Political Reviews

0LFURQHVLDLQ5HYLHZ,VVXHVDQG(YHQWV-XO\ WR-XQH david w kupferman, kelly g marsh, donald r shuster, tyrone j taitano

3RO\QHVLDLQ5HYLHZ,VVXHVDQG(YHQWV-XO\ WR-XQH lorenz gonschor, hapakuke pierre leleivai, margaret mutu, forrest wade young

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5HYLHZVRI$PHULFDQ6ëPRD&RRN controversies over two projects of the Islands, Hawai‘i, Niue, Tokelau, new government: a bill to reform the Tonga, and Tuvalu are not included country’s land legislation and a reso- in this issue. lution to reinscribe the territory on the United Nations List of Non-Self- French Polynesia Governing Territories (nsgts). During the period under review, politi- A bill for a loi de pays (country cal stability slightly improved as, for law, ie, an act of the French Polynesia the first time in many years, no change Assembly with legal standing slightly in government took place and no lower than French national law) to attempt was made to overthrow the regulate the acquisition of landed current one through a no-confidence property by the country government motion. However, the severe eco- in the case of a landowner dying nomic crisis partly caused by years of without heirs met with strong negative instability continued, and no major reactions as soon as it was introduced changes in financial and economic in the assembly in mid-August. The policy to improve the situation appear bill’s opponents—led by heir to the to be in sight. On the other hand, Tahitian royal family Teriihinoiatua there were significant advances in the Joinville Pomare, land rights activist international plea for the country’s Monil Tetuanui, and assembly mem- decolonization by the current govern- bers Sandra Manutahi Lévy-Agami ment under President Oscar Temaru. and Sabrina Birk—accused Temaru’s At the end of the review period, a government of attempting to acquire change of the executive government private lands in order to resell them and legislative majority in France took for profit (tp, 16 Aug, 19 Aug 2011). place, with the prospect of a new deal Despite reassurances by Vice President in relations between Paris and Papeete Antony Geros that the bill would not in the near future. At the same time, be less favorable to landowning fami- a comeback of Gaston Flosse and his lies than the current legal situation party is happening in local politics, (tp, 7 Aug 2011), the protests went as shown in their surprise win of the on and eventually led to an indefinite elections for local representatives in postponement of the bill (TPM, Sept the French National Assembly. 2011), even though the issue later With Temaru’s coalition govern- reemerged, with Pomare accusing the ment of his own Union Pour La upld of “neo-colonialism” (DT, 2 Nov Démocratie (upld) and the outer 2011). islands party Te Mana O Te Mau The main focus of Temaru’s gov- Motu (tmmm) in power since April ernment throughout the review period, 2011, the review period started with however, was to pursue the country’s

151 152 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) reinscription on the UN List of Non- representatives had been elected on Self-Governing Territories. For the pro-French lists and had only recently last six decades, the absence of French crossed the floor and therefore lacked Polynesia from that list, having been the mandate to vote for the country’s unilaterally removed by France in decolonization (tp, 22 Aug 2011). 1947, has represented a great anomaly This line of argument is rather absurd in the Pacific, since virtually all other and hypocritical since, first of all, in dependent territories in the Pacific a representative democracy members have been listed. of Parliament are free to change their On 18 August, after passion- opinions on issues and, second, all ate debates, the assembly adopted a three opposition parties had earlier resolution asking the French president been part of Temaru-led coalition gov- to reverse the removal of the terri- ernments and found nothing wrong tory from the list. The vote for the with working under a pro-indepen- resolution was a historic moment in dence president as long as it gained the country’s history, since French them ministerial portfolios. Poly nesia’s government now for the More reasonable in her approach first time had received an explicit was tmmm representative Eléanor mandate to pursue decolonization on Parker, who in her speech identi- an international level. The decoloniza- fied herself as an opponent of inde- tion issue had always been the fracture pendence but argued that only a point in Temaru’s earlier governing decolonization process under UN coalitions, since they included anti- oversight could guarantee a reasonable independence politicians who accused debate on the topic and a fair vote of Temaru of breaking assurances of self-determination, without fear of neutrality on the independence ques- manipulation by the French govern- tion made in coalition agreements. ment (tp, 18 Aug 2011). In that sense, This time, however, Temaru had made it is indeed difficult to understand support for reinscription an explicit what local pro-French leaders fear precondition for any coalition agree- from the territory’s re-listing as a non- ment, so it passed rather smoothly self-governing territory, since listing with support from all but one (who does not imply independence unless abstained) of the thirty-one member expressly wished for by the popula- upld-tmmm majority (tp, 18 Aug tion. The only rational motivation for 2011). those ferociously opposed to reinscrip- On the other hand, members of the tion might be the fact that almost all three opposition caucuses—Tahoeraa of them were members and associates Huiraatira (leader Gaston Flosse), of the corrupt and authoritarian Flosse To Tatou Aia (Gaston Tong Sang), government before 2004 (see below), and Ia Ora Te Fenua (Jean-Christophe and one could assume they might Bouissou)—reacted with fierce hos- worry about the country being too tility bordering on hysteria. Among thoroughly audited and examined by other issues, opposition leaders argued a neutral outside body such as the UN that the resolution was not legiti- decolonization committee. mate because several of the tmmm The assembly’s resolution had political reviews ‡ polynesia 153 broad repercussions across the Pacific. passage referring to French Polynesia The Pacific Conference of Churches, in the 2012 Forum Final Communiqué at its fiftieth annual reunion in Apia, was visibly reduced from what was 6ëPRDLQWKHSUHVHQFHRI3UHVLGHQW originally expected. Instead of sup- Temaru, passed a resolution support- porting reinscription, the communiqué ing French Polynesia’s reinscription merely mentions recalling the Forum’s (tp, 29 Aug 2011). Similarly, Fijian “2004 decision to support the prin- interim Prime Minister Voreqe Baini- ciple of French Polynesia’s right to marama declared himself in favor self-determination” and reiterates an of reinscription during the second “encouragement to French Polynesia “Engaging with the Pacific” meeting and France to seek an agreed approach in Nadi, Fiji, on 1–2 September. With on how to realise French Polynesia’s Senator Richard Ariihau Tuheiava right to self-determination” (Pacific attending as Temaru’s special envoy, Islands Forum 2011, 11). Since, the Final Communiqué of the meet- unlike in New Caledonia, France has ing includes a resolution in favor of refused for decades to such an “agreed reinscription, which besides those approach” for French Polynesia, the of Fiji and French Polynesia, carries passage in the Forum Communiqué signatures representing the govern- sounds rather ironic. ments of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, A crucial factor in the absence of Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, strong pif backing was the lack of Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Nauru, the support from New Zealand and Aus- Marshall Islands, and the Federated tralia, both of which have abandoned States of Micronesia (Government of their once strong espousal of decolo- Fiji 2011). nization of French territories and are The French government, on the now increasingly cooperating with other hand, showed itself to be hostile France in political and military mat- toward reinscription and started a ters. Australian Parliamentary Secre- vigorous campaign before the annual tary for Pacific Island Affairs Richard meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Marles later reiterated that his govern- (pif) on 7–8 September in Auckland, ment only supports a bilateral process Aotearoa/New Zealand, in order to between Paris and Papeete but no rein- lobby Forum member states into drop- scription at the UN level (abc Radio ping or watering down the proposal. Australia, 17 April 2012). Apparently alarmed by Temaru’s Despite the disappointing outcome obtaining increasing support for of the pif meeting, individual Pacific reinscription Pacific-wide, Paris for Island states continued to support the first time sent its foreign minister, French Polynesia more intensively. In Alain Juppé, to attend the Forum as late September, the prime ministers an observer alongside a delegation of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, including Gaston Tong Sang. Meltek Sato Kilman Lituvanu and Despite Temaru’s and Tuheiava’s Danny Philip, demanded the country’s efforts as official representatives of reinscription in their speeches on the their country, French lobbying proved floor of the UN General Assembly at least partially successful, since the (Kilman Lituvanu 2011; Philip 2011), 154 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013)

DQG6ëPRDªV3ULPH0LQLVWHU7XLODHSD the 239 billion cfp francs spent in Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi allowed 2009. Temaru and Tuheiava to be included In September, the French and in the Samoan UN Delegation. Within territorial governments formally the UN organization, no less than announced the construction of a Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had second prison on the south shore of shown genuine interest in Temaru’s Tahiti, the current one in Nuutania quest for reinscription while attending in Faaa being run down and heav- the Auckland pif meeting (tp, 7 Sept ily overcrowded. The project, at an 2011). estimated cost of 8 billion cfp francs While politics focused on these (us$80 million), is fraught with important issues relating to the controversy, especially in the district international political status and of Papeari where the complex is to be long-term development goals of the built. In an editorial comment, Tahiti country, urgent domestic reforms Pacifique editor Alex DuPrel semi- were neglected and the local economy jokingly argued that “the fact that the remained in a precarious state, with construction of a prison is currently no recovery in sight. Due to the logic the only large building project under of clientele politics, no serious reform way in Tahiti could be interpreted as of the overstaffed and overpaid territo- rather symbolic,” while the issue’s rial administration has been attempted headline dubbed French Polynesia by any previous governments, and the the “Greece of the Pacific,” in refer- upld is no exception, despite its noble ence to the current severe financial goals of decolonization. The inaction crisis in the European country (TPM, of the country’s government in that Oct 2011). Shortly after the prison respect caused the French national announcement, Tahiti’s infrastructure government to enact some reforms in received a significant improvement; a its stead and implement them from tunnel bypassing the coastal cliffs at above. For instance, on 30 June 2011, Arahoho Blowhole, hitherto passable the French National Assembly voted only through a narrow winding road to reduce the salaries of French Poly- that had been a hot spot for traffic nesia Assembly representatives by 10 accidents, was opened in mid-October percent after the local assembly had (tp, 11 Oct 2011). refused to follow earlier recommenda- Also in October, the topic of post- tions to do so (TPM, Aug 2011). colonial nation building once more While forcing some cuts in the terri- filled the headlines when President torial administration, the French State Temaru suggested using the primary also reduced the amounts of money elections of the French Socialist Party directly injected into the country. (of which Temaru’s Tavini Huiraatira, According to a press release by the the chief component of the upld, is French High Commission, the amount the local partner) as an unofficial ref- of money France spent in 2010 within erendum to change the country’s name French Polynesia amounted to 179 bil- from French Polynesia to “Maohi lion cfp francs (US$1.79 billion) (TPM, Nui” (Greater Maohi, referring to the Aug 2011), a significant decrease from Tahitian term for native Polynesian). political reviews ‡ polynesia 155

Already during the pif meeting in other islands any importance, but at August, Temaru had designated him- a closer look, “Maohi Nui” is hardly self as “President of Maohi Nui.” The less problematic. Even though from president’s suggested name change a Tahitian point of view inclusive of sparked an intense debate and led once other Polynesians, it is nevertheless more to the pro-French opposition also a Tahiti-centric term, since the bringing forward all sorts of charges word “Maohi” is uniquely Tahitian against the president, including alleged and not found in many of the outer racism since the term “Maohi Nui” islands languages. Overall, “Tahiti would supposedly exclude non-Poly- Nui” appears more preferable, since nesians (tp, 4 Oct, 7 Oct 2011). it has already been used in the names “French Polynesia” is, of course, of several semi-governmental institu- an anachronistic colonial name, akin tions, such as the country’s airline (Air to such obsolete entities as “French Tahiti Nui) and TV station (Tahiti Nui Indochina,” “British East Africa,” or Television), as well as the national “Netherlands Indies.” In addition, anthem (“Ia Ora O Tahiti Nui”) and the name is imprecise since there are order of merit (Order of Tahiti Nui). other Polynesian islands under French While it was initially championed rule not included in the territory (ie, only by Gaston Flosse, during the Wallis and Futuna). The name “French middle of the past decade there was a Polynesia” was imposed by Paris short-lived consensus on “Tahiti Nui” in 1957 to replace the earlier name when Temaru for a while settled for “French Establishments of Oceania” that name as well. In addition, of all against the will of local leaders at the suggested names, “Tahiti Nui” is the time. Given these facts, a change of most internationally recognizable, an the country’s official name is over- important factor for a largely tourism- due. However, one of the problems based economy. In terms of name is that French Polynesia, unlike most recognition, “Tahiti Nui” actually other modern Polynesian polities, is scores higher than “French Polyne- an artificial entity created through sia”—most tourists vacationing in French colonization that does not “Tahiti” only learn of the existence of correspond to any precolonial politi- the name “French Polynesia” at immi- cal, cultural, or linguistic unit and, gration—and it scores far higher than therefore, there is no original native the rather obscure “Maohi Nui.” name for the entire country. While the While “Maohi Nui” might be majority of local politicians in 1957 impractical internationally, making opposed “French Polynesia” and sug- charges that the term is “racist” is gested to simply rename the territory very much baseless. It remains unclear “Tahiti” (Regnault 2006, 200–204), what would be racist about replac- the most common suggestions for ing a colonial name with one in a a name change in recent times have native language referring to the native been “Tahiti Nui” (Greater Tahiti) people, a practice that has been com- and “Maohi Nui.” “Tahiti Nui” has mon in processes of decolonization been criticized as too Tahiti-centric, as elsewhere, often long before actual it could be construed as denying the independence. 156 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013)

