13 Jun 2006

French Polynesia disappointed at secrecy in nuke issue

1:47 pm on 13 June 2006

There has been disappointment in French Polynesia with the latest disclosures of the French safety official about the legacy of the French nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific.

Marcel Jurien de la Gravière, who is the top French official dealing with safety aspects, made his latest findings public to members of the French Polynesians assessing the impact of the tests.

An assembly member, Tea Hirshon, has told local radio that France has upheld the secrecy surrounding the tests.

She says records of the test are still not being released and she says this is a practice in contrast to what has been done by the US and Britain.

Ms Hirshon also says questions remain about what happened to the waste from the military bases in Hao and Mururoa.