Posted on 06/15/2004 9:09:56 PM PDT by ellery
One of France's farthest-flung and most exotic colonial possessions, French Polynesia, elected its first pro-independence leader yesterday in a blow to the government in Paris.
The new head of state, Oscar Temaru, replaced a long-time political ally of President Jacques Chirac as president. The new man favours independence for the South Pacific archipelago, also known by the name of its main island, Tahiti.
The high tension of the past few weeks is at odds with French Polynesia's reputation as the epitome of South Seas tranquillity and romance, an image first fostered by 18th century explorers such as Capt James Cook.
The beauties of the island, and its women, were also identified as the spark that triggered the mutiny on HMS Bounty in 1789. Later, it provided the inspiration for many of Paul Gauguin's most admired paintings. Delighted early European visitors brought back tales of jungle-clad peaks, tattooed warriors in dug-out canoes and sexually-liberated island women.
France annexed the archipelago, a collection of 118 islands and atolls scattered over an area the size of Europe, in the 19th century.
Mr Temaru's election marks the end of a 20-year reign by his conservative predecessor Gaston Flosse, 72, a friend of Mr Chirac and staunch opponent of independence.
Mr Flosse's party was handed a stinging and unexpected defeat in legislative elections last month and later sought to have the results nullified. It then boycotted the vote for the new presidency.
The shock result, which coincides with political instability in France's other South Pacific colony, New Caledonia, heralds a loosening of ties with Paris, analysts said.
"It's a big shake-up for the French in the South Pacific, a significant turning point for their policy in the region," said Nic Maclellan, the Australian author of a book on France in the Pacific.
"This is a political earthquake. People are using the word bouleversement - the world turned upside down."
Mr Temaru, 59, said he "remained faithful to the ideal of political independence for Polynesia" but pledged to push the country towards nationhood only gradually.
"I declare solemnly that in 10, 15 or 20 years, when the political, economic and social conditions are ripe, we'll then be able to raise the question of self-determination," he said during a victory speech.
Even so, his win sets the stage for a future showdown with Paris. The French government had threatened to cut off funding to the territory if Mr Temaru was elected and flew 120 extra police officers to the islands to head off possible unrest.
France is likely to oppose any move towards independence. Thousands of French troops and civil servants are based on Tahiti.
"French Polynesia is part of France's aspirations to have a presence in every ocean and any loss of territory would have an impact on their status as a power with global reach," said Mr Maclellan. "The territory also has a huge exclusive economic zone, with rights to fishing and sea bed minerals."
Until recent years many locals had been reluctant to flirt with independence, mindful of the millions of pounds worth of funding they receive from Paris for health, infrastructure and education.
Aid from France has given French Polynesia the highest standard of living in the South Pacific.
But allegations of corruption, poor economic management and a desire for fresh political blood resulted in a backlash against Mr Flosse's administration.
French Polynesia is now likely to strengthen its relationship with the Pacific Islands Forum, an organisation formerly shunned by French territories because of its domination by former British colonies such as Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.
Political turmoil has also broken out in nickel-rich New Caledonia, west of French Polynesia. Last week, a new government collapsed within hours of its election after squabbling between rival pro-French parties.
Not enough bad things can happen to France.
This would be a great way to stick it to France and Chirac.
Thanks for posting this. I feel all warm and cozy now. :)
Hee...that's exactly how I felt when I read it.
That is an excellent idea. Free Tahiti!!!
I have a feeling this is just the beginning for our former ally....
We visited Tahiti in 1995 and 1997. Beautiful, lovely, paradise (except for the damned mosquitoes which were worse than here in Wisconsin where we live near a swamp!!!!) The locals we talked with did not like the French. That is when I got the idea that we should throw the French out of Tahiti and make me their Queen. The first thing I'd do is get a decent brewery there because their local brew (Hinano) wasn't very palatable.
Damn imperialist hypocrites!
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