While the debate on the name found the budget plan Gaston Tong change went on—albeit with no Sang had attempted to enact by decree substantial consequences, since an in February of 2011 to be unconstitu- official name change would require tional. The decision had no immediate a complex French legislative process effect, since the government has since (tp, 4 Oct 2011)—attention focused changed, but it increased Temaru’s again on former President Gaston legitimacy by denouncing his predeces- Flosse’s troubles with the law. In early sor’s handling of the country’s finan- October, Flosse was sentenced to four cial affairs (pir, 28 Oct 2011). years in jail for the so-called fictional Meanwhile, Senator Tuheiava is employments affair, while several emerging as a new leader in local poli- of his former associates, including tics. Over the last few years, Tuheiava leading politicians such as Jean- has increasingly become one of the Christophe Bouissou, Justin Arapari, public faces of the upld, besides Bruno Sandras, and Michel Buillard, Temaru and his longtime lieutenants were sentenced to prison or suspended such as Jacqui Drollet and Antony prison sentences and high fines (tp, Geros. In October, Tahiti-based French 4 Oct 2011). During his presidency journalist Serge Massau published a between 1991 and 2004, Flosse had book of collected interviews with the employed the codefendants at the senator (the youngest in the entire president’s office as “consultants,” or French Senate) and his innovative “task officers,” for which they were political ideas (Massau 2011). In paid high salaries, while in reality Paroles d’un autochtone (Words of none of them ever worked there. All an indigenous man), Tuheiava pres- of them filed appeals, so the trial will ents his long-term social and political drag on for a long time and none of visions of sovereignty (preferring that them will go to jail unless and until word over “independence”), indig- their sentences are confirmed by the enous rights, and pan-Pacific solidar- appellate court. ity. In the latter respect, Tuheiava has Another notoriously corrupt been indeed very active, promoting politician, Emile Vernaudon, who had the inscription of Raiatea’s Marae previously been convicted of mas- Taputapuatea (a historic temple of sive embezzlement of public funds, great significance throughout East- was released from prison in the first ern Polynesia) on unesco’s World week of June (TPM, June–July 2012). Heritage List, while also actively Vernaudon was the first local politi- supporting the rights of other Poly- cian in a long time to actually serve a nesian countries under foreign rule, long prison sentence for corruption, such as Rapa Nui during the violent and one can only hope that his case crackdown by Chilean forces on the will serve as a precedent for the vari- island’s people in 2010. ous other corruption cases currently In the same context, on 29 Septem- ongoing. ber, Tuheiava posed an official ques- Another judicial controversy was tion to French Prime Minister François resolved in late October, when the Fillon about the legal status of rela- French Council of State (highest court) tions between France and Hawai‘i. political reviews ‡ polynesia 157

Since Hawai‘i was not acquired by and traditionalists, was dedicated in the United States in conformity with front of the town hall by a group of international law through a treaty political leaders (tp, 12 Nov 2011). As of annexation but was unilaterally the leader of resistance against both occupied in 1898, and previous execu- Christianization and Pomare hege- tive agreements between the Hawaiian mony, Opuhara is regarded as a hero Kingdom and the United States were by movements to revive the traditional never carried out, the current legal religion as well as by Pomare critics, status of the international treaties thus making the ceremony, attended between Hawai‘i and third countries, by practicing Christians and Pomare none of which were ever formally descendants, a symbolic gesture of terminated, is unclear. In his writ- reconciliation between the two reli- ten question, Tuheiava referred to a gions and between rival lineages. treaty made in 1857 between French Late November also saw the re- Emperor Napoleon III and Hawaiian dedication of historic St Michael’s King Kamehameha IV, referring to the Cathedral on Mangareva, the largest importance of clarifying the status of nineteenth-century church building that treaty for French Polynesia, since and one of the oldest in the Pacific. Hawai‘i is an important economic Built in 1846 with a length of 55 partner for the country today, as it meters and a steeple height of 25 was in the 1850s when Tahiti was a meters, the historic monument had French Protectorate (Government of fallen into disrepair by the early 2000s France 2011). and was threatened with collapse. The While engaged in assisting his own restoration, which began in 2008, and other Polynesian countries under cost 537 million cfp francs (us$5.4 foreign rule, Tuheiava also came under million) and was jointly funded by the attack for questionable dealings in his Catholic Church, the French State, the profession as a lawyer. In mid-March government of French Polynesia, and 2012, a judicial indictment against private donors (TPM, Dec 2011; tp, the senator was initiated, charging 12 Nov 2011). him with breach of trust, forgery, and Around the same time, another use of forgeries, as he was accused political controversy gained attention of taking payment from clients but when Jean-Paul Barral, a long-term not properly serving them. Tuheiava, independence activist, high school however, considered this a politically teacher, and government official, motivated conspiracy attempting to resigned in disgust from his office as remove him from office because of advisor to assembly Speaker Jacqui his pro-sovereignty convictions (TPM, Drollet and harshly criticized the April 2012). politicians of all parties. While arguing In November 2011, two ceremo- that the pro-French territorial gov- nies marking important historical eras ernment under Gaston Flosse from took place. In Papara, a monument 1991 to 2004 “in complicity with the honoring Opuhara, the leader of the French State had created the largest traditionalist party slain in the deci- corruption machine ever existing in sive 1815 battle between Christians the territory of the French Republic,” 158 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) the succeeding governments led by arrested Teatuaura Temataru, the Temaru, Drollet, and other indepen- self-proclaimed “King of Tahiti,” as dence supporters, despite their slogan well as several supporters of his “gov- of “Taui Roa” (Great Change) had ernment.” Hailing from the island done nothing substantial to do away of Maupiti, Temataru had attracted with that corrupt system. On the attention when he first proclaimed contrary, during Temaru’s presidency, himself king of his home island and a single politician (Emile Vernaudon) then created a Pacific confederation had embezzled hitherto unparalleled with representatives of other self- amounts of public funds, and the proclaimed “kingdoms” on other political culture had fallen to such a Polynesian islands. Eventually, in late low level that some politicians were 2011 he opened his own tribunal in now changing their party affilia- Papeete and appeared with a guard tion every few months, just to be on of twenty uniformed bodyguards and the side of the government majority. a service vehicle inscribed “Police When Barral had recently suggested Royale.” The last two steps provoked to Speaker Drollet to work out a new police intervention because, accord- consensus-based project inclusive of ing to the 2004 organic law of French all political camps and wider ele- Polynesia, the judiciary and internal ments of society in order to enable the security are responsibilities of the credible and responsible conduct of French state, which does not tolerate government, Drollet and other upld messing with its prerogatives (TPM, Jan colleagues reportedly advised him to 2012). For similar reasons, in early postpone his suggestions until after July 2012, police cracked down on the next elections. Barral took this another self-proclaimed government, as another indicator of how politics “Hau Pakumotu,” and arrested its continue to operate on the short-term leaders (tntv news, 13 July 2012). logic of power strategies (TPM, Dec These and other, similarly bizarre- 2011). looking fantasy states founded recently Mostly concurring with Barral, in Tahiti might seem to be merely Tahiti-based political scientist Sémir comic operas, but there are deeper Al-Wardi and historian Jean-Marc reasons for the increasing popularity Regnault in late 2011 published a of these movements. Growing num- book with the appropriate title Tahiti bers especially among the poorer rural en crise durable (Tahiti in a sustain- Tahitian population have lost confi- able crisis), deploring the seemingly dence in the pro-independence politi- irresolvable political and economic cal parties they traditionally voted for, impasse in which the country has been because the latter have increasingly stuck for almost a decade (Al-Wardi become part of the political establish- and Regnault 2011). ment, while an improvement of social With no changes in sight within and economic conditions for the lower the formal political system, it should classes is nowhere in sight. not come as a surprise that alterna- The New Year started with the tive political projects are flourish- closure of Tahitipresse, the coun- ing. In mid-December, French police try’s official news agency, which, political reviews ‡ polynesia 159 being staffed with rather few people a price tag of 2.5 billion cfp francs in comparison to other government (us$25 million), very costly (TPM, agencies, fell victim to the hesitant, April 2012, May 2012). unsystematic, and rather symbolic While the government keeps cuts in government expenditure. wasting funds for ill-conceived pres- Tahitipresse had usually been a reli- tige projects such as this, the private able source of information for this sector continues to stagnate. Among review. Also during the review period, the few exceptions was the purchase the French Pacific territories lost an of the luxury hotel Le Méridien in important figure in the development of Punaauia by the Samoan Hotel com- print media when in September 2011, pany Aggie Grey’s in January, one of journalist and printer Daniel Tardieu the few recent instances of foreign passed away in Nouméa at age ninety. investment in the country’s tourism Tardieu cofounded the oldest currently industry and, interestingly enough, by existing newspaper of the country, a small company from a neighboring Les Nouvelles de Tahiti, in 1948, then Island nation (TPM, Feb 2012). moved to New Caledonia where he In late April, President Temaru created Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes, announced another giant economic which is still the major daily newspa- project, a large-scale tuna farm in Hao per there (TPM, Oct 2011). atoll, to be financed by Chinese inves- The first major political event in tors (TPM, May 2012, June–July 2012; the New Year was the visit by French ti, 2 June 2012). Similar projects Minister for Overseas Territories to take advantage of the infrastruc- Marie-Luce Penchard from 5 to 14 ture leftover from the former French February. During the visit, Vice Presi- military base on Hao and of the atoll’s dent Geros signed a contract with the huge lagoon had been announced by minister, pledging to sell the building several preceding governments, so it that houses the French Polynesia office remains to be seen whether the project in Paris in order to be eligible for an will indeed be implemented. advance in funds from the French trea- During the remaining period sury. On 19 February, however, Geros under review, the country was mainly announced that the country govern- preoccupied with the French national ment would not sell the building, since elections. During the presidential this would constitute a gesture of self- elections on 21 April and 5 May, humiliation by Tahiti vis-à-vis Paris. the majority of French Polynesia’s The French government subsequently voters, contrary to the metropolitan blocked release of the promised funds trend, voted for incumbent President (TPM, March 2012). Nicolas Sarkozy. During the first elec- In March, another infrastructural tion round, Sarkozy received 45.21 pet project was inaugurated: a new percent of the votes (27.18 percent harbor station intended to facilitate in France), against 32.43 percent for ferry traffic to Moorea. Typical for Socialist candidate François Hollande official buildings in Tahiti, the station (28.63 percent in France). Marine Le is an impressive display of architec- Pen of the extreme right-wing Front ture but not very practical and, with National, who polled third in France 160 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) with 17.90 percent, reached only 5.73 The specifics of the local results, percent in French Polynesia. Fourth and their divergence from French place was claimed by François Bayrou national trends, can be best explained of the liberal Mouvement Démocrate by looking back at the positioning party, with 5.72 percent locally (9.13 of the local political parties in the percent in France). All other can- preceding electoral campaign. A large didates received insignificant local front encompassing virtually all of the results, including Philippe Poutou of otherwise divided local pro-French the radical left Nouveau Parti Anti- parties, including Flosse’s Tahoeraa capitaliste; although he was the only and Tong Sang’s To Tatou Aia, had French presidential candidate to have declared themselves in favor of Sar- unambiguously declared himself in kozy, which explains the latter’s sur- favor of French Polynesia’s indepen- prisingly good score. Temaru’s formal dence, he gained only 0.59 percent of partnership with the French Socialist the local vote (1.15 percent in France). party explains why Hollande won in Local participation was a record low upld-ruled municipalities. Bayrou of 49.35 percent, as opposed to 79.48 scored third, since he had the local percent of the voters in France. support of Nicole Bouteau’s minor In the runoff, won nationally by centrist party No Oe E Te Nunaa. The Hollande with 51.64 percent, Sarkozy negligible scores of all other candi- still led the local vote with 53.26 dates, including the nationally strong percent (48.36 percent in France) Le Pen and even Poutou, the only can- against 48.11 percent for Hollande. didate specifically engaged for a local Compared to the last presidential elec- political topic, are the results of their tion, the local vote for Sarkozy even lack of a local political party support- increased, since in the 2007 runoff, ing their campaign. Sarkozy had received 51.90 percent. Especially interesting from a Hollande lead the vote only in the political point of view was the local Marquesas Islands, some of the Tua- campaign for Sarkozy, since in his motu and Austral Islands, the islands case, several competing parties had of Tahaa and Moorea, as well as in rallied behind one French candidate the municipalities of Faaa and West from the first round, a strategy that Taiarapu on Tahiti. At 58.94 percent, allowed them to conceal their indi- local participation in the runoff was vidual strength and make it possible still much lower than in France (80.35 for each of them to count Sarkozy’s percent) but relatively high for local votes as theirs. This strategy was standards. Irregularities in the count- most evidently used by Gaston Flosse, ing of votes compelled the French whose once all-powerful Tahoeraa Constitutional Council to declare the had suffered extreme losses during the election in the municipality of Papeete last territorial election in 2008 and to be void, but because of the overall had subsequently lost the endorse- insignificance of those votes, this had ment from Sarkozy’s Union pour un no effect on the results of the presiden- Mouvement Populaire (ump) party tial election as a whole (rnzi, 10 May as its local partner to Tong Sang’s To 2012). Tatou Aia. To rally behind Sarkozy political reviews ‡ polynesia 161 despite all of that was thus a brilliant atively asked question by a journalist move for Flosse to save face and at the that he was not for the independence same time outmaneuver Tong Sang of French Polynesia, he has also stated and other recently created pro-French that this is a personal disagreement splinter groups (NT, 22 Apr 2012). between him and his partner Oscar When on 12 April, Sarkozy’s Min- Temaru (TPM, March 2012), implying ister of Finance and Economic Affairs that he was not intending to limit the François Baroin visited Tahiti for a country’s right to self-determination as campaign speech, he was supposed Sarkozy had done. Since his election to be hosted by representatives of all as president, Hollande has thus far local parties that had declared support avoided making any further explicit for Sarkozy, but at first Flosse was statements on the issue. conspicuously absent. After Tong Sang With the change of power in Paris and other leaders of small pro-French thus raising significant hope for a new splinter parties had waited for a while, deal with Tahiti, the bid for reinscrip- Flosse suddenly showed up with 5,000 tion as a non-self-governing territory of his party members, all uniformed received a new boost at the Ministe- in orange, the Tahoeraa party color, rial Meeting of the Coordinating and crowded the hall where Baroin Bureau of the Non-Aligned Move- was to speak, making an overwhelm- ment in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. On ing impression on both the minister 9 May the representatives of Papua and the local party leaders (TPM, New Guinea and Fiji introduced a May 2012). resolution, which was approved and The election of Hollande might included in the meeting’s communi- mark the beginning of a new era. qué, stating that the organization, The five years of Sarkozy brought no consisting of 120 member states, visible change in the French attitude “affirmed the inalienable right of the toward Tahiti. Essentially, Sarkozy people of French Polynesia–Ma‘ohi had continued Chirac’s policy of cul- Nui to self-determination in accor- tivating special relations with a local dance with Chapter xi of the United pro-French client leader (Flosse for Nations and the UN General Assembly Chirac, Tong Sang for Sarkozy) and Resolution 1514(xv)” (Fiji Ministry of had manipulated the political process Information, 11 May 2012). Repre- in that client’s favor, while maintain- senting two-thirds of the UN member ing an overall arrogant and chauvin- states, in the words of a Fijian journal- istic attitude against independence in ist reporting on the issue, “the support general and Oscar Temaru’s party in by the 120 members of the movement particular. The active campaign of the will greatly assist the advancement Sarkozy government against reinscrip- of the issue in the United Nations,” tion once again was evidence for that referring to the next General Assembly continuing colonialist attitude. meeting in September 2012 (Fiji Sun, Hollande’s position on these ques- 13 May 2012). tions remains to be seen. Even though The news once more drew sharp on 25 February the Socialist presiden- criticism from the pro-French oppo- tial candidate had replied to a provoc- sition parties. In a press statement, 162 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013)

