Political Reviews

0LFURQHVLDLQ5HYLHZ,VVXHVDQG(YHQWV-XO\ WR-XQH david w kupferman, kelly g marsh, samuel f mcphetres, 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$PHULFDQ6ëPRDWKH week later, from 12 to 13 July, Tema- Cook Islands, Hawai‘i, Niue, Tokelau, ru’s Tavini Huiraatira party hosted Tonga, and Tuvalu are not included in an international forum of experts this issue. from other governments, the United Nations, and academia on the topic of French Polynesia postcolonial nation building, appro- The period under review saw great priately named “Build Me a Nation” changes taking place in French Poly- (left untranslated into French or Tahi- nesia. The United Nations General tian). The open workshop, which was Assembly (unga) voted to relist the well attended by the public, featured country as a non-self-governing terri- presentations by Algerian diplomat tory, the first instance for that body to Mourad Ahmia, executive secretary do so since it relisted New Caledonia of the g-77 (the caucus of developing in 1986 (France had unilaterally de- countries within the United Nations); listed both countries in 1947). How- the roving ambassador of Fiji to the ever, the people whose lobbying led to Pacific Island countries, Litia Mawi; this decision—pro-independence poli- Hawaiian political scientist Keanu tician Oscar Temaru and his support- Sai, leader of the acting government ers—lost the leadership of the country of the Hawaiian Kingdom since 1996 to their former (temporary) ally and (Hawaiian Government blog); two now once again archenemy Gaston Kanak leaders from New Caledonia; Flosse, whose party swept the ter- and a Canadian economist. These ritorial elections in May 2013. After invited experts shared their knowledge Flosse won a two-thirds majority in and experience with various aspects the French Polynesia Assembly under of decolonization in other countries in the new voting system, his return to order to help French Polynesia develop power as a quasi-absolute ruler also a way to function as a nation-state in drew to a close a decade of political the future (ti, 13 July 2013). instability. As usual, both meetings were At the start of the review period, strongly criticized by the pro-French the international lobbying efforts by opposition, especially the leading the Temaru government had been opposition party Tahoeraa Huiraatira going on intensively for months and (in English, “Popular Rally”), led by culminated in the hosting of two Gaston Flosse. Concerning the Club of major international meetings. On 5 Madrid meeting, Tahoeraa accused the July 2012, Temaru hosted the meeting Temaru government of selling out the of the Asia-Pacific Forum of the Club country to Australian multimillionaire of Madrid, a group of former govern- businessman Clive Palmer, one of the ment leaders and businessmen pre- most prominent and publicly visible dominantly from Western countries. A participants in the meeting, who made

192 political reviews ‡ polynesia 193 promises to invest in the country (ti, to self-determination”—but instead of 18 July 2013). As for the “Build Me unambiguously supporting reinscrip- a Nation” forum, Flosse’s party once tion, it once more merely supported more focused their criticism on the “positive dialogue between French close relations of Temaru’s govern- Polynesia and France on how best ment, especially Senator Richard to realise French Polynesia’s right to Tuheiava, with the current govern- self-determination” (pif 2012). Forum ment of Fiji. A military dictatorship, members were apparently under Flosse argued, could not be a good massive pressure from Australia and ally in a struggle to achieve freedom. New Zealand, both of which have Tuheiava countered, however, that the abandoned their once strong support government of Commodore Voreqe for decolonization and now accept the Bainimarama was not comparable continuation of French colonialism in with typical dictatorships since unlike the region. In contrast, on 30 August, in most military-ruled nations—and also in Rarotonga, the second meet- unlike in French Polynesia—the Fiji ing of the newly formed Polynesian tourism industry was booming. He Leaders Group (in which Australia jokingly said that this meant it could and New Zealand are not included) not be such a bad dictatorship (ti, 11 strongly endorsed French Polynesia’s July 2013). In line with this reasoning, reinscription (pir, 30 Aug 2012). Tuheiava attended the third “Engag- On the global level, the Forum’s ing with the Pacific” leaders meeting unclear attitude counted much less from 23 to 24 August in Nadi, Fiji, to than the Non-Aligned Movement’s represent the government of French full-fledged support. Since the Non- Polynesia (ti, 24 Aug 2012). Aligned Movement includes a large International awareness-raising majority of UN member states, after and lobbying events like the “Build their endorsement it appeared to be Me a Nation” forum achieved vis- only a matter of time before the issue ible success, when the Non-Aligned would come up in the UN General Movement (the political counterpart Assembly. Still, however, some inse- to the economically focused g-77) curity about a UN vote remained, voted unanimously to support the especially as France and allied Western reinscription of French Polynesia as countries were still expected to coun- a non-self-governing territory. This ter lobby. At the plenary session of the success at the Non-Aligned Movement General Assembly in September, rein- summit in Iran from 26 to 31 August scription of French Polynesia was once was achieved in large part thanks to more brought up by Fijian Minister of support from Fiji and other Melane- Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola sian member states. and the prime ministers of Solomon On the other hand, the Pacific ,VODQGVDQG6ëPRD .XEXDEROD2012; Islands Forum (pif), which held its Lilo 2012; Malielegaoi 2012). There annual meeting from 28 to 30 August was no immediate follow-up, however, in Rarotonga, in its communiqué and months passed without a draft “reiterated their support for the resolution being introduced in the principle of French Polynesia’s right General Assembly. 194 the contemporary pacific ‡ 26:1 (2014)

