate members of the 37th Forum of Pacific Islands that took place on 25th October.
During this forum, French Polynesia President, Tumaru, requested again that France recognizes the existence of diseases caused as a result of nuclear tests. He also requested that the UN adds Polynesia to its list of 'countries to be decolonized'.
He finally denounced the fact that none of the autonomy statutes that were granted by France refers to UN Resolution 15-14 about self-determination for peoples under protection/tutelage. None of them plans a referendum about the political future of the ma'ohi people. None of them either presents a transition plan towards independence.
The director of the Overseas Minister Cabinet, Richard Samuel, was leading the delegation of the French government at the Forum. He reacted against Oscar Telaru's speech by saying that the independence issue was an internal affair within French Polynesia .
He also added that institutions will no doubt recognize the right of people who wish for self-determination, when the favorable moment comes and if Polynesians wish it.
For any further information on French Polynesia , please go to Tahiti Press website. .
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