Tahoeraa called the resolution of the Arue on Tahiti as well as the island Non-Aligned Movement an “inac- of Moorea and the Tuamotu and ceptable interference in the internal Marquesas Islands) with 36.62 per- affairs of France,” while Tong Sang cent, a significant advance over upld denied the legitimacy of Fiji’s and candidate and Minister of Finance Papua New Guinea’s activism, based and Economic Affairs Pierre Frébault, on their governments’ poor demo- who gained only 18.30 percent. The cratic performance (ti, 15 May 2012). incumbent, Papeete Mayor Michel This reaction by Tahoeraa and its Buillard (To Tatou Aia), was not run- former member was rather hypocriti- ning again. The balance of the votes cal, since Flosse had been one of the went to several candidates of small chief outside supporters of the earlier splinter parties. Fijian military dictatorship of Colonel In the second constituency (rural Sitiveni Rabuka in the 1980s (Reg- municipalities on Tahiti as well as the nault 2011). What makes Tahoeraa’s Austral Islands), Tahoeraa candidate position even more ironic is the fact Jonas Tahuaitu (assistant mayor of that Rabuka’s regime was based on Papeari) scored highest with 29.18 indigenous ethno-nationalism and percent of the votes, but the upld Christian fundamentalism, the very candidate, attorney and political new- ideologies pro-French Tahitians have comer Philippe Neuffer, who obtained constantly accused Temaru of harbor- 24.34 percent, scored significantly ing, while the current Fijian military higher than Frébault did in his race. government under Bainimarama Incumbent Bruno Sandras, the mayor advocates a secular and multiethnic of Papara who had recently left Fijian state. Tahoeraa to found his own party and If the campaign for the French who received official support from the presidential election gave some French ump, came in fourth with 9.44 indications of Tahoeraa’s comeback, percent, overtaken by Teiva Manutahi the subsequent French legislative (of the small independent party Pori- elections, held in French Polynesia netia Ora), who received a surprising on 2 and 16 June, restored Flosse’s 10.28 percent. party to a position of strength not Only in the third constituency was seen since 2004. Due to the increase upld leading the vote in the first in population, the number of deputies round, where its candidate, Minis- to represent the country in the French ter of Education, Youth, and Sports National Assembly, each to be elected Tauhiti Nena, received 30.52 percent in a single-member constituency in against Tahoeraa candidate Jean two rounds, was increased from two Paul Tuaiva (a young businessman to three. and political newcomer) with 23.90 Already in the first round of voting, percent. Former President and Bora- Tahoeraa candidate Edouard Fritch Bora Mayor Gaston Tong Sang, whose (Flosse’s son-in-law and leader of the party To Tatou Aia had won the last Tahoeraa caucus in the assembly) territorial elections in 2008, scored led the vote in the first constituency third with only 16.45 percent. At (municipalities of Papeete, Pirae, and 45.79 percent, local participation was political reviews ‡ polynesia 163 significantly lower than the French shows that the majority of local national turnout of 57.23 percent. voters, similar to the presidential In the runoff election, Fritch virtu- elections, did not follow the French ally doubled his votes and won the trend—the Socialist Party and its first constituency with a solid majority center-left allies won an overall major- of 63.36 percent. In the second con- ity of 331 of 577 seats in the National stituency, the trend of the first round Assembly—but continued to vote for was also reinforced, with Tahuaitu the local pro-French parties affiliated scoring 53.42 percent in a clear with the center-right French opposi- victory over Neuffer, even though the tion. Temaru’s Socialist-allied upld latter had the support of Sandras as was not able to capitalize on the well as several small splinter candi- political change in France and reach dates from the first round (ti, 13 June, out to voters outside of its traditional 16 June 2012). In the third constitu- support base. At the same time, within ency, however, the runoff went against the pro-French camp, voters’ support the trend of the first round, and is shifting from To Tatou Aia and Tuaiva won a bare majority of 50.24 other Tahoeraa breakaway groups percent against Nena (ti, 16 June back to Tahoeraa. 2012). Since the difference between However, as is usual in French the two was only 152 votes and there Polynesian elections, gerrymander- were rumors about irregularities in ing had a part in the election results Tahoeraa-controlled municipalities, as well. Previously, the first of the Nena challenged the results in the two constituencies had included the third constituency (DT, 4 July 2012). western half of Tahiti plus the west- The complaint, however, had no ern outer islands, while the second injunctive consequences, and Tuaiva constituency covered the eastern half has been declared winner until proven of the main island and the archipela- otherwise. At 53.99 percent, local gos to the east. Since roughly two- turnout for the runoff drew closer to thirds of the population live on Tahiti the French national figure of 55.41 and one-third on the outer islands, a percent. logical redistricting would have split Tahoeraa is not officially supported Tahiti into two and made the outer by any French party after having been islands one constituency, thus giving dumped by the ump in 2008, so it was the outer archipelagos their own voice at first unclear in which parliamentary in Paris. Instead, the French govern- caucus the three Tahoeraa deputies ment decided to make each constitu- would sit. Eventually, they decided ency once more consist of a slice of to become members of the Union des Tahiti and lump each of them together Démocrates et Indépendants Caucus, with a few outer islands, a system that which groups the deputies of various could hardly be more absurd. Besides, small center-right parties in opposition the gerrymandering was also clearly to Hollande, under the leadership of designed to minimize the chances of Jean-Louis Borloo of the Parti Radical Temaru’s party gaining a seat, since (ti, 20 June 2012) the third constituency lumped together An analysis of the election results Temaru’s main stronghold of Faaa 164 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) with the neighboring, largely pro- radiation-induced disease had been French district of Punaauia, home to rejected by the French Ministry of many French settlers, while excluding Defense. Nuclear test victims’ associa- the nearby island of Moorea, another tion Moruroa e Tatou considered the upld stronghold. Moorea is located verdict an important breakthrough nearest to Faaa and Punaauia but (ti, 25 June 2012). On the nega- against all logic was included in the tive side, the end of the period under first constituency. review was again marked by a strike Undeniable, however, is the fact at the airport at the beginning of that Tong Sang and his party have the school holiday season, an initia- fallen back among the ranks of minor tive by trade union leaders to defend splinter groups, as if their 2008 elec- their members’ privileges without tion victory had never happened. consideration of the overall impact of Their comet-like rise and fall may such actions on the country’s already be explained through the obvious severely affected economy (TPM, June– manipulations by the then French gov- July 2012). ernment under Sarkozy, who wanted While all these troubles continued to build up Tong Sang as a loyal and at home, at least one small group of complacent client leader, while the Tahitians were able to fulfill a lifetime latter apparently lacks both the cha- dream when the voyaging canoe Faa- risma and the organizational talent of faite, having made previous voyages to Temaru and Flosse. The local political Hawai‘i and other Polynesian islands, scene has thus largely reverted from WUDYHOHGYLD6ëPRD)LMLDQG9DQXDWX a triangular configuration of Temaru to Solomon Islands to attend the 11th versus Flosse versus Tong Sang (with Festival of Pacific Arts in Honiara, permanently shifting alliances between the first modern voyage of a Tahi- two of the three) back to a bipolariza- tian canoe to Western Polynesia and tion between Temaru (pro-indepen- Melanesia (ti, 30 June 2012). dence) and Flosse (anti-independence). lorenz gonschor In view of the 2013 territorial elec- tions, however, a new third force is currently in formation by politicians References hitherto in the background, led by Teiva Manutahi, Nicole Bouteau, and abc Radio Australia. Daily radio and Philip Schyle (ti, 2 July 2012). The Internet news. http://www.radioaustralia .net.au/international/ latter two scored between 8 and 9 percent each in the first constituency Al-Wardi, Sémir, and Jean-Marc Regnault. and have been known for a long time 2011. Tahiti en crise durable: Un lourd as proponents of a moderate “middle héritage. Moorea: Les Editions de Tahiti. path.” DT, La Depêche de Tahiti. Daily. Tahiti. The review period ended on a http://www.ladepeche.pf positive note when the Administra- Fiji Ministry of Information. 2012. tive Court in Papeete decided in Non-Aligned Movement (nam) favor of six nuclear-test veterans Members Agree to Fiji and PNG whose request for compensation for Proposal, 11 May. Posted on Fiji Ministry political reviews ‡ polynesia 165 of Information Facebook page http://www Philip, Danny. 2011. Statement by .facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid Honourable Danny Philip, Prime Minister =409078999125041&id [Solomon Islands], Before the General =207532522613024 [accessed Debate of the 66th Session of the United 16 May 2012] Nations General Assembly, 24th Septem- ber, New York. http://gadebate.un.org/ Fiji Sun. Daily. Suva. sites/default/files/gastatements/66/SB http://www.fijisun.com.fj _en.pdf [accessed 25 Sept 2011] Government of Fiji. 2011. Engaging pir, Pacific Islands Report. Daily Internet with the Pacific Leaders Meeting. Nadi news. Honolulu. http://pidp.eastwestcenter Communiqué, 1–2 September. Posted on .org/pireport Fiji Government website. http://www.fiji .gov.fj/ [accessed 6 Sept 2011] Regnault, Jean-Marc. 2006. La France à l’opposé d’elle-même: Essais d’Histoire Government of France. Validité du traité politique de l’Océanie. Volume 1: “Il y a d’amitié, de commerce et de navigation, un monde du Pacifique” disait de Gaulle. entre la France et le roi des Îles Hawaii Moorea: Les Editions de Tahiti. signé le 29 octobre 1857. 13ème législa- ture. Question écrite n° 20195 de M. Rich- ———. 2011. L’anosognosie, maladie ard Tuheiava (Polynésie française–soc) universellement répandue chez les poli- tiques. Tahiti Pacifique Magazine 245 publiée dans le JO Sénat du 29/09/2011, (October): 28–29. page 2474. Posted on French Senate website http://www.senat.fr/basile/visio rnzi, Radio New Zealand International. .do?id=qSEQ110920195 [accessed Daily radio and Internet news. 25 Sept 2011] http://www.rnzi.com Kilman Lituvanu, Meltek Sato. 2011. ti, Tahiti Infos. Daily Internet news. Statement by The Right Honourable Tahiti. http://www.tahiti-infos.com Meltek Sato Kilman Lituvanu, Prime tntv, Tahiti Nui Télévison. Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, http://www.tntv.pf Before the Sixty-sixth Session of the United Nations General Assembly, United Nations tp, Tahitipresse. Daily Internet news. Headquarters, New York, Saturday, Tahiti. http://www.tahitipresse.pf