Meanwhile, for the rest of the year, operating like a mafia, using strikes the country was preoccupied with not as a genuine tool to obtain various domestic issues. In November, improved working conditions and bet- a passionate debate was fought about ter pay but rather as a sort of protec- marijuana, likely sparked by media tion racket in order to extort bribes reports about the successful plebi- from business leaders and politicians scites in two American states during (TPM, Dec 2012). the US general elections to legalize The most attention, however, was the substance. As in many Pacific drawn to the trials of senator and Islands, the consumption of paka (the opposition leader Gaston Flosse, who local term for cannabis) is becoming was being tried in two different cases, increasingly popular in French Poly- both dating back to Flosse’s earlier nesia, while the illegal but lucrative term as president of the local govern- cultivation and sale of it has become a ment from 1991 to 2004. In one of not insignificant sector of the econ- them, Flosse had already been found omy. While many people see this as guilty and sentenced to several years a dangerous social phenomenon, and in prison in 2011, but he and all of an ever-increasing number of people his codefendants had appealed the are arrested for paka-related charges, verdicts. After the trial on the other President Temaru and other members case started in mid-September, Flosse of Tavini stated that it was time for got into even more trouble. Because of a serious debate throughout society his criminal conviction, he was denied about legalization. When the opposi- visa-free entry to the United States, tion criticized this initiative as irre- and, on 19 November, while he was sponsible, Tavini leaders underlined at the US Embassy in New Zealand in that the party was neither endorsing order to obtain a visa, his residence in nor opposing legalization but simply Vetea, a luxury subdivision in Pirae, wanted to facilitate discussion of this was completely destroyed in a fire. complex issue (ti, 8 Nov 12; rnzi, Flosse aggressively used the media to 15 Nov 12). portray these events as evidence of his As in the previous few years, the being a victim of a vast conspiracy, justice system dealt with several high- accusing his political opponents of profile political corruption cases and supplying information on him to US pronounced sentences potentially authorities and of setting fire to his carrying severe consequences for home (TPM, Dec 2012). several politicians. In early October, On 15 January 2013, the verdict local trade union leaders Cyril Legayic in the “Post Office” affair was pro- and Gaston Tetuanui and French ship nounced. Flosse was found guilty of magnate Bill Ravel were indicted and having received several tens of millions detained, with Ravel being accused of cfp francs in bribes between 1994 of paying bribes to the union leaders and 2005 from French advertising in order for them to let him operate executive Hubert Haddad in order his ships without constant threat of to secure a monopoly on the sale of strikes. For many years, several unions advertising space in phone books in the country have been accused of and other publications of the French political reviews ‡ polynesia 195

Polynesia Post and Telecommunica- will be suspended. The verdict in the tions Office. Flosse was sentenced to a “Fictional Employment” case, which prison term of five years, a fine of 10 itself had already been appealed to million cfp francs (us$100,000), and no avail, is being contested at the five years of ineligibility for political Court of Cassation in Paris (a supreme office, while Haddad received an iden- judicial institution that checks court tical prison term and fine, on top of a cases for judicial or procedural errors). five-year ban on operating a business. Until the latter has made its decision Various codefendants were sentenced on the case (expected to take at least to prison terms, suspended prison half a year), the sentences in this case terms, or fines, depending on their are also suspended, meaning that individual responsibility in the affair. Flosse and other leading politicians Among those convicted were former of Tahoeraa faced no impediments to Minister for Postal Services Émile their participation in the upcoming Vernaudon; Flosse’s secretary, Melba territorial elections. Ortas; and politician Noa Tetuanui, Senator Tuheiava was also having a former member of Temaru’s Tavini trouble with the law. In mid-October party who had switched sides in 2012, the Court of Cassation con- October 2004 after Flosse channeled firmed a civil penalty prohibiting the some of Haddad’s bribes to him (ti, senator from exercising his profession 15 Jan 2013). as a lawyer for two years for not prop- Barely a month later, on 7 Febru- erly serving some of his clients when ary, the appellate court confirmed he was still practicing law but already the conviction of Flosse and the engaged in politics (ti, 17 Oct 2012). other defendants in the “Fictional Since he is now no longer practicing Employment” affair and sentenced law, the civil penalty has no practical the former president to four years in consequences for him. In February prison, a fine of 15 million cfp francs 2013, Tuheiava was cleared of all (us$150,000), and three years of criminal charges arising from the case suspended political rights. Seventeen (ti, 13 Feb 2013). of his codefendants—fellow Tahoeraa After months of no news on the members and trade union leaders who decolonization project, in early 2013 had received enormous salaries as more action was finally forthcom- collaborators in the president’s office ing. Months of lobbying behind without ever actually working there— the scenes by President Temaru and received shorter prison terms or fines, Senator Tuheiava finally proved suc- while twenty-five others were acquit- cessful on 7 February when Solomon ted (ti, 7 Feb 2013). Islands, Nauru, and Tuvalu officially Unsurprisingly, all convicted parties sponsored a draft resolution calling in both cases, advised by high-profile for French Polynesia’s reinscription. French lawyers, contested their convic- After publication in the UN journal tions. In the “Post Office” case, this on 14 February, the draft was further means that the case will be newly tried amended and definitively put on the by an appellate court up to a year agenda of the UN General Assem- later, and until then, the sentences bly in a streamlined version as Draft 196 the contemporary pacific ‡ 26:1 (2014)

Resolution A/67/L.56/Rev.1 on 1 dence camps. This strategy won back March (UN 2013a). for Flosse some former allies who had While a definite date for the discus- maintained that ideological stance sion of the draft resolution in the during his reconciliation with Temaru, General Assembly had not yet been such as Jean-Christophe Bouissou’s set, the campaign for the upcoming Rautahi party, the ethnic Chinese– territorial elections was taking off, dominated Taatira No Te Hau party, sparking another reconfiguration of and Sandra Levy-Agami’s splinter the country’s ever-changing political group Te Mana Toa, all of which landscape. On one hand there was the merged under the banner of Taho- governing Union pour la Democratie eraa for the 2013 elections. Several (upld) umbrella group, dominated other politicians, among them Papeete by Temaru’s Tavini Huiraatira party, Mayor Michel Buillard and former forming a coalition government with Minister of Education Tearii Alpha, the outer islands interest group Te rejoined Tahoeraa as well. These and