9 Oct 2006

French Polynesian petition described as bid to unseat government

2:47 pm on 9 October 2006

A government MP in French Polynesia, Sabrina Birk, says a petition by the small opposition Rautahi Party is part of moves to oust the government.

The petition seeks a stop to new taxes and stop alleged racism by President Oscar Temaru.

Ms Birk says the method of using a petition had been tried by the Temaru-led government ousted in 2004.

And she says the latest petition is an attempt to sway government MPs to the other side.

"to try to attract someone, you use money but not everyone would go for it. There is also the fact of saying: look a majority of the population doesn't accept what is happening, so come and join us and we'll overthrow the government."

Sabrina Birk says she doubts the petition will attract many signatures