24 September. http://gadebate.un.org/sites/ TPM, Tahiti Pacifique Magazine. Monthly. default/files/gastatements/66/VU_en.pdf Tahiti. http://www.tahiti-pacifique.com [accessed 25 Aug 2012] Massau, Serge. 2011. Paroles d’un autoch- tone: Entretiens avec le sénateur Richard Tuheiava. Papeete: Éditions Haere Po No 0ëRUL,VVXHV Tahiti. In a year when tensions between NT, Les Nouvelles de Tahiti. Daily. Tahiti. 0ëRULDQGWKHJRYHUQPHQWZHUH http://lesnouvelles.pf increasing, hosting the Rugby World Cup was a welcome albeit temporary Pacific Islands Forum. 2011. Forty-second Pacific Islands Forum, Auckland, New GLVWUDFWLRQ'HVSLWHDVWURQJ0ëRUL Zealand, 7–8 September, Forum Com- presence at the opening and on the muniqué. http://www.forumsec.org/pages New Zealand All Blacks team, dis- .cfm/documents/forum-communiques/ plays of racism marred the event on [accessed 27 Nov 2011] more than one occasion. This very 166 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) destructive characteristic of New RQWKH:DLWHPDWë+DUERXULQ$XFN- Zealand society is becoming more ODQG0ëRULDSSUHFLDWHGWKHFKDLUPDQ SURQRXQFHGDV0ëRULVXFFHVVLVEHLQJ of the International Rugby Board, perceived by some as a threat to the Frenchman Bernard Lapasset, speak- white supremacy that has thrived in LQJ0ëRULDVKHRSHQHGWKHWRXUQD- New Zealand for over a century and ment, even if it did highlight the fact a half. It surfaced on several occa- that Prime Minister John Key chose sions during the year, most notably WRLJQRUHWKH0ëRULIRXQGDWLRQRIWKH LQ3ëNHKë (XURSHDQ PHGLDLQVRPH nation when he spoke. The country court decisions, in industrial disputes, was euphoric when the All Blacks in Treaty of Waitangi “settlements,” in eventually won the World Cup, nar- government policy, and in the actions rowly beating the French in a nail- of several government agencies. In the ELWLQJILQDO7KHUHZHUHHLJKW0ëRUL November general election, the most on the thirty-man team. Piri Weepu WHOOLQJUHVXOWZDVWKHYHU\ORZ0ëRUL was named Man of the Match in the voter turnout of 49 percent (New quarterfinals against Argentina, and Zealand Parliament 2011 7KH0ëRUL Israel Dagg was named one of the five Party lost a member of Parliament, players of the tournament. reducing its numbers to three, but It was therefore disappointing that once again they joined the National the racist underbelly of New Zea- Party–led coalition government. The land society was in evidence against new Mana Party has only one member 0ëRULDQGRXU3DFLILFFRXVLQVGXU- in the House, with the remaining three ing the tournament. Members of one 0ëRULVHDWVJRLQJWRWKH/DERXU3DUW\ of the waka crews, including young (Electoral Commission 2011). Dur- women, were physically and verbally ing the year, the government pushed attacked when they came ashore on through “settlements” of five iwi the overcrowded Auckland waterfront (tribal groupings), which legally extin- during the opening ceremony; several guished their treaty claims. A further required hospital treatment. Mean- four have had similar “settlement” while the Tongan, Samoan, and Fijian legislation pending in Parliament (ots teams felt particularly disadvantaged 2012). As a result of the Crown’s with a draw that treated them unfairly relentless drive to extinguish all histor- by having only short times between ical claims, the Waitangi Tribunal has their games while the opposition had been inundated with claims opposing a week. Then there were the Inter- the so-called settlements, to the point national Rugby Board rules, which that it has had to put other work on prevented a number of outstanding hold (Waitangi Tribunal 2012). Tongan, Samoan, and Fijian players The Rugby World Cup riveted the from playing for their own countries nation for two months. The opening (Taonui 2011). Biased refereeing ceremony was dominated in spec- against these Pacific Island teams is WDFXODUIDVKLRQE\WKH0ëRULIDFHRI common, and when the Samoan center the country, and twenty traditional angrily pointed out the racism of a waka (war canoes)—one for each Welsh referee and refused to back nation represented—were out in force down, he was suspended. political reviews ‡ polynesia 167

Nowhere is racism more clearly This reporting contrasted sharply with HYLGHQFHGWKDQLQ3ëNHKëFRQWUROOHG the more balanced and factually based media. Totally unacceptable socioeco- UHSRUWLQJE\0ëRULPHGLDLQZKLFK QRPLFVWDWLVWLFVIRU0ëRUL 0F,QWRVK commentary focused on the need for and Mulholland 2012) are often the country to recognize and address quoted with no analysis or history of the damage that racism causes (Mutu the causes provided. Yet the successes 2012a). Similarly, the Taranaki Daily RIDQLQFUHDVLQJQXPEHURI0ëRUL NewsPLVTXRWHG0ëRULODQJXDJH DQG0ëRULRUJDQL]DWLRQVLQDUHDV lecturer Keri Opai, who referred to the that were traditionally the preserve of DWURFLWLHVVXIIHUHGE\7DUDQDNL0ëRUL 3ëNHKëDUHUDUHO\PHQWLRQHG3RVL- as a holocaust (Radio New Zealand WLYHUHSRUWVDERXW0ëRULULVLQJWRWKH 2011 7KH3ëNHKëPHGLDYLOLILHGKLP WRSRISURIHVVLRQVDQGDERXW0ëRUL but he was in good company; the organizations established to look after Waitangi Tribunal had made the same WKHHFRQRPLFZHOOEHLQJRIWKHLUKDSą reference in 1996 (Waitangi Tribunal (group of extended families) and iwi 1996) and had been similarly vilified. JURXSRIKDSą PDNLQJVXEVWDQWLDO Yet when the Weekend Herald, the JDLQVDUHIXOO\FRYHUHGE\0ëRULQHZV sister publication to the country’s larg- PHGLD

Pakeha and work out new ways of Early in 20117H:KëQDXë bamboozling the Pakeha to come Apanui had authorized a flotilla of up with a few more millions” were vessels to shadow the vessels of the described as “inaccurate,” “beyond Brazilian oil giant Petrobas, which the what is acceptable,” and “a gratuitous government had allowed to explore offence to Maori” (New Zealand Press for oil in their sea territory (Mutu Council 2012). Unfazed, the Herald 2012b, 188). Apart from the fact that went on to publish equally inflamma- the oil belongs to the iwi, the great- tory remarks from the right-wing act est concern was the potential for a party’s largest donor, Louis Crimp, major oil spill. The mv Rena incident in an article entitled “Act Backer: We confirmed fears that the country All Dislike Maori” (Fisher 2012). An could not manage such a disaster. emerging opinion being expressed The government had attacked Te E\VRPH0ëRULOHDGHUVLVWKDWUDF- :KëQDXë$SDQXLVHQGLQJLQWKH LVPLVD3ëNHKëSUREOHPDQGLWLVQRW navy and the police to arrest the skip- WKHUHVSRQVLELOLW\RI0ëRULWRIL[LW per of one of their boats. In July 2012, (Mikaere 2011, 68). the case was thrown out of court In October, Tauranga Moana because the New Zealand govern- KDSąZHUHIDFHGZLWKDQHVFDODWLQJ ment has no jurisdiction in that part environmental disaster following the RI7H:KëQDXë$SDQXLªVVHDV Bay of grounding of the mv Rena, a 47,230- Plenty News 2012). tonne container ship carrying over 350 In another prominent case, the out- tonnes of toxic oil. It smashed into the come confirmed the courts’ preference UHHIüWDLWL $VWURODEH5HHI ZKLFKLV WRLQFDUFHUDWH0ëRULHYHQIRUPLQRU the traditional fishing ground of Te offenses (Webb 2012, 250–251). The 3DWXZDLKDSąRI0ýWõWõWKHLVODQG long-awaited trial of the four people immediately adjacent to the reef. A arrested and charged as a result of storm hit the area in the following WKHSROLFHWHUURULVWUDLGVLQWR7ąKRH week, resulting in most of the oil country in 2007 took place in March being spilled into the sea and more 2012. It saw the jury hung on the than eighty-eight containers going more serious charges and only some overboard (Akuhata 2011). Local of the minor firearms charges upheld. KDSąDQGLZLZHUHLQLWLDOO\LJQRUHGE\ The two-and-a-half-year prison government officials struggling to cope sentence handed down in May to two with the disaster. The environmental of those charged appeared to confirm impact affected the whole of the Bay the increasing concern that many of Plenty and spread some way down 0ëRULSULVRQHUVDUHLQIDFWSROLWLFDO the East Coast region, highlighting prisoners. how unprepared the country is to Increasing anger with the newly manage such disasters. It took some elected National Party–led government time for officials to start recognizing and long-running industrial disputes that the extensive knowledge held by saw large numbers turn out in cities ORFDO0ëRULZDVHVVHQWLDOIRUDVXF- around the country for the Aotearoa cessful clean-up operation (Waatea Is Not For Sale protest march earlier News 2011). in May. Its aim was to demonstrate political reviews ‡ polynesia 169 public opposition to privatization and in applications against pending settle- the continued selling of the country’s ments was having an impact on the natural resources, land, and public tribunal’s other inquiries and report services to private investors. Large writing, causing unavoidable delays blocks of land are increasingly being (Waitangi Tribunal 2012). made available for purchase by foreign Despite the growing opposition companies and individuals rather to these so-called settlements, the than being returned to their right- government continued to push ahead IXO0ëRULRZQHUV7KHDJJUHVVLYHRLO with them, convincing claimants that drilling and mining tendering pro- they had no alternative but to accept cess that saw such vehement protest the very mean and unfair terms it IURP7H:KëQDXë$SDQXLLVEHLQJ had unilaterally decided. Legisla- extended throughout the country. tion was passed extinguishing all the Major industrial disputes were taking KLVWRULFDOFODLPVRI1JëWL0DQDZD place at the Ports of Auckland and in DQG1JëWL:KDUH RIWKH&HQWUDO affco meat-processing plants around 1RUWK,VODQG 1JëWL3ëKDXZHUD New Zealand where the overwhelm- +DZNHV%D\ DQG1JëWL3RURX (DVW LQJPDMRULW\RIWKHZRUNHUVDUH0ëRUL Coast); and legislation was introduced Treaty “settlements” were continuing LQWRWKH+RXVHIRU1JëWL0DQXKLUL WRGLYLGH0ëRULFRPPXQLWLHVDQG 1RUWKODQG 1JëWL:KëWXDRüUëNHL 0ëRULZHUHOHDYLQJWKHFRXQWU\LQWKH $XFNODQG 1JëL7ëPDQXKLUL (DVW thousands, heading mainly for Austra- Coast); Maraeroa Block (Central lia, looking for work and respite from North Island); and Rongowhakaata the increasingly oppressive racism in (East Coast) (ots 2012). While the New Zealand. names of the settling bodies would be In the Ports of Auckland dispute, entered onto the titles of some of the an injunction issued by the Employ- sacred sites that had been stolen from ment Tribunal in March ensured them, the settlements do not allow that striking workers were not made full authority and control or even redundant and that collective bargain- privacy with respect to the lands to be ing continued over their work condi- returned to those iwi. Those settling tions (Anglican Diocese of Auckland must maintain public access to almost 2012). In the affco disputes, which all of these sites, effectively guarantee- saw large numbers of workers locked ing their continued desecration. Small out around the country, iwi leaders monetary provisions ranging from who had been meat workers them- nz$1.6 million to nz$110 million selves broke the deadlock by bringing [nz$1 = ~us$0.82] are also made in the company owners and the work- the legislation (ots website: Deeds of ers together in one room in May and Settlement), although the government not allowing them to leave until a will retain most of this. Rather than resolution was reached (National Iwi simply relinquishing the lands they Chairs’ Forum 2012, 9–10). On the have stolen, the government forces the treaty “settlements” front, the Wai- iwi to buy back the very small propor- tangi Tribunal issued a memorandum tions of the land that it has decided stating that the unprecedented increase it is prepared to sell to them (Mutu 170 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013)