Mana O Te Mau Motu (an assembly other floor crossings made Tahoeraa caucus formed by several outer island once more the leading opposition representatives elected on the lists of group in the assembly, disposing of various parties). In power since April fourteen seats, while the conglomerate 2011, this government had been one of pro-French splinter groups of the of the most stable in the last decade, “third way” (which, under the banner but its popularity was declining due of To Tatou Aia [tta; “Our Country”] to the country’s steadily deteriorating had collectively won a relative major- economic situation and the growing ity in the assembly at the last territo- perception of Temaru as economically rial elections of 2008) was reduced incompetent and too focused on only to a small remnant, with their leader, one issue: UN reinscription. former President Gaston Tong Sang, Among the so-called autonomist now essentially a backbencher. For (ie, pro-French in the local political a while, the remaining “third way” discourse) opposition parties, Flosse’s (that is, neither pro-independence Tahoeraa, having gained all three seats nor pro-Flosse) politicians, includ- representing the country in the French ing those with and without assembly National Assembly in the legislative representation, were in turn divided elections of June 2012, was regaining into two groups. One of these, led by its strength as the main pro-French Nicole Bouteau, Philip Schyle, Beatrice political force, a position it had tem- Vernaudon, and Teiva Manutahi, porarily lost to various splinter groups considered themselves “progressive after 2007. In contrast to Flosse’s autonomists” by claiming to be less temporary reconciliation and political corrupt and opportunistic than some alliance with Temaru between 2007 of the others (ti, 2 July 2012). and 2009, recently Tahoeraa had once By the beginning of the new year, more employed a confrontational however, most of the “third way” discourse against the Temaru govern- splinter groups had overcome their ment, pushing for a polarization of differences, and on 31 January, they society into pro- and anti-indepen- announced their merger into a new political reviews ‡ polynesia 197 party called A Tia Porinetia (atp; in assertion merely on the fact that the English, “Stand Up Polynesia”), led verb “to reinscribe” was no longer in by Teva Rohfritsch, a young former the draft, when in fact the project had Tahoeraa member who had served as advanced one step further by adapting cabinet minister with various portfo- the language of the draft to UN stan- lios under Flosse, Temaru, and Tong dards and the precedent 1986 resolu- Sang. The new party, essentially a tion on New Caledonia. remake of Tong Sang’s moribund tta, Furthermore, Rohfritsch and Gas- encompassed all remaining “autono- ton Tong Sang contested the legality mist” splinter parties in the assembly, of President Temaru’s travels abroad giving it a caucus of twelve. Among to promote reinscription (citing the the “third way” political leaders political statutes of French Polynesia, without assembly representation, only according to which foreign policy is two significant ones did not join atp: the responsibility of France, not the Teiva Manutahi, who, considering local government) and filed a com- Rohfritsch too much of an opportun- plaint with the French High Commis- ist, declined to join (ti, 4 Feb 2013), sion. The high commission responded, and Bruno Sandras, mayor of Papara however, that Temaru’s approaches and former French National Assem- and overseas travels, while contradict- bly member, who was excluded from ing French policies and not having the party, ironically for being himself any legal effects, were legal within considered too much of an opportun- the framework of his prerogatives as ist by Rohfritsch and the other party president (ti, 8 March 2013). This founders (ti, 19 Feb 2013). was in line with an earlier decision While upld’s campaign strongly of the administrative court that had focused on the merits of UN rein- upheld the August 2011 vote of the scription (arguing, for instance, that assembly that called for reinscription, New Caledonia’s significantly better which had been similarly challenged economic situation could be linked to by the pro-French opposition at the that territory’s being back on the list time (rnzi, 10 Feb 2012). since 1986), atp made vicious and In addition, Rohfritsch accused polemic attacks on the decolonization Flosse of once more secretly planning campaign a cornerstone of its political an alliance with Temaru, thereby sell- discourse, much more so than Taho- ing out the “autonomist” cause (ti, eraa. While engaged in their diatribe 1 April 2013). Rohfritsch could hardly against decolonization, Rohfritsch have said anything more hypocritical, and his supporters also displayed their since he himself was part of Tahoeraa blatant ignorance of the UN process when the alliance was concluded in and their lack of research skills when, 2007, and he held ministerial portfo- after the release of the streamlined lios under the two governments cre- version of the draft unga resolution ated through that alliance. on 1 March, atp in a press release While atp was thus attempting to boasted that Temaru’s campaign for drum up support from the French set- reinscription had supposedly failed tlers and pro-French locals by trying (TI, 7 March 2013). They based this to surpass even the French govern- 198 the contemporary pacific ‡ 26:1 (2014) ment in pro-French rhetoric, Taho- to become prime minister but also the eraa’s campaign was more focused on first non–native-born head of govern- nostalgia for the period before 2004, ment in any independent Pacific Island when Flosse had been the all-powerful country. Furthermore, as the leader of president, the economy had been in Vanuatu’s Green Coalition, Carcasses good shape, and everybody suppos- is the first member of a “Green” (ie, edly had had a better life. Of course, environmentalist) party to head the they conveniently omitted the facts government of any country world- that at the time there was no global wide. As the first Tahitian to lead economic crisis, and Flosse’s close an independent country, Carcasses’s friend Jacques Chirac had been in successful career in Vanuatu exempli- power in Paris, guaranteeing a steady fies the ability and perseverance of flow of official and unofficial subsidies Tahitians overseas. Importantly for to the territory. Clearly also targeting politics back home in French Polyne- pro-independence voters disillusioned sia, Carcasses passionately supported with Temaru’s poor economic perfor- reinscription for his home country mance, Tahoeraa’s campaign featured at the United Nations, with Vanuatu visibly less pro-French symbolism: under his leadership adding itself to Unlike rallies of atp and smaller the list of sponsors of the draft