13 Sep 2011

Tahiti opposition targets decolonisation advocates

1:57 pm on 13 September 2011

The French Polynesian opposition Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party says it will ask the public prosecutor to take action against two assembly members for using public funds to travel to the Pacific Islands Forum in New Zealand.

The party, led by Gaston Flosse, has told a news conference that they had taken the trip to defend an ideological point of view that reflected no public interest.

The French Polynesian government unsuccessfully lobbied the Forum for it to support its bid to be reinscribed on the UN decolonisation list.

The Tahoeraa has also challenged the French high commissioner in Papeete over his inaction after last month's assembly vote which approved a motion asking France to allow for the re-listing of French Polynesia.

It says it has challenged the legality of the motion but there has been no action.

Mr Flosse, who was speaking at the news conference, is awaiting a verdict in a court case after being accused of misspending 30 million US dollars of public funds as president.

His party says the president, Oscar Temaru, should return to earth and stop confronting France.