2012b, 188). The monetary provision (Hamer 2004, 7). In May 2011, the made is never enough to purchase Supreme Court quashed a decision all lands offered. Rather, the already by the Waitangi Tribunal not to hear impoverished claimants are expected an application for orders from the to find money from other sources Mangatu Incorporation (Supreme to pay the government the ransom Court 2011). This opened the way for money it demands if they want their 0ëRULWRH[HUFLVHWKHLUOHJDOULJKWWR lands returned. have the tribunal make such orders. Meanwhile, apart from the urgent The government fought bitterly to applications opposing these extin- stop the tribunal from hearing the Far guishments, the Waitangi Tribunal 1RUWKLZL1JëWL.DKX,WIDLOHGDQG is also hearing other urgent contem- the hearing has been scheduled to go porary claims. Most hotly contested ahead in September 2012. LVWKHFODLPWRIUHVKZDWHU0ëRUL MARGARET MUTU have mana (power and authority derived from the gods) with respect to all their natural resources, which References includes proprietary rights to, and ownership of, their own waterways. Abel, Sue, and Margaret Mutu. 2011. The claim is urgent because the There’s Racism and Then There’s Racism: government is pushing ahead to sell Margaret Mutu and the Immigration Debate. The New Zealand Journal of 49 percent of its power-generation Media Studies 12 (2). companies, and these companies rely RQZDWHUWRJHQHUDWHSRZHU0ëRUL Akuhata, Whare. 2011. Rena and the are insisting that, prior to any sale, Island. 0DQD0ëRUL 103:12–15. their interests in and legal rights to Anglican Diocese of Auckland. 2012. the water be clarified, acknowledged, The Ports of Auckland Dispute. and provided for. The government is http://www.auckanglican.org.nz/?sid=945 refusing to discuss the matter, assert- [accessed 12 August 2012] ing that no one owns the water. The Bay of Plenty News. 2012. Elvis Teddy Waitangi Tribunal has previously Case Thrown Out: “Govt Abused UXOHGWKDW0ëRULRZQZDWHU :DLWDQJL Authority.” 26 July. http://www.theboplive Tribunal 1984), and if the govern- .net/2012/07/elvis-teddy-case-thrown-out ment ignores the tribunal this time, as -govt-abused.html [accessed 12 August it has done repeatedly in recent years, 2012] this matter is likely to end up before Electoral Commission. 2011. 2011 Gen- the High Court. eral Election Results. http://www.elections In the meantime the tribunal has .org.nz/elections/resultsdata/2011-general set a precedent by agreeing to hold -election-official-results.html [accessed hearings for orders to force the gov- 13 August 2012] ernment to return land and to pay Fisher, David. 2012. Act Backer: We All compensation to claimants. For many Dislike Maori. New Zealand Herald, years the tribunal refused to hold 19 May. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ such hearings because of threats from nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid successive governments to remove =10806938 [accessed 12 August 2012] their legal powers if they ever did so Hamer, Paul. 2004. A Quarter Century of political reviews ‡ polynesia 171 the Waitangi Tribunal. In The Waitangi http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/ Tribunal: Te Roopu Whakamana i te Tiriti ParlSupport/ResearchPapers/5/0/9/ o Waitangi, edited by Janeen Haywood 00PLLawrp2012021-Final-Results-for-the and Nicola R Wheen, 3–14. Wellington: -2011-New-Zealand-General-Election.htm Bridget Williams Books. [accessed 13 August 2012] +DUDZLUD+ýQH2012. Hone Harawira: New Zealand Press Council. 2012. Case Paul Homes, Maori Have Plenty to Pro- number 2254 Cameron Junge against test. New Zealand Herald, 15 February. New Zealand Herald. May. http://www http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article .presscouncil.org.nz/display_ruling.php .cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10785544 ?case_number=2254 [accessed 12 August [accessed 12 August 2012] 2012] Hill, Marika. 2011. Curb White Immi- ots, Office of Treaty Settlements. 2012. grants—Academic. Sunday Star Times, 9 Month Report, 1 July 2011–31 March 4 September. http://www.stuff.co.nz/ 2012. Wellington: OTS. http://nz01. auckland/local-news/5561230/Curb terabyte.co.nz/ots/DocumentLibrary/ -white-immigrants-academic [accessed OTSQ3QuarterlyreporttoMarch2012.pdf 13 August 2012] [accessed 12 August 2012]. Holmes, Paul. 2012. Waitangi Day a ots website http://www.ots.govt.nz/ Complete Waste. Weekend Herald, 11 Feb- [accessed 12 August 2012] ruary. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ Radio New Zealand. 2012. Paper Regrets article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10784735 Error over Reporting of Holocaust [accessed 12 August 2012] Comments. 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Rawiri Taonui on 0ëRUL,VVXHVThe Contemporary Pacific the Rugby World Cup: Brown and Out 24:184–190. with Unfair irb. New Zealand Herald, October 19. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ National Iwi Chairs’ Forum. 2012. opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466 Report of meeting 24 May. &objectid=10760019 [accessed 12 August NZH, New Zealand Herald. Daily. 2012]. Auckland. Waatea News. 2011. Kaitiaki First New Zealand Parliament. 2011. Final Affected Last Consulted. Radio Waatea, Results for the 2011 New Zealand 12 October. http://www.waatea603am.co General Election and Referendum. .nz/News/2011/October/Kaitiaki-first 172 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013)