resolu- “autonomist” parties, Tahoeraa’s WLRQDORQJVLGH6ëPRDDQG7LPRU/HVWH great electoral march of 23 March (UN 2013c). with an estimated 10,000 partici- As the elections drew nearer, people pants displayed thousands of orange began taking a closer look at the Tahoeraa party flags but not a single new electoral system created by the French tricolor (TPM, April 2012). French legislature in 2011, which was A few weeks earlier, a upld elec- designed to increase political stability toral march focusing on support for in French Polynesia. By now people the ongoing UN reinscription process must have become used to having each gathered around 3,000 participants. election conducted under a different Coinciding with the second anni- system, as the last two consecutive ter- versary of the March 2011 nuclear ritorial elections conducted under the catastrophe in Fukushima, the march same system happened in 1991 and also featured a group of visiting Japa- 1996. Unlike all previous elections, nese peace activists (ti, 9 March 2013; in which the country was divided rnzi, 11 March 2013). into five or six constituencies (one or While Tahiti’s politicians were busy two per archipelago), under the most campaigning, a Tahitian-born politi- recent rules all of French Polynesia is cian made international headlines in a single constituency, with the overall another Pacific country on 23 March percentages of votes determining the when Moana Carcasses Kalosil was composition of the assembly. Each elected prime minister of Vanuatu (ti, party creates a list of 57 candidates, 23 March 2013; NT, 25 March 2013). and two rounds of elections are held Born in Tahiti of a French father and a for the parties on the ballot. Those Tahitian mother, Carcasses is not only parties who receive at least 12.5 per- the first naturalized ni-Vanuatu citizen cent (1/8th) of the total vote in round political reviews ‡ polynesia 199 one appear on the second-round bal- switching of alliance in the assembly. lot, although unsuccessful parties that Because they were no longer use- have won at least 5 percent can enter ful under the new system, no party into coalitions with successful ones to included any of them on its list. contest round two. After the second The election results confirmed the round, 19 of the 57 seats (one-third of tendencies already seen at the French the total) are assigned to the party that National Assembly elections one year receives the highest percentage of the previously, with Flosse’s Tahoeraa votes. The other 38 seats are assigned Huiraatira gaining a landslide vic- proportionally among all parties that tory. Already in the first round on 21 have gained at least 5 percent of the April, Flosse’s party led the vote with overall votes. 40.16 percent, while upld won only From the point of view of the 24.6 percent, with atp barely behind, smaller outer islands, the new rules gaining 19.92 percent. The list Maohi are indeed quite strange. Since about Tatou—a coalition of Manutahi’s two-thirds of the population lives Porinetia Ora and a section of the for- on Tahiti, the representation of the merly important, now marginal Here sparsely populated outer islands has Aia party (the other half of Here Aia always been an issue of concern. In the being part of upld)—scored fourth, new system, outer islands representa- but achieved only 5.71 percent, while tion in the assembly is guaranteed the rest of the votes were distributed (since party lists must be distributed among five small splinter parties gain- throughout eight geographic sections), ing less than 4 percent each. Participa- but not necessarily in proportion to tion was at a significant low of only the outer islands’ votes. The propor- 67.45 percent of registered voters. tion of outer islands seats distributed At the runoff election on 5 May, to party list candidates is dictated by significantly more people participated the overall result of each party, not by (72.79 percent), and the results of the the results within each archipelago. As first round were mostly confirmed, University of French Polynesia politi- with the votes of the splinter groups cal science professor Sémir Al-Wardi and the nonvoters from the first round explained, outer islands candidates almost evenly distributed among the who win only a small minority in their three large parties. Tahoeraa achieved geographic section can win seats if 45.11 percent; upld 29.25 percent, their party performs well on Tahiti, and atp 25.63 percent. For Temaru’s while a party winning 80 percent ruling party, the results were a sig- (for example) in an outer archipelago nificant loss, compared to its score of might end up without any representa- 37.18 percent in the second round of tion if it does not also have strong the last territorial elections in 2008, support in Tahiti (ti, 26 March 2013). while Tahoeraa dramatically increased Obviously targeted by these new rules its score, having received only 17.16 were the representatives of Te Mana percent in 2008. atp’s proponents of o te Mau Motu, also known as the the “third way” can also be counted “islanders,” who had become notori- among the big losers of the election, ous for their constant opportunistic given its predecessor To Tatou Aia’s 200 the contemporary pacific ‡ 26:1 (2014) remarkable 2008 performance of Uturoa on Raiatea as well as on the 45.12 percent (ti, 6 May 2013). islands of Bora-Bora (where Gaston Tahoeraa thus clearly won the elec- Tong Sang has been mayor since 1989) tion in terms of votes, but because of and Huahine (NT, 7 May 2013). the majority bonus system, its score Since the election result was over- translated into a two-thirds majority whelmingly clear, there were no post- in the assembly. Flosse’s party ended election surprises like there had been up with 38 out of 57 seats (compared in 2008, and the constituting session to 10 seats proportionally assigned in of the new assembly on 16 May was 2008). In contrast, the two opposition mostly a formality. Flosse’s son-in-law parties—upld with merely 11 seats and designated successor Edouard (20 in 2008) and atp with 8 (27 for Fritch was elected Speaker of the tta in 2008)—are in no position to assembly by Tahoeraa’s thirty-eight challenge the majority in any form, representatives as planned, and the even in the unlikely case of their bond- next day, Flosse (at age 81 the oldest ing together. While the results clearly representative; he had initially pre- provide political stability for the near sided over the first session as Father future, critics are worried that, if of the House) was elected president of unchecked by significant opposition, French Polynesia by the same majority. Flosse might once more establish an On the same day, Flosse presented his authoritarian regime rife with the cabinet of eight ministers (a mas- kinds of corruption and abuse of sive reduction from earlier cabinets power that he had put in place when consisting