22 Dec 2004

French Polynesian anti-occupation march called off

9:53 am on 22 December 2004

Today's planned protest march in French Polynesia against occupations and disruptions has been called off.

Several unions wanted to take to the streets of Papeete to express their concern that about 800 people had been prevented from doing their jobs.

But at the beginning of the week, all blockades of public buildings, which were set up in protest at the return of Gaston Flosse to power, were lifted.

Last week, the Flosse administration shifted the territory's data processing to secret locations to ensure those on the public payroll would be paid before Christmas.