-affected-and-last-consulted [accessed met at the auditorium of the public 12 August 2012] school Lorenzo Baeza in Rapa Nui for Waitangi Tribunal. 1984. The Report of two days to discuss indigenous human the Waitangi Tribunal on the Kaituna rights issues and social problems River Claim (Wai 4). confronting the Rapa Nui people. The ———. 1996. The Taranaki Report: majority of the Rapa Nui community Kaupapa Tuatahi (Wai 143). was in attendance. The meetings, officially entitled “Indigenous Peoples’ ———. 2012. Memorandum-Directions of Human Rights: Implications for the the Presiding Officer, 24 April (Wai 2364). Rapa Nui People,” were sponsored Webb, Robert. 2012. Incarceration. In locally, independently of the Chilean 0ëRULDQG6RFLDO,VVXHV edited by Tracey state–organized municipality and gov- McIntosh and Malcolm Mulholland, ernor’s office, by leaders of Rapa Nui 249–262. Wellington: Huia. hua‘ai (clans/extended families), Parla- mento Rapa Nui, Consejero Nacional Indígena Pueblo Rapa Nui (conadi), and Makenu Re‘o Rapa Nui Women’s Rapa Nui Organization. At the request of the “¡Fuera la Schiess! ¡Fuera! ¡Fuera local sponsors, two nongovernmental Platovsky! ¡Fuera! ¡Fuera Chilenos! organizations helped facilitate and ¡Fuera! ¿Cuándo Immigracion? develop the proceedings: Observato- ¡Ahora! ¡Horo te henua! ¡Horo te rio Ciudadano (which is concerned henua! ¡Horo te vaikava! ¡Horo te with Chile’s indigenous peoples) vaikava!” (Get out Schiess [fam- and the Indian Law Resource Center ily]! Get out! Get out Platovsky! of Washington dc (which provides Get out! Get out Chileans! Get out! legal representation for indigenous When immigration [laws]? Now! groups throughout the Americas). Jose Demand the island! Demand the Alywin, Consuelo Labra, and Nancy island! Demand the ocean! Demand Yañez were the leading representa- the ocean!) These exclamations, first tives of Observatorio Ciudadano. yelled by leaders and then collec- The Indian Law Resource Center was tively yelled by more than a hundred represented by its founder and execu- Rapa Nui people in cars and on foot, tive director, attorney Robert “Tim” were repeated, with some variation, Coulter, and by Leonardo Crippa, the over and over for more than an hour center’s attorney who filed precaution- during a march along the main streets ary measures at the Inter-American of Hanga Roa town on 23 July 2011. Commission on Human Rights amid They are symbolic of many of the the 2010–2011 occupations and sociocultural and political concerns political demonstrations of Rapa Nui articulated in Rapa Nui during the against Chile. In addition to myself, year under review. there were three official international On the first and second days of observers of the proceedings: Clem August 2011, international and Chartier, president of the National national organizations concerned with Council of Mètis Aboriginal Peoples indigenous peoples and local groups of Canada; Alberto Chirif, a Peruvian political reviews ‡ polynesia 173 anthropologist affiliated with the tion Convention 169. Representatives Indigenous Work Group for Indig- also discussed methods for accessing enous Affairs (iwgia); and Dr Nin the Inter-American Commission and 7KRPDVD0ëRULSURIHVVRURIODZDW Court of Human Rights; mechanisms the University of Auckland, Aotearoa/ available to indigenous peoples (site New Zealand. Following the meetings visits, thematic hearings, injunc- in Hanga Roa, members of the local, tions, cases); and ways to encourage national, and international organiza- involvement on the part of the Inter- tions continued the discussion of the American Commission with the Rapa plight of Rapa Nui with Chilean state Nui case. Comparative legal cases of officials in Santiago and Valparaiso. indigenous peoples throughout the The delegation ended with a public world (eg, Peru, Nicaragua, Aotearoa, discussion at the Universidad de Chile. and Native North America) involving As stated in various program docu- indigenous rights issues thought to be ments, the meetings were held in sup- relevant to the Rapa Nui people were port of “Rapa Nui’s efforts to re-claim also discussed. Representatives of local their ancestral lands and as a response organizations, Rapa Nui hua‘ai, and to the criminalization of members of nongovernmental organizations led the Rapa Nui clans who reoccupied discussions and gave presentations, their lands.” The fundamental goal and throughout the proceedings there of the meetings was to provide “the were extensive public question-and- members of the Rapa Nui clans with answer periods. Rapa Nui language legal and political tools to enable them was spoken extensively by Rapa Nui to advocate for the full recognition people, and Spanish was integrated of their collective human rights.” The throughout as well. Talk in English proceedings were officially focused by some of the representatives and on four major topics: “land rights, international observers was translated self-government, the island autonomy into Rapa Nui language but typically bill and control over migration to the not into Spanish. island by the Rapa Nui people.” The A major question in the confer- topics were discussed in a context in ence—one that resonated with a major which leaders reviewed international demand of the July march through the law on the rights of indigenous middle of town—concerned how to peoples to self-determination that are “horo te henua” (demand the island). recognized in United Nations Gen- Professor Thomas made suggestions eral Assembly (unga) human rights to the Rapa Nui community based on agreements such as the International KHUH[SHULHQFHVZLWK0ëRULVWUXJJOHV Covenant on Civil and Political in New Zealand. She emphasized that Rights; the International Covenant 0ëRULOHDUQHGWKDWWKHLULQLWLDOIRFXV on Economic, Social and Cultural RQHQJDJLQJWKH3ëNHKëVHWWOHUFROR- Rights; unga Resolutions 1514 and nial community proved ill advised. 1541; and the UN Declaration on the She suggested that radical change for Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well 0ëRULLQ1HZ=HDODQGPD\KDYH as rights to autonomy recognized by been stifled in part by divisions within the International Labour Organiza- 0ëRULFRPPXQLWLHVWKDWFRXOGKDYH 174 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) been tempered by more discussion he considered Rapa Nui demands DPRQJ0ëRUL,QFRQVLGHULQJWKH for self-determination and title to the plight of Rapa Nui she encouraged entirety of the island “supported on them to avoid that problem: “The first the basis of their original occupation thing is unity on this side, rather than and ancestral rights” (iwgia 2011). what you are not getting from Chile.” As the indigenous rights meetings She stressed that the strength of the concluded in early August, an inter- Rapa Nui community in creating esting lawsuit against the Chilean change will depend on unification and government that had been develop- “work as a single entity of a politi- ing prior to the meetings began to be cal nature.” However, Indian Law formalized. Tereruti Riroroko Tuki, a Resource Center Attorney Coulter descendant of Simeon Riro Kainga— cautioned against worrying about the last king of Rapa Nui—was publi- complete unity. He stated, “In almost cally recognized as king of Rapa Nui every situation involving self-deter- in front of the governor’s office by a mination, there is always a question few hundred community members— about who really speaks for the people including a large number of living seeking self-determination. That tupuna (elders), officials, and media. is always an issue. There is always The coronation included raising the controversy about it, and it does not Rapa Nui national Rei Miro flag, ultimately defeat your claim. That is a singing, speech giving, and sharing normal situation and it should not be the umu tahu sacred meal. (An umu viewed as a terrible impediment.” tahu is completed to ask the ancestral Since the meetings, the Indian Law world of Rapa Nui—the tupuna—to Resource Center has continued to bless an event, person, or thing. It support Rapa Nui struggles for self- involves the sacrifice and consumption determination through consultation on of a white rooster prepared in a tra- various matters of concern to the Rapa ditional underground oven, known as Nui community (ilrc 2011a). The an umu.) While the events ostensibly international observers have also been contradicted her authority, the gover- supportive. After the events, Chartier nor of Rapa Nui at the time—Carmen emphasized support of the Rapa Cardinali Paoa—not only attended the Nui struggles. He stated, “The Métis coronation but also sang along with Nation stands in solidarity with the the traditional songs honoring Tereruti Rapa Nui Nation’s struggle to achieve Riroroko as king. their right to their traditional territory, The coronation was seen by indig- and to the exercise of their right of enous Rapa Nui leaders, organized by self-determination in whatever form Parlamento Rapa Nui, as fundamental they so choose to exercise it. It is their to a lawsuit filed against the Chilean birthright” (Métis National Council state on 3 August (El Informador, 11 2011). At the conference, Chirif had Sept 2011). Osvaldo Galvez, attorney discussed cases of indigenous peoples for Tereruti Riroroko, filed the case in in Peru similar to the situation in Rapa the Second Civil Court of Valparaiso Nui. In his contribution to the iwgia and emphasized two goals for the case: report of the Rapa Nui proceedings, first, compensation for the seventy-five political reviews ‡ polynesia 175 years of confinement of the royal fam- Perhaps responding to the interna- ily to a small reservation on the island tional meetings and radical lawsuit, while the island was leased to sheep- Chilean officials subsequently held ranching companies; and second, meetings in August 2011 with Rapa recognition that the initial annexation Nui Governmental Working Commit- treaty between Chile and Rapa Nui is tees in attempts to achieve more mod- invalid, given the breach of its terms est reforms of the system decried by immediately after its conception when Tuhi‘ira. Working within the Chilean the state leased the island without system as a given, Chilean officials Rapa Nui consent (Noticias Terra, organized meetings to discuss ongo- 15 Oct 2011). According to Leviante ing problems in Rapa Nui in terms Araki, president of Parlamento Rapa of four topics: possible new forms Nui, the case is designed as a step of government under special status, toward independence from Chilean migration policy, land restitution, and rule and the return of island land future development opportunities (MV, that Chile stole from the Rapa Nui Sept 2011). Committees discussed the people (Noticias Terra, 15 Oct 2011). creation of a government that would Tuhi‘ira Tuki Huke, a thirty-one-year- retain a governor appointed by the old Rapa Nui mother, who consid- Chilean president and a locally elected ered the coronation like a “dream,” mayor who would coordinate admin- stressed its importance to resisting a istration of the island with a local Chilean system destroying the Rapa council of six island residents—four of Nui as a people. She stated that every whom would be mandated to be ethni- day “we lose a little more because they cally Rapa Nui. Current Governor are imposing a system that doesn’t Cardinali proposed that this govern- allow us to develop socially, spiritu- ment (one that on reflection is not ally or economically” (Nelson 2012). much different than the current one, As the year in review closed, there which involves a development council, is a possibility that the case will not president-appointed governor, and a formally be heard, as the state has mayor elected by all island residents, disputed the legitimacy of the king- not just Rapa Nui) would be designed ship. Erity Teave, a leading representa- to offer “technical and economical tive of Parlamento Rapa Nui, empha- support” for Rapa Nui–developed sized that, irrespective of whether the projects, rather than imposing “man- state considers the case, the act of dates as before” (MV, Sept 2011). filing the case establishes an important Twelve individual land claims filed step for Rapa Nui to pursue matters with the official Land Claims Commit- at international courts (pers comm, tee were reviewed during the meet- Aug 2012). International forums such ings with the government; however, as the Inter-American Court require there is no record of discussion of the that peoples attempt to resolve conflict long-standing demand of Rapa Nui initially at a national level; if resolu- to return the entire island to Rapa tion of conflict proves impossible at Nui title—meetings focused solely on a national level, then international individualized claims. Land claims of courts are willing to hear the case. the Hito family against Hotel Hanga- 176 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) roa were not discussed, as they had a special territory of Chile along with not been filed with the official com- Juan Fernandez, to develop special mittee but were addressed to national laws governing residence, visitation, and international courts. Development and movement on the island (Abarca discussion focused on the investment 2012c). As of 28 February 2012, Pres- of us$10 million for the new hospital idential Commissioner Llancaqueo, being built. The meetings recognized along with the Department of Interior, that constitutional amendments would had received six different proposals be fundamental to the creation of a for the drawing up of actual laws to context for “greater self-government” regulate immigration in Rapa Nui. In and new policies for the control of addition to proposals by the municipal immigration, return of ancestral lands, government and CONADI, proposals and future development of the island. were received from Parlamento Rapa Carlos Llancaqueo, commissioner for Nui, a Rapa Nui Council of Tupuna Chilean President Sebastian Piñera, (a new council of elders from the asserted that a new immigration policy major clans), and two Chilean indi- could “consider different types of resi- viduals (Abarca 2012c). The proposals dents (temporary and permanent) with varied in content but broadly shared their corresponding rights and obliga- a concern with defining different tions” (MV, Sept 2011). migration and settlement policies for Following a four-hundred-person indigenous Rapa Nui, current Chil- protest march in Hanga Roa on 3 ean residents on the island, Chilean December 2011 (the date in 2010 citizens, tourists, temporary residents, when Chilean Special forces commit- and travelers passing through to other ted state violence against the Rapa Nui destinations (Abarca 2012d). Propos- people [see Young 2012]) over Chilean als recommended the development state failures to address migration and of official tourist cards that specified other political issues (in, 4 Dec 2011), length of stay on the island, as well as the Chilean government began to taxes and fees appropriate to different officially incorporate an amendment kinds of settlers, visitors, and tourists to the constitution. On 21 Decem- in Rapa Nui. Various administrative ber, a joint congressional committee and policing procedures to implement approved a text amending article 19 of and enforce the policies were also the constitution, which had previously addressed in the proposals (Abarca provided all Chilean citizens the right 2012c). to freely live, stay, and move within Interestingly, national and local any territory of the Republic of Chile. mass-media representations of the On 10 January 2012, the Chilean amendment conflicted. Officials, Senate approved the amendment by Chilean and Rapa Nui, were quoted a vote of 32 to 0; on 17 January, the in the national press as framing the House of Representatives approved significance of the amendment in the amendment by a vote of 95 to 6 terms of a discourse of sustainable (Abarca 2012d). tourism. For example, Chilean Senator An amendment of article 126b Chahuán Francisco saw the amend- established the right of Rapa Nui, as ment as important for preserving the political reviews ‡ polynesia 177