of up to sixteen). Nuihau he lead a similar majority government Laurey, an economist and information before 2004. technology expert who has published A further analysis of the elections a book on renewable energy (Laurey on the regional and municipal level 2009), was appointed vice president, shows that Flosse was indeed suc- and the cabinet includes several cessful in rebuilding his party to full other young professionals who are strength on the ground. Tahoeraa had newcomers to politics (ti, 17 May the highest number of votes in virtu- 2013). Besides downsizing the cabinet, ally all municipalities, even in places President Flosse also announced a where the mayor was from another reduction of his presidential salary by party. On the other hand, upld was 50 percent and that of the ministers leading only in its traditional strong- by 10 percent, which was approved at hold of Faaa (where Temaru has been the first cabinet meeting (ti, 22 May mayor since 1983) as well as on the 2013). island of Raivavae in the Austral While the assumption of power by archipelago. Even in Faaa, upld failed the new government was a smooth to reach its hitherto secure overall process in institutional terms, it majority, scoring only 47.99 percent. was overshadowed by the sudden The other divergence from the over- announcement by the UN General all election results was the Leeward Assembly on 15 May that finally a Islands archipelago, in which atp date had been scheduled for the vote was leading the vote, particularly in on draft resolution L.56/Rev.1 on political reviews ‡ polynesia 201

French Polynesia’s reinscription on May (ie, in the early morning hours the list of Non-Self-Governing Ter- in Tahiti, which is six hours behind ritories. Two days later, the same day New York), while Temaru was still Flosse was scheduled to be elected president, the UN General Assem- president, the United Nations took bly unanimously voted to reinscribe up the resolution. President Temaru, French Polynesia as a non-self-govern- still formally in office, flew to New ing territory (nsgt), increasing the list York to attend the historic occa- of nsgts from 16 to 17. Published as sion, while his vice president, Antony unga Resolution 67/265, the resolu- Geros, hoisted the UN flag in front tion “confirms the unalienable right of of the president’s office in Papeete. the people of French Polynesia to self- During the constituting session on 16 determination and independence,” as May, Flosse, as Father of the House outlined in the UN Charter as well as (whose normal job is merely to give a in unga resolution 1514 of 1960, as short ceremonial speech and conduct a nsgt under the responsibility of the the election of the Speaker), took the UN Special Committee on Decoloniza- unprecedented steps of not only order- tion. Furthermore, the resolution calls ing the restoration of a portrait of the on France to “intensify its dialogue French president and the display of the with French Polynesia in order to French and European Union flags at facilitate rapid progress towards a fair the assembly building (they had been and effective self-determination pro- removed by previous speaker Jacqui cess” (UN 2013b). Literally in the last Drollet of upld) but also announc- hours of his presidency, Temaru had ing that the “UN flag will never be thus “lost the battle but won the war,” displayed in this assembly.” Flosse also as Australian scholar and journalist proceeded to hold a vote on a resolu- Nic Maclellan put it (2013). tion denouncing the proceedings at the Unlike in the precedent-setting UN General Assembly and calling on case of New Caledonia’s reinscription all UN member states to stop them, in 1986, and unlike the controver- claiming that the election results show sial resolutions on Syria and Israel/ an absence of support for reinscription Palestine earlier in the current unga from the people of the country. The session, the resolution on French Poly- resolution passed with the combined nesia was passed unanimously without votes of Tahoeraa and atp. Since the a vote. However, France boycotted the new assembly had not been formally session, and five other UN member constituted, Flosse was clearly over- countries—the United Kingdom, the stepping his duties, and the validity of Netherlands, Germany, the United the resolution was contested by upld. States, and Mexico—dissociated To avoid a legal challenge, the major- themselves from the consensus. The ity agreed to change the item voted on representatives from Germany and the from a formal “resolution” to a legally United States explicitly referred to the irrelevant, symbolic “wish” (ti and recent election victory of pro-French Polynésie Première, 16 May 2007). parties and the wish expressed by Unimpressed with Flosse’s awk- the new majority of the assembly of ward moves, on the morning of 17 French Polynesia. On closer examina- 202 the contemporary pacific ‡ 26:1 (2014) tion, however, the opinion expressed developed through dialogue among all by the pro-French local politicians as local political parties, the French gov- well as by the pro-French UN member ernment, and the United Nations, in a states is illogical, as reinscription does way similar to the proceedings hap- not lead to a unilateral imposition of pening in New Caledonia under the independence on the country. On the Nouméa Accord of 1998 (ti, 30 May contrary, it guarantees the right of the 2013). people of the territory to self-deter- At the same time, French Social- mination and protects them against ist Party Senator Richard Tuheiava arbitrary actions of the French govern- attended the regional seminar of the ment, as have been experienced all too UN decolonization committee in often in the near past. Quito, Ecuador, where French Poly- Temaru and his supporters were nesia was for the first time officially particularly disappointed with the atti- discussed as a nsgt. Referring to the tude of the French government, since Flosse government’s resolution, the the French Socialist Party of current senator pointed out that before any President François Hollande is in a self-determination referendum could partnership agreement with Temaru’s take place, a reform of the voter eligi- pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira bility criteria must be undertaken, as party. In the agreement, signed by currently any French citizen living in Hollande himself in 2004 and renewed the territory is entitled to participate in 2011, the Socialists had pledged in local elections. As in New Caledo- to support the right of the territory nia, Tuheiava argued that the right to to self-determination within the UN participate in a referendum be limited framework (Socialist Party and Tavini to persons who have resided in the Huiraatira 2004, 2011). By position- territory for several decades; otherwise ing himself against the reinscription it could not be considered an