Transcript
OSCAR TEMARU: Last year we were in Corsica and we got the support of the elected people there, we been to New Caledonia it is the same and here in Tahiti and Wallis and Futuna and a few parts of France, like south of France, Bretagne, and the other departments. So now we have the 30 departments and over 500 sponsors. We have nearly a thousand sponsors but can not be included in the numbers because it has to come from 30 different departments and most of those sponsors are from the same area. So that was another difficulty but now this problem is solved and we have the numbers.
JO O'BRIEN: What response have you had from politicians in France to your call for independence?
OT: Oh well they don't support that idea you know.
JO: But you managed to secure enough supporters though, there must have been some people who are sympathetic?
OT: They want me to participate in the election in the name of real democracy but doesn't mean they will vote for me.
JO: You have said that your campaign, you're aiming to secure the most votes in Tahiti. Do you think you will do that?
OT: Well that's the goal. We are going throughout the different communes, the islands to inform our people about our struggle and it is well-accepted by the people.
JO: What would be the significance of you achieving that?
OT: The idea is to win the election here so it would be a very democratic expression straight from our people and go forward for the auto-proclamation of our sovereignty throughout the United Nations process.
JO: But do you think that the government in France would recognise that as a proclamation of independence?
OT: It would be a very hard struggle. They won't admit it. So that's why I tell you if our people will support, will have strong support from our people we will declare our country a sovereign state with support of the United Nations, and have negotiation, organise a round table with France and members of the United Nations.
JO: Would it not create quite a backlash from France if you were to go ahead and do that?
OT: They will try to block it I'm sure. But it would be a very democratic way of decision by the people of our country. Otherwise there is no other election where our people can express themselves straightly on that issue.