“environment and natural and cultural April, Rapa Nui greeted the arrival of heritage” of Rapa Nui and its “very the Chilean First Lady, Cecilia Morel high tourism potential” (lt, 10 Jan Montes, in part, with protest. Banners 2012). Rapa Nui Mayor Luz Sazzo draped around the airport and town Paoa highlighted the amendment as expressed exclamations such as “Solu- fundamental to the preservation of tions, not negotiations!” “Corrupt Rapa Nui as an “open-air museum for Government!” “Liar, Keep your prom- the whole world—not just for foreign ises!” (Abarca 2012a). Rapa Nui, such tourists, not just for Chileans, not as Joyce Pokomio, voiced concern that even just for the islanders—but for the the Chilean government was still not whole world” (Santiago Times, 19 Jan listening to “the voice of the Rapa 2012). In contrast, Leonardo Pakarati, Nui, the people’s voice, the voice of editor of El Correo Del Moai, the the community” (Abarca 2012a). At independent Rapa Nui–based news- the close of the year under review, no paper, explicitly portrayed the struggle actual laws had been established to for the amendment as part of Rapa curb migration to Rapa Nui (Abarca Nui struggle for “justice” amid the 2012c; Pakarati 2012). Many Rapa “community violence” perpetrated by Nui, in conversations with me in June the Chilean state in December 2010. 2012, expressed concern that it would He hoped that the amendment would be a long time, given the complexities help Rapa Nui establish their island of the Chilean system and ongoing not as a “property of a government” deceit of Chilean officials, before any but as a place that “belongs to its actual migration policy was likely to people” (Pakarati 2012). Moreover, become established law. Additional in the local Rapa Nui language news- airport occupations over migration paper 7ëSXUD5H©R Ivonne Calderon, have taken place in the months since a member of the Women’s Makenu then (Latin American Herald Tribune, Re‘o group, notably questioned the 16 Aug 2012). Despite the amend- current form of the amendment. Given ment, and official self-congratulations, a stronger formulation of the amend- the issues of migration remain unre- ment in 2009, proposed under former solved on the ground. Chilean President Bachelet, Calderon Besides the issues of immigration, characterized the current form as as signified by the denunciations “kai tano” (not properly correct). She directed at Daniel Platovsky during further suggested that discussion focus the street protests of July 2011, Rapa on stronger platforms supporting Nui have voiced concern over island the self-determination of indigenous energy infrastructure supplied by the peoples, such as International Labour Sociedad Agrícola y Servicios Isla de Organization Convention 169 (7ëSXUD Pascua (Corporation for Agricultural Re‘o, Feb 2012). Services in Easter Island, or sasipa), Perhaps, as Rapa Nui Governor of which Platovsky is president. Cardinali hopes, the amendment will Questioning of Platovsky is not a new be “he me‘e nui-nui” (a very big thing) topic in Rapa Nui. During the 2010 for the Rapa Nui people (7ëSXUD occupations and protests of Rapa Nui, Re‘o, Feb 2012). However, on 22 Platovsky attempted to cut water and 178 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) power to all demonstrating families, the Chilean private equity investment an act in violation of universal human corporation Empresas Transoceania rights to water (El Ciudando, Sept (2012), headed by Christoph Schiess. 2010). He is also currently accused A quick walk around the hotel was of creating an infrastructure that only quite enlightening. Along the Pont elite can afford and that will lead to Avenue side of the hotel, a police further privatization of Rapa Nui in truck and one or more armed Chilean foreign hands (Panoramas News, 6 policemen stood guard twenty-four Nov 2011). Questions about island hours a day. Within the hotel area, energy peaked following power fail- additional security could be observed ures during four days of the annual patrolling the grounds all day and Tapati Cultural Festival that left some night. Across a dirt road from the mul- sectors of Hanga Roa without power timillion-dollar hotel development— for more than twenty-four hours. the first completely foreign-owned Platovsky emphasized that current hotel on the island—resided some of infrastructural failures of sasipa the members of the Hito family in very reflect twenty years of neglect by the small houses, some of the abodes less Chilean government and asserted houses than shacks. A sign of protest that he and sasipa are addressing the draped across a fence outside one of problems as best as possible (Abarca the homes facing Pont Avenue that 2012b). He claimed that sasipa has read “¿Carabinieros de Chile o Cara- recently ordered larger generators binieros de los Schiess? ¿Donde esta from General Electric to resolve the Piñera?” (Police of Chile or Police of problem and that these should arrive the Schiess? Where is Piñera?) distilled within a year. Platovsky’s current some of the Hito rage. promises follow broken promises in Life within the Hito residences 2011 to fix electricity problems by starkly contrasted with the opulent 2012 (Abarca 2012b). During my hotel buildings. I sat with Hito family 2012 visit to the island in June and members amid an area of burned- July, power failed regularly, nearly out home foundations, shacks, and every week, sometimes for much tumbleweeds as they struggled to of a day or an evening—a situation prepare hock meat from a bucket that seemed worse than what I had of butchered cow and pig hoofs to encountered during a year and a half tide them over the next few days. As of residence in 2007–2008, when Mercedes vans pulled in and out of power failed a few times a month. the hotel grounds, family members On my arrival in Rapa Nui in July dressed in ragged clothes discussed 2011, in addition to being excited work they were doing to raise money about attending the aforementioned for legal costs accruing for the various August international meetings, I court cases pending with the hotel. was particularly interested in learn- One young woman, tapping the bark ing about the situation of the Hito of the paper mulberry tree, empha- hua‘ai and their struggle to regain sized that she was currently applying title to ancestral lands that had been her family knowledge about how to developed into the Hotel Hangaroa by make traditional Rapa Nui tapa cloth political reviews ‡ polynesia 179 in order to earn a little extra money was held by the court to have legally for the family. She hoped to sell the sold the land to Hugo Salas Roman cloth to other Rapa Nui families who of the Hotel Inter-American Society in would be needing extra tapa for the 1991 (Poder Judicial de Chile, 28 May forthcoming Tapati Cultural Festival. 2012) and that consequently the state Such experiences with family was not required to protect the land members render the consequent legal as specified by the “Indigenous Law” situation of the Hito hua‘ai particu- of 1993 (Ley 19.253) (Corte Suprema larly heart wrenching. While during de Chile 2012). Santi Hitorangi, a the previous year reviewed the Hito spokesman for and member of the hua‘ai found significant legal support Hito hua‘ai, emphasized that this both internationally and nationally, ruling is “not the last word,” as Hito during the current year Chilean courts members will continue to develop the generally decided against the Hito case in international forums (in, 30 family. On 16 August 2011, the Court May 2012). Eliza Riroroko, represent- of Appeals in Valparaiso rejected Hito ing the family-owned Hotel Iorana claims to land currently occupied and a member of the Makenu Rapa by the Hotel Hangaroa. The court Nui women’s group, insightfully decided that the Hito family had failed stressed that the Hito case affects to provide “proper documentation not only the Hito clan but all Rapa demonstrating the living members of Nui people. Every day that the Hotel the Hito clan had legally inherited the Hangaroa operates, she emphasized, is land from their ancestors” (in, 28 Aug a day that a foreign company is taking 2011). Hito members consequently revenue from Rapa Nui families. appealed the decision to the Chil- Moreover, and more alarming, she ean Supreme Court, but on 28 May noted that the Chilean state’s defense that court upheld the decision of the of the hotel against Rapa Nui people appeals court. The Chilean Supreme sets a precedent for more such com- Court ruling “explicitly rejected the panies to take over the tourist indus- notion that the Hito’s ancestral ter- try that all Rapa Nui depend on for ritory qualified as indigenous land”; survival (pers comm, June 2012). citing official Chilean legal history, the Interestingly, while the courts court stressed that Chile had gained found against the Hito hua‘ai, they title to all island land since 1888, ren- did however find the Chilean state dering all individuals remaining on the violence perpetrated against the island effectively “squatters” (in, 30 Rapa Nui people in December 2010 May 2012). From a Chilean Supreme excessive—at least initially. Since Court perspective, the Hito “squat- the violence occurred, various state ters” had further voided any claim to investigations have been conducted to the land in question when Veronica reconstruct and assess the events (lt, Atamu, widow of Don Ricardo Hito, 6 Aug 2011). In April 2012, Fernando transferred the land to the state of Albornoz Silva, captain of the Chil- Chile in 1970 (lt, 5 May 2012). The ean Special Forces responsible for Chilean State Corporation for Eco- the violence, was detained in prison nomic Development Agency (corfo) at the police station of Vina Del Mar 180 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) while he was being prosecuted for his Hito, a leading spokeswoman for her alleged role in the use of “unneces- hua‘ai, stressed a need to investigate sary violence” that resulted in serious further the agents responsible for injuries to nine people of Rapa Nui engaging the special forces in the first on 3 December 2010 by the First place (lt, 26 April 2012). Unfortu- Military Court of Valparaiso (lt, 25 nately for Marisol, Sergio, Alfredo, as April 2012). The violence in this case well as all of the Rapa Nui people and consisted of the use of riot shotguns Chilean citizens broadly concerned against Rapa Nui who were involved with a rise in police violence and the in political protest of Chilean poli- criminalization of social activism, it cies. Those seriously injured by the appears ultimately that the case will buckshot of the shotguns included not provide an example of social Ricardo Tepano Paoa, Juan Salva- justice. In May, Captain Albornoz dor Tuki Atan, Ricardo Sepúlveda was released following a unanimous Tepano, Rodrigo Araki Hey, Roberto decision by the Court of Appeals that Carlos Icka Pakarati, Edith Chavez rejected the ruling of the First Military Atan, Gaspar Tepihe Tepihe, Claudio Court of Valparaiso (Biobio, 10 May Tuki Hito, and Pedro Araki Tepano 2012). (El Mercurio, 25 April 2012). The This past year Rapa Nui leaders attorney for Captain Albornoz, Patri- working within the Chilean system, cio Cares, in defense of the captain, like the presidentially appointed emphasized that the standard device Governor Cardinali, see themselves for dispersing demonstrations, a water as promoting “greater space for cannon, was not available in Rapa autonomy, with the right to participate Nui (El Ciudando, 26 April 2012). in decisions which affect the Island.” Prosecuting Attorney Rodrigo The governor aims to “work for the Lagos noted that Captain Albornoz Rapa Nui community, but always has a history of questionable polic- within legal norms and with respect ing practices (Cambio 21, 26 April for the established laws in the Chilean 2012). Alfredo Morgado, attorney constitution.” She contends, “The cur- for the Rapa Nui victims, saw the rent Government of Chile is, for the case as setting an important precedent first time, listening to us. As a result, “regarding the protection of funda- they created the Working Committees mental rights of citizens against police with the objective of finding solutions excesses” that have been increasing in to the real needs of the community” Chile generally (El Mercurio, 25 April (MV, Oct 2011). While such a perspec- 2012). Sergio Ojada, president of the tive appears to make coherent liberal Chilean Human Rights Commission, sense, in juxtaposition to the events emphasized that attention should be of the past and recent years, one can given to the case as one that does not “trace” (Derrida 1997, 70–71) an illustrate simply another instance of alternative interpretation. The legal excessive Chilean police violence but norms that the governor respects have the “criminalization” of social protest suggested, in the case of the Hito in a purportedly “democratic society” ruling, that the Chilean government (Cambio 21, 26 April 2012). Marisol potentially considers none of the land political reviews ‡ polynesia 181 of the island of Rapa Nui indigenous. as tools for sustaining Rapa Nui as The ruling makes it obvious that the an “open-air museum for the whole Chilean state can and will situation- world.” ally manipulate the law (see Moore Cita Atan Chavez described the 2000)—law such as the “Indigenous December 2010 state violence against Law” (Ley 19.253) that by many the Rapa Nui community as “like a accounts was explicitly created by the war” (lt, 26 April 2012). The politi- state to prevent anyone but Rapa Nui cal and legal actions of the Chilean people from owning land (Delsing state the past year, when carefully 2009, 202–203; Gomez 2010, 93–94; scrutinized, appear to have perpetu- Rochona-Ramirez 1993)—and that it ated the “continuation of war by other sees Rapa Nui people as mere “squat- means” (Foucault 2003, 15). Settler ters” on land it can “reterritorialize” colonialism has been seen to essen- (Deleuze and Parnet 2007) and sell tially involve a logic of elimination to non–Rapa Nui people and corpo- (Wolfe 2006). This past year, the Chil- rations. The “honorable” Chilean ean system has indeed used its system legal system has also this past year to eliminate Rapa Nui family land; a officially sanctioned state shotgun sense of security from irrational use violence against “criminalized” Rapa of state force; and confidence that Nui people in a context of democratic an infrastructure will be developed political demonstration—violence on the island that favors a Rapa Nui condemned on the floor of the US family–based tourism economy, rather Congress (2011) and opposed by than a corporate hotel economy based the Inter-American Commission on on increasing numbers of Chilean and Human Rights (ilrc 2011b). The other foreign settlers. The texts of Chilean system that the governor Governor Cardinali, despite her best sees as “working” and “listening” to intentions and hopes, when exam- the Rapa Nui community more than ined “under erasure” (Derrida 1997, in previous years has over this past 60), reveal yet another case of a local year heard and defended competing leader manipulated into serving colo- interests. It has heard the demands nial interests (see Lal 2000, 231). If of a multimillion-dollar corporate Rapa Nui people only pursue “greater hotel rather than those of a Rapa Nui autonomy” and not their indigenous family struggling to feed themselves rights to full self-determination, they on hock meat. It has heard the voices remain colonized—that is, dominated of Platovsky and sasipa over those of by “the power and control over one young Rapa Nui women who question people by another” (Porter 2009, the ability of the system to allow Rapa 87). Recent legal scholarship (Gomez Nui “to develop socially, spiritually or 2010, 99–133) as well as statements economically.” It has represented con- by international leaders of the August stitutional amendments that the Rapa 2011 meetings on indigenous human Nui community actively cultivated for rights in Hanga Roa support the idea the development of immigration policy that Rapa Nui people have the human to explicitly address Rapa Nui com- right to enjoy the full self-determina- munity problems of settler colonialism tion that the United Nations suggests 182 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) settler states grant to all indigenous El Correo Del Moai. Monthly Spanish- peoples (UN 2007) and that they do language newspaper published in Rapa not have to settle for “participation” Nui. in a Chilean-determined system of El Informador. Daily Internet news, “squatter” greater autonomy. The Mexico. http://www.informador.com.mx/ alternative seems to be hastened settler El Mercurio. Daily Internet news, colonial elimination of Rapa Nui. Santiago, Chile. http://www.emol.com forrest wade young Empresas Transoceania. 2012. Hangaroa, Eco Village and Spa, Isla de Pascua, Chile. Posted on corporate website: References http://www.transoceanica.cl/ingles/home/ hangaroa.html Abarca, Angelica. 2012a. Con Manifesta- ciones en contra del Gobierno: Arriba a Foucault, Michel. 2003. Society Must Mataveri Primera Dama y Compañía. Be Defended: Lectures at the College de El Correo Del Moai (29) [March]. France ¥. New York: Picador. _____. 2012b. En 2012 y aun con Cortes Gomez, Rodrigo. 2010. Rapanui and de Energía. El Correo Del Moai (27) Chile, A Debate on Self-Determination: [January]. A Notional and Legal Basis for the Politi- cal Decolonization of Easter Island. MA _____. 2012c. Las Ideas Matricies Para Thesis, Victoria University of Wellington, Una Ley. El Correo Del Moai (28) New Zealand. [February]. _____. 2012d. Reforma Constitucional: ilrc, Indian Law Resource Center. 2011a. Una Ley Para Territorios Especiales. El 2011 Annual Report. http://indianlaw Correo Del Moai (27) [January]. .org/sites/default/files/2011_ILRC_Report _FINAL.pdf Biobio. Daily Internet news, Chile. http://www.biobiochile.cl/ _____. 2011b. International Community Steps In to Stop Violence against the Cambio 21. Daily Internet news, Chile. Rapa Nui Nation. 7 February. http://www http://www.cambio21.cl .indianlaw.org/content/international Corte Suprema de Chile. 2012. Caso Clan -community-steps-stop-violence-against Hito Rapa Nui - Hotel Hanga Roa. Rol -rapa-nui-nation 9431-2011. in, Indigenous News. Internet News on Deleuze, Giles, and Claire Parnet. 2007. Indigenous Peoples with a Focus on Chile. Politics. In The Cultural Studies Reader, http://indigenousnews.org/ edited by Simon During, 172–186. Third iwgia, International Work Group for Edition. New York: Routledge. Indigenous Affairs. 2011 Update: Chile. Delsing, Maria Riet. 2009. Articulating http://www.iwgia.org/regions/latin Rapa Nui: Polynesian Cultural Politics -america/chile/858-update-2011-chile in a Latin American Nation-State. PhD Lal, Brij V. 2000. Colonial Rule: Adminis- dissertation, University of California, trative Styles and Practice. In The Pacific Santa Cruz. Islands Encyclopedia, edited by Brij V Lal Derrida, Jacques. 1997. Of Grammatol- and Kate Fortune, 229–242. Honolulu: ogy. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press. University of Hawai‘i Press. El Ciudando. Daily Internet news, Chile. Latin American Herald Tribune. Daily. http://www.elciudadano.cl/ Caracas, Venezuela. http://www.laht.com political reviews ‡ polynesia 183 lt, La Tercera Online. Daily Internet news. 7ëSXUD5H©R Monthly Rapa Nui–language Santiago, Chile. http://latercera.com/ newspaper. Hanga Roa, Rapa Nui. Métis National Council. 2011. Métis UN, United Nations. 2007. United Nations Nation President Visits Easter Island to Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Support Indigenous Rights Struggle. 8 Peoples. March. http://www.un.org/esa/ August. http://www.metisnation.ca/index socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf .php/news/metis-nation-president-visits [accessed 1 October 2012] -easter-island-to-support-indigenous US Congress. 2011. Calling for a Peaceful -rights-struggle [accessed 1 October 2012] Solution to the Easter Island Crisis. Con- Moore, Sally Faulk. 2000. Law as Process: gressional Record 157 (19). 8 February. An Anthropological Approach. Oxford: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC James Currey Publishers. -2011-02-08/html/CREC-2011-02-08 -pt1-PgH544-2.htm MV, Moe Varua Rapa Nui. Monthly magazine. Municipality of Hanga Roa, Wolfe, Patrick. 2006. Settler Colonialism Rapa Nui. and the Elimination of the Native. Journal of Genocide Research 8 (4): 387–409. Nelson, Aaron. 2012. A Quest For Inde- pendence: Who Will Rule Easter Island’s Young, Forrest Wade. 2012. Polynesia in Stone Heads? Time Magazine, World edi- Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2010 to tion, March. http://www.time.com/time/ 30 June 2011: Rapa Nui. The Contempo- world/article/0,8599,2110365,00.html rary Pacific 24:190–201. [accessed 1 October 2012] Noticias Terra. Daily Internet News. Santiago, Chile. http://noticias.terra.cl/ Wallis and Futuna Pakarati, Leonardo. 2012. La Nueva Ley, The 2011 Territorial Day in Wallis and La Nueva Ley! El Correo Del Moai (27) Futuna was very unusual. On the 29th [January]. of July, Wallisians and Futunans cel- ebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their Panoramas News. Daily Internet News. Santiago, Chile. http://www.pnews.cl/ becoming French citizens. Feasts and acerca-de/ cultural exhibitions were performed on both islands on 28 and 29 July. Marie- Poder Judicial de Chile. Official Reports of Luce Penchard, who was the Union Chilean Courts. http://www.poderjudicial pour un Mouvement Populaire (ump) .cl minister of Overseas France at that Porter, Robert Odawi. 2009. The Decolo- time, traveled to Wallis and Futuna to nization of Indigenous Governance. In For attend the celebrations. Other politi- Indigenous Eyes Only: A Decolonization cal personalities who took part in the Handbook, edited by Waziyatawin Angela event included Harold Martin, presi- Wilson and Michael Yellow Bird, 87–108. dent of New Caledonia, and represen- Santa Fe: School of American Research. tatives of the Wallisian and Futunan Rochona-Ramirez, Susana. 1993. La diaspora in that country. As a reminder Propiedad de la Tierra en la Isla de Pascua. of the ancestral links between Wal- Santiago, Chile: La Corporación Nacional lis Island (East Uvea Island) and the de Desarrollo Indígena. island of Ouvéa (West Uvea Island) in Santiago Times. Daily. the Loyalty Islands of New Caledonia, http://www.santiagotimes.cl members of Chief Nekelo’s clan also 184 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) made the trip, accompanied by Marie- was held at the Territorial Assembly Claude Tjibaou. Richard Marles, the with the prefect (the senior adminis- Australian parliamentary secretary for trator of the territory, appointed by Pacific Island affairs, was also among France), the assembly, and the Royal the guests. Council, but without any representa- In the field of digital telecommu- tives of the company. The goal of the nications, the whole territory was to meeting was to resolve this awkward switch entirely to digital television situation. On 5 November, the head service on 27 September 2011, a of eewf and representatives of the transition that was completed only in Electricité et Eau de Calédonie (eec, November due to defective technical eewf’s parent company) flew to New equipment in a few households. Caledonia. On the following Monday, From 4 to 7 October, the main Wallis Island experienced an island- labor unions held demonstrations. wide cutoff of power and water. This The aim was to bring to the atten- uncomfortable situation led the assem- tion of the superior administrator the bly to call another meeting; this time expensive cost of living. Both sides two workers represented the eewf, came to an agreement on 28 Novem- and the talks ended with an accord: ber with the creation of the Social The employees would resume their and Economic Consultative Commit- work, and the Royal Council would tee. This new office, in cooperation guarantee the safety of the work- with the price-monitoring commit- ers. Things returned to normal on tee established in June 2009, has the 8 November. responsibility of shaping propositions On 7 December, during the plenary regarding economic and social issues assembly of the Territorial Council, in the territory. the issue of the eewf came back on In mid-October, the Royal Council the table. This time the Royal Council and a few territorial assembly mem- asked the company to rehire six work- bers sought to increase the territory’s ers who had been fired at the begin- ownership in the Entreprise d’eau ning of the conflict. The company et d’électricité de Wallis et Futuna refused. (eewf, the islands’ power company) In the New Year, one issue came up to 52 percent, but the eewf denied the that dominated the rest of the review request. period: that of the elections. The On 3 November, in the village of election campaign was monitored by Vaitupu in Hihifo District, northern the French media authority (Conseil Uvea Island, an eewf worker was Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel, or csa) attacked and wounded by members of and broadcast on radio and television the public. On the same day, as a mark by Wallis & Futuna 1ère, previously of protest, colleagues of the injured rfo (Réseau France Outre-mer), worker decided to stop working. The the sole local media source. Other Royal Council called on the head of national channels (France 2, France eewf to ensure that its workers would 3, France 4, France 5, France Ô, Arte, provide at least the minimum level of and France 24) are also available in service. The next morning a meeting the territory. political reviews ‡ polynesia 185