exer- resolution, Hollande not only acted cise of the right of self-determination like a good old colonialist in the mold (Tuheiava 2013). Currently, there is of his right-wing predecessors but also a significant population of French broke his word and bitterly disap- expatriates in the territory, and there pointed Temaru and his party. are indications that most of them tend Unsurprisingly, Flosse’s new pro- toward a political attitude against French government continues to fight independence. As many of them are the United Nations and hopes to short-term residents, having them vote have the country removed once more in local elections, let alone in a refer- from the list as soon as possible. On endum determining the future status 30 May, Tahoeraa and atp, its “fifth of the country, would indeed be highly column” in the opposition, voted problematic, as it would distort the on a resolution calling on France to results in a major way. immediately conduct a referendum While reinscription and the result- on independence. upld abstained ing possibility of participating in UN from the vote, arguing that a process institutions marks the achievement of self-determination should not be of a long-sought goal of Temaru and implemented precipitously but must be the independence movement at-large, political reviews ‡ polynesia 203 it came as a consolation prize for the smaller parties within upld, espe- their undeniable loss in the territo- cially Heiura les Verts (the local Green rial elections. Flosse’s return to the party), criticized Temaru’s style of presidential palace marks the end, for leading the coalition and contemplated the time being, of the so-called Taui a reform of the alliance to make it (in English, “change”), the political more efficient (DT, 7 May 2012). project of Oscar Temaru and upld Besides unprofessional campaign- to use their control of the political ing, upld never undertook concrete institutions of the government to steps to cut back the wasteful govern- set the country on a course toward ment apparatus and the lifestyles of long-term independence. While he was its members to realistic dimensions in and out of power between 2004 appropriate for a small-island develop- and 2013, due to instable majori- ing country. As Tahiti-based French ties in the assembly, the 2013 elec- teacher and journalist Marc Frémy, tions have definitely ended Temaru’s a critical intellectual generally sup- current ambitions. At least in terms portive of upld, commented, “One of electoral strategy, the Taui has has seen that too many of the newly thus clearly failed, with upld having arrived copied from the old guard proven to be unable to permanently a behavior of nomenklatura and extend its vote beyond its core group apparatchiks, greedy for power and of supporters. One of the reasons for wealth” (Frémy 2011, 85; author’s this was the ill-organized campaign, translation). Furthermore, since upld which consisted of rather haphazard never held a clear majority in the moves, random visionary statements assembly, it was somewhat obligated by Temaru, and little substance in the to bribe opportunistic representa- party’s platform aside from support tives with high government positions for UN reinscription. A coherent for them and their friends and fam- social, financial, and economic policy ily in order to stabilize the majority, was hard to identify. Since the coun- even though a denunciation of those try has been in a prolonged economic very practices had been at the core of crisis for several years, and social upld’s platform. This had been true issues like unemployment, homeless- even more so for tta, the predecessor ness, crime, and domestic violence of atp, whose campaigns for a “mor- are increasing rampantly, it is under- alization” of politics proved similarly standable that most people have more hypocritical. pressing worries than the country’s The vast majority of voters, how- international status at the United ever, continue to switch back and Nations, as important as that may be forth between these mainstream politi- for long-term goals. Tahoeraa, with its cal parties, and political newcomers discourse of nostalgia for the “good with innovative ideas have no chance old times” before 2004, paired with a for success. Economist and entrepre- few solid promises to alleviate social neur Enrique “Quito” Braun-Ortega’s and economic ills, was evidently a party, Te Hiti Tau Api, which pre- more attractive choice to many voters. sented an excellent program to redress Immediately after the election debacle, the country’s finances and economy, 204 the contemporary pacific ‡ 26:1 (2014) and trade unionist Emile Vernier’s As Tahiti-based French histo- party Rassemblement pour le Respect rian Jean-Marc Regnault has aptly du Peuple Polynésien, which advocates described (2013), the reinscription of a dissolution of the autonomous coun- French Polynesia on the decoloniza- try government and full integration tion list “raises phantasms: irrational into France as a département like the fears and excessive confidences.” French Caribbean Islands, achieved This is markedly different from New only a few hundred votes each. Caledonia, where the pro-French par- While the “Taui” might be over, it ties have long accepted the listing of would be premature to see the election their territory and welcome working loss as a deathblow to the indepen- with the UN decolonization commit- dence movement, as Flosse and his tee on their country’s development, allies have been touting. In a country merely differing with independence whose final political status remains supporters regarding the final outcome unsettled, the only party with a long- of the decolonization process. Inter- term nation-building project, which viewed amid the controversial debate lost the majority but retains the sup- on the issue in Tahiti, Harold Martin, port of almost one-third of the voters, the pro-French current president of is still extremely relevant. This is all the government of New Caledonia, the more so since the “autonomist” expressed his astonishment at the atti- majority parties’ goals are purely tude of pro-French Tahitians, stating materialistic, limited to securing a that “being on the list is an advan- perpetual flow of French subsidies tage” (NT, 30 Aug 2012). to keep the illusionary bubble of a The other cloud hanging over high per capita income from burst- Flosse’s new pro-French utopia is ing (Frémy 2011, 146). The project the ongoing corruption trials against of building a “Polynesian or Maohi him and several members of the new Nation,” as Frémy (2013) has termed government. When it became evident it, remains open-ended. that Tahoeraa was on its way to win- Ironically, Tahoeraa and atp, with ning the elections, Paris newspapers their obsessive enmity to a UN- expressed their surprise and disgust. supervised decolonization process, are Influential Paris