Storming of Tahiti assembly denounced

4:14 pm on 12 March 2018

The French High Commissioner in French Polynesia has condemned the forced entry of strikers into last week's sitting of the territorial assembly.

220414. Photo RNZ. French Polynesia. Flags at territorial assembly in French Polynesia

Photo: RNZ Pacific / Walter Zweifel

The incident occurred during a general strike when thousands of people gathered at the assembly in a bid to stop a planned pension reform from being adopted.

The Commissioner Rene Bidal, who is responsible for security, praised the police for their professionalism and restraint while criticising what he called the excessive and irresponsible behaviour that could be observed.

He said it is now up to the judicial authorities to determine what action to take.

Employer organisations have described the events as unacceptable and intolerable, saying they amounted to a denial of democracy.

One of their leaders said it was a scandal that this happened and political and union organisations should denounce it.

In the face of the strike, the government has dropped the reform plan.

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