For the Territorial Assembly elec- David Vergé, a European shopkeeper tions, which are conducted using a married to a Wallisian woman, polled proportional representation system in 30.3 percent, followed by Mikaele multi-seat constituencies, thirty party Kulimoetoke (25 percent), Patalione lists contested to fill the twenty seats. Kanimoa (17.5 percent), and Petelo Three topics dominated the debates Hanisi (15.7 percent). All these can- during the campaign period. First was didates are independent, apart from the high cost of living, including the Kanimoa, who is the ump economic high prices for electricity, gasoline, and and social counselor. There were note- basic commodities. Second was the worthy defeats in the district, includ- issue of Wallis and Futuna’s territo- ing those of ump candidate Victor rial status, which is set in French law Brial, the former deputy from 1997 to dating back to 1961. This issue was 2007, and centrist Pesamino Taputai. first raised in 1980 when members In the district of Mu‘a, out of 2,004 of the Territorial Assembly asked valid votes, Laufilitoga Mireille’s the prefect to amend the 1961 sta- party secured two seats (22.6 per- tus. This requested revision aimed to cent), allowing her to appoint the substitute a government council for second candidate on the party’s list, the current Territorial Assembly, but Emile Selui. They were followed by the effort sank into oblivion. Finally, ump Yannick Feleu (17.7 percent, the overriding question of economic reelected), Munipoese Muliakaaka development occupied a large part of (17.3 percent), Bernard Taufana the debate. For instance, what struc- (16.5 percent), and Eselone Ikai (9.7 tures must be created in order to keep percent). The outgoing president of young people from leaving the terri- the assembly, Socialist leader Siliako tory? Many interesting issues were dis- Lauhea, was defeated. cussed during the political rallies, but In the kingdom of Sigave on the the actual voting remained clan-based. island of Futuna, with a total of Wallisians and Futunans still make 880 valid votes, independent Petelo their political choices not according to Falelavaki was elected (18.8 percent), policies or programs but following the beating independent Savelina Vea familial vote. (16.8 percent) and the centrist Pasi- In the northern district of Hihifo, kale Niutoua (16.8 percent). In the there were 1,188 valid votes, and kingdom of Alo, which had a total of the two incumbents were reelected: 1,340 votes, all the candidates from Nivaleta Iloai (24.7 percent) from the the former assembly were reelected Union pour Wallis et Futuna (upwf, including the ump’s Toma Savea (22.2 akin to the French Socialist Party) percent), independents Sosefo Motuku and Atoloto Kolokilagi (17.4 percent) (21.9 percent) and Alesio Katoa (20.4 from the ump. Also elected was new- percent), and the upwf’s Vetelino Nau comer Sosefo Suve (30.10 percent), a (17.9 percent). From the 2007 assem- secondary school teacher, who ran as bly, only nine members were renewed. an independent. The remarkable electorate turnout In the central district of Hahake, (85.95 percent) showed the aspiration with a total of 2,158 valid votes, of Wallisians and Futunans to bring 186 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) about notable change. However, there Wallis and Futuna was the national was a huge loss of 2,259 registered record holder among France’s overseas voters between the 2007 (11,167) and territories in electoral turnout with 2012 (8,908) elections. Some of this 76.4 percent for both rounds. may be due to deaths, but more of the Wallisians and Futunans went decline is likely due to the emigration back to the ballot for the first round of Wallisians and Futunans. of legislative elections on 10 June On 2 April the Territorial Assembly 2012. Six candidates competed for the convened with a new majority shaped deputy’s seat. There were 8,980 voters by independents (mostly leaning registered. Of the 6,934 valid votes Socialist, except for Suve and Vergé) cast, David Vergé (Divers Droite) got and upwf members. upwf Vetelino 1,997 votes (28.80 percent), followed Nau was elected assembly presi- by Mikaele Kulimoetoke (Divers dent over Sosefo Suve, with Mikaele Gauche) with 1,345 (19.40 percent); Kulimoetoke elected as vice president. Albert Likuvalu (Radical de Gauche), Petelo Hanisi was elected president of the outgoing deputy, with 1,179 (17 the permanent commission. percent); Epifano Tui (Socialist) with On 22 April 2012, 6,407 voters 913 (13.17 percent); Atonio Ilalio (71.67 percent) went to the polls (Centre) with 858 (12.37 percent); for the French presidential elec- and Simione Vanai (Socialist) with 642 tions. There were ten electoral rolls (9.26 percent). The novel issue in this at the first round, with the follow- legislative election was the failure of ing results: Eva Joly 100 votes (1.56 four candidates from the left wing to percent); Marine Le Pen 152 votes support a single person. The second (2.37 percent); Nicolas Sarkozy round brought a three-way election 2,414 votes (37.68 percent); Jean-Luc among David Vergé (supported by Mélenchon 76 votes (1.19 percent); the local ump but also by the former Philippe Poutou 42 votes (0.66 per- socialist supporters of his father-in- cent); Nathalie Artaud 48 votes (0.75 law Tialetagi Penisio, who had been percent); Jacques Cheminade 29 votes a candidate to the deputy’s position (0.45 percent); François Bayrou 410 running against Victor Brial in 2002) votes (6.40 percent); Nicolas Dupont- and two socialist candidates, Mikalele Aignan 43 votes (0.67 percent); Fran- Kulimoetoke and Albert Likuvalu. çois Hollande 3,093 votes (48.28 per- On 17 June 2012, the three-way race cent). The second round took place on allowed David Vergé to be elected 6 May 2012. At this time Wallisians with 3,068 votes (41.61 percent) of and Futunans again showed their the 7,374 valid votes, followed by desire for change. Of the 6,769 valid Mikaele Kulimoetoke with 3,026 votes cast, Socialist François Hollande (41.04 percent) and Albert Likuvalu gained 3,795 votes (56.06 percent) with 1,280 (17.36 percent). Once against 2,974 (43.95 percent) votes for again, Wallis and Futuna had the outgoing President Nicolas Sarkozy. highest electoral turnout with 78.08 The archipelago swung to the left as percent. people voted for an alternative after Wallis and Futuna will host the seventeen years of right-wing rule. 2013 South Pacific Minigames, in political reviews ‡ polynesia 187 which twenty-two countries will take ieom, Institut d’émission d’Outre-Mer. part. The building of sporting facili- 2011. Wallis et Futuna en : ties is currently underway, includ- Rapport Annuel. Paris: Editions ieom. ing the construction of the Kafika http://www.ieom.fr/IMG/rapport_annuel multipurpose structure, whose cost _ieom_wallis-et-futuna_2011/Rapport _annuel_IEOM_Wallis-et-Futuna_2011/ is projected to exceed us$5 million. index.php The committee is still working on the logistics of the games such as accom- Leleivai, Hapakuke Pierre. 2012. Wallis modations and dining facilities for and Futuna: Issues and Events, July 2007 the athletes. to June 2011. The Contemporary Pacific 24:201–206. hapakuke pierre leleivai Pignot, Marion. 2012. Les voix du change- ments. Les Nouvelles-Calédoniennes, References 26 March. Angleviel, Frederic. 2008. Wallis and Futuna: Issues and Events, 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007. The Contemporary Pacific 20:251–254.