daily Le Monde actually helping to keep the indepen- commented that “the devil is back in dence issue a front page news item. Paradise” (22 March 2013). In March, Having accused upld, not without Le Monde journalists Gerard Davet some merit, of using the decoloni- and Fabrice Lhomme published a zation campaign to distract from book titled “The Man Who Wanted to Temaru’s domestic political incom- Be King” (2013), recounting the cor- petence, Flosse and the pro-French rupt nature of Flosse’s “reign” during “opposition” did almost the same the 1990s and early 2000s, consider- thing after the election, touting their ing those “crazy years, smelling of opposition to decolonization, in order sex, blood and money,” and referring to hide their similar incompetence and to Flosse-ruled French Polynesia as a unwillingness to implement necessary “Tropical East Germany” in reference drastic reforms. to the spy scandals involving Flosse’s political reviews ‡ polynesia 205 presidential intelligence service and Girardin became a notorious symbol militia. of French colonialism and arrogance The most sinister of these scandals, when she played a major role in sub- the 1997 unexplained disappearance verting the first Temaru government of anti-Flosse journalist Jean-Pascal in order to bring electorally defeated Couraud, keeps haunting the present. Flosse back to power in 2004. Besides After various rumors about Couraud’s her lack of impartiality, which clearly disappearance being an assassination disqualified her from representing the plot involving people connected to territory in Paris, the appointment of Flosse have been circulating for a long a French bureaucrat into a position time, on 25 June 2013 two members of the local government contradicts of the Groupement d’Intervention the policy of “Oceanisation” (ie, the de la Polynésie (gip), Flosse’s now preferred hiring of locals as officials to defunct presidential militia, were gradually replace expatriates). On top indicted for Couraud’s murder. On 16 of all this, Girardin’s made-to-measure July, charges were also brought against “special representative” position is former GIP commander Léonard superfluous, since there already exists Puputauki, who is already serving a a well-staffed French Polynesia liaison prison term for homicide in another office that occupies an entire building case (ti, 25 June, 16 July 2013). in Paris. Some of the new government’s The Flosse government’s neocolo- actions are worrisome as well. On 3 nial moves are not the only worrisome June, Bruno Barillot, was fired from aspect making UN-supervised decolo- his position as the government’s nization extremely urgent. More official delegate for the follow-up direct proof that French colonialism on nuclear testing consequences. is alive and well in the country was Since Barrillot is an internationally given on 13 June when the Council renowned expert on nuclear testing of State (France’s highest administra- who had received the Nuclear-Free tive court) declared invalid two local Future Award in New York in 2010 laws dealing with pensions and social and who had represented the rights security because parts of the debates of nuclear testing victims very effec- in the assembly when the laws were tively, his firing provoked an outcry of passed had been held in Tahitian, not indignation, not only by local nuclear in French. The imposition of French testing victims association Moruroa as the only official language is noth- e Tatou but also from various anti- ing new, but it is unprecedented that nuclear organizations worldwide (ti, French courts now target the mere use 4 June 2013). of Tahitian by assembly members on Equally widespread indignation the assembly floor (the laws them- came about in reaction to Flosse’s selves were drafted and published appointment of Brigitte Girardin as in French). This is indeed extremely the “special representative of French worrisome and reminiscent of the Polynesia” in Paris. As the former worst colonial regimes of the past. An French minister for overseas territo- anonymous reader commented quite ries under Chirac in the early 2000s, appropriately that “frankly, it is deci- 206 the contemporary pacific ‡ 26:1 (2014) sions like this that make people want vide implicit evidence of massive mis- to become pro-independence” (ti, 15 appropriation of funds over decades in June 2013). most municipalities. As important as debates over the On a positive note, the year under political status of the country may review finally saw the mobile phone be, many ordinary citizens are first market opened up to competition. and foremost concerned with their After years of negotiation, in February quality of life, which for many is 2013, Vodafone obtained permission deteriorating. In February, an increase to operate in the country (ti, 23 Feb in violent crime was revealed in the 2013), and in June it began selling annual police report for 2012 (ti, 4 mobile phone services. This ended the Feb 2013), while a report released by decades-long monopoly of the govern- the statistics office noted a significant ment’s Postal and Telecommunications increase in unemployment (ti, 17 Feb Office, which had made mobile phone 2013). These two tendencies have been service in French Polynesia among the developing over the last few years. A most expensive in the world (ti, 11 few months after the release of the June, 15 June 2013). police report, it was announced that LORENZ GONSCHOR a weapons dealership would open on Raiatea (ti, 26 June 2013). With the rise of violent crime, such a store is the References last thing the country needs, and it is Davet, Gérard, and Fabrice Lhomme. thus absolutely incomprehensible that 2013. L’homme qui voulut être roi. Paris: authorization was given for it. Even Stock. if the establishment of the store was DT, La Depêche de Tahiti. Daily. Tahiti. not legally preventable, in a country http://www.ladepeche.pf notorious for its complex administra- Frémy, Marc. 2011. Une histoire du Taui: tive bureaucracy, surely authorization Suivi du Manifeste pour un temps nou- for the store could easily have been veau. Papeete: Published by author. repeatedly delayed and made so hard ______. 2013. De la Nation to obtain that the owner would have Polynésienne (ou Maohi). Papeete: eventually abandoned the project, as Published by author. has all too frequently happened to other businesses that would have been Hawaiian Government blog. far more beneficial to the community. http://hawaiiankingdom.org/blog/ [accessed 15 Oct 2013] A report by the public health service disclosed that only one-third Kubuabola, Ratu Inoke. 2012. Statement of the population has access to clean by H E Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, Minister water (ti, 21 Feb 2013). This might be of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Fiji. Gen- excusable for an independent develop- eral Debate of the High Level Segment of ing country with limited resources, but the 67th United Nations General Assem- for a dependent territory with a high bly. 28 Sept. Posted on UN website: per capita income due to enormous http://gadebate.un.org/sites/default/files/ financial subsidies from France, these gastatements/67/FJ_en.pdf [accessed 10 figures are simply scandalous and pro- Sept 2013] political reviews ‡ polynesia 207

