31 Mar 2005

French Polynesian politician says France must act over spy network run by ousted government

7:28 pm on 31 March 2005

A French Polynesian politician, Nicole Bouteau, has called on France to get to the bottom of the espionage network run by the ousted government.

Ms Bouteau, who is the leader of the No Oe e Te Nunaa Party, says she was among several politicians who were spied on by the intelligence unit set up by Gaston Flosse.

A police probe into the disapperance of a jourmalist seven years go has found that Mr Flosse hired a French military intelligence agent to spy on political rivals, such as Oscar Temaru and Philip Schyle.

The activities were illegal but not sanctioned by the French state which is in charge of security in the territory.

Ms Bouteau says she suspected that her phone was tapped.

"Some of my telephone conversation was known by the Tahoeraa Huiraatira and the only way to know that is by the phone."

Nicole Bouteau.

Mr Flosse's Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party has expressed surprise that the preliminary findings of the police probe has become public.