Le Monde. Daily. Paris. http://www Polynésie Première (French Polynesia .lemonde.fr program of Outre-mer Première, the French government television network for Laurey, Nuihau. 2009. Énergies renouv- overseas départements and collectivities) elables: Plaidoyer pour une véritable poli- tique de l’énergie en Polynésie française. Regnault, Jean-Marc. 2013. La réin scrip- Papeete: Au vent des îles. tion à l’ONU: Folie ou sagesse? Tahiti Paci- Lilo, Gordon. 2012. Statement by the fique Magazine 264 (June–July): 31–33. Honourable Mr. Gordon Darcy Lilo mp, rnzi, Radio New Zealand International. Prime Minister, Before the 67th United Daily radio and Internet news. Wellington. Nations General Assembly General http://www.rnzi.com Debate. 27 Sept. Posted on UN website: http://gadebate.un.org/sites/default/files/ Socialist Party and Tavini Huiraatira. gastatements/67/SB_en.pdf [accessed 10 2004. Convention de partenariat entre Sept 2013] le Parti Socialiste et le Tavini Huiraatira no te Ao Maohi–F.L.P. Posted on Maclellan, Nic. 2013. “Hijacking decolo- Tavini Hui raatira website: http://www nisation”: French Polynesia at the United .tavinihuiraatira.com/coms-tavini/item/97 Nations. Published online in Inside Story: -convention-de-partenariat-ps-et-tavini Current Affairs and Culture from Australia -huiraatira/97-convention-de-partenariat and Beyond, 31 May. http://inside.org -ps-et-tavini-huiraatira [accessed 15 Sept .au/highjacking-decolonisation-french 2013] -polynesia-at-the-united-nations/ [accessed 10 Sept 2013] ______. 2011. Convention de parte- nariat entre le Parti Socialiste et le Tavini Malielegaoi, Tuila‘epa Sailele. 2012. Huiraatira no te Ao Maohi–F.L.P. Posted Statement by Honourable Tuila‘epa on Les Nouvelles de Tahiti website: Fatialofa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielagaoi, http://www.lesnouvelles.pf/media Prime Minister of the Independent State of _lesnouvelles/20110128/files/Convention Samoa at the General Debate of the Sixty- %20PS-Tavini.pdf [accessed 15 Sept 2013] Seventh Session of the United Nations General Assembly. New York, 28 Sep- ti, Tahiti Infos. Daily Internet and tember 2012. Posted on UN website: triweekly printed news. Tahiti. http://gadebate.un.org/sites/default/files/ http://www.tahiti-infos.com gastatements/67/WS_en.pdf [accessed 10 Tuheiava, Richard Ariihau. 2013. Sept 2013] Decolonization plan for French Polyne- NT, Les Nouvelles de Tahiti. Daily. Tahiti. sia explained at U.N. Statement by Hon. http://lesnouvelles.pf Richard, Ariihau Tuheiava. “Question of French Polynesia.” Special Committee on pif, Pacific Islands Forum. 2012. Forty- Decolonization United Nations. 21 June. Third Pacific Islands Forum, Rarotonga, Posted on Overseas Territories Review Cook Islands, 28–30 August. Forum blog: http://overseasreview.blogspot Communiqué. http://www.forumsec.org/ .com/2013/06/decolonization-plan-for resources/uploads/attachments/documents/ -french.html [accessed 15 Sept 2013] 2012%20Forum%20Communique,%20 Rarotonga,%20Cook%20Islands%2028 TPM, Tahiti Pacifique Magazine. Monthly. -30%20Aug1.pdf [accessed 5 Sept 2012]. Tahiti. http://www.tahiti-pacifique.com pir, Pacific Islands Report. Daily Internet UN, United Nations. 2013a. Implementa- news. Honolulu. http://pidp.eastwestcenter tion of the Declaration on the Granting .org/pireport of Independence to Colonial Countries 208 the contemporary pacific ‡ 26:1 (2014) and Peoples. Nauru, Solomon Islands and the despoliation and desecration Tuvalu: revised draft resolution; Self-deter- of our lands, sacred places, waters, mination of French Polynesia. UN General and culture and to prevent the New Assembly, sixty-seventh session, agenda Zealand Police from terrorizing us. In item 60. A/67/L.56/Rev.1. http://www the past year, we have found that little .un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol relief is available to us through those =A/67/L.56/Rev.1 [accessed 22 March 2013] channels. Yet in the face of ongoing adversity, we were still able to cel- ______. 2013b. Resolution adopted by HEUDWH0ëRULDFKLHYHPHQWDQGSHUIRU- the General Assembly on 17 May 2013. mance, although we were saddened Self-determination of French Polynesia. by the passing of an internationally UN General Assembly, sixty-seventh session, agenda item 60. A/RES/67/265. UHQRZQHG0ëRULDUWLVWDQGRIDVLWWLQJ http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc 0ëRULPHPEHURI3DUOLDPHQW .asp?symbol=A%2FRES%2F67%2F265 In February 2013, our leading &Submit=Search&Lang=E [accessed contemporary artist, Ralph Hotere, 12 Sept 2013] passed away at the age of eighty-one. ______. 2013c. Official Records. UN +HZDV7H7DR0DXLKDSą JURXSRI General Assembly, sixty-seventh session, H[WHQGHGIDPLOLHV RI7H$XSýXULLZL 82nd plenary meeting, Friday, 17 May JURXSLQJRIKDSą ZLWKVWURQJOLQNV 2013, 10 a.m., New York. A/67/PV.82. to Te Rarawa iwi. He was born near Official Records. http://www.un.org/en/ga/ Mitimiti on the Hokianga harbor. He search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/67/PV.82 had received numerous awards for his [accessed 12 Sept 2013] prolific artworks and for his leader- VKLSDQGVHUYLFHWR0ëRULDUWV5DOSK was shy, retiring, and very humble, and he let his works do their own 0ëRUL,VVXHV talking (Fox 2013, 4; Muru 2013, 26). This has been a year in which ongo- “Ralph’s artworks encapsulated much LQJWHQVLRQVEHWZHHQ0ëRULDQGWKH of the struggle that tangata whenua government have been exacerbated by 0ëRUL ZHUHIDFLQJGXULQJKLVWLPH a number of unhelpful judicial deci- He was an activist; he was a thought sions. Most widely reported were the provoking philosopher; and he was DFWLRQVRI0ëRULJURXSVZKRVRXJKW DQDGYRFDWHIRU0ëRULULJKWV¨ 6KDU- judicial intervention as the govern- ples 2013). Although he lived most of ment intensified its drive to legislate his life in the south in Otago, he was WKHH[WLQJXLVKPHQWRIDOO0ëRULFODLPV taken home to Mitimiti to be buried under the Treaty of Waitangi. Self-con- with his ancestors. gratulatory government propaganda At the end of April, Parekura Horo- belies the increasingly bitter divisions PLD0ëRULPHPEHURI3DUOLDPHQWDQG this process has created between PLQLVWHURI0ëRUL$IIDLUVIURP2000 claimant groups. Many have turned to 2008, passed away at his home in to the courts, the Waitangi Tribunal, Tolaga Bay on the East Coast at the DQGRWKHU3ëNHKë (XURSHDQ MXGLFLDO age of sixty-two. A popular Parlia- bodies, not only to seek justice for PHQWDULDQLQKLVRZQ0ëRULHOHFWRUDWH our treaty claims but also to prevent RI,NDURD5ëZKLWLKHZDVZHOOOLNHG