pol i t ical reviews ‡ polynesia 215

2009). While reviewing their own been stranded for ten days on Manuae alert system, Cook Islanders raised Island when their rundown Gypsy thousands of dollars for the Red Cross Trader broke anchor and disappeared WRDVVLVWWVXQDPLYLFWLPVLQ6ëPRD out to sea (CIN, 17 May 2010). Police $PHULFDQ6ëPRDDQG7RQJD CIN, 7 launched an investigation into the Oct 2009). The Cook Islands also had incident (CIN, 18 May 2010). other national alerts: tropical cyclone Cook Islands Voyaging Society Nisha (CIN, 29 Jan 2010), cyclone Oli members assisted in constructing (CIN, 2 Feb 2010), cyclone Pat (CIN, 8 several sea-voyaging canoes (CIN, Feb 2010, 1), a tropical depression in 28 July 2009). Two months later, February 2010 (CIN, 22 Feb, 23 Feb double-hulled canoes Te Marumaru 2010), and cyclone Sarah (CIN, 27 Feb Atua (Cook Islands), Faafaite (Tahiti, 2010). When cyclone Pat hit Aitutaki, French Polynesia), Uto ni Yalo (Fiji), the island was pounded (CIN, 11 Feb Matau O Maui (Aotearoa), and Hine 2010). Most houses were flattened by Moana PL[HGQDWLRQV6ëPRD7RQJD the winds and damages were estimated and Vanuatu) arrived in Avana (CIN, at NZ$10 million (CIN, 12 Feb 2010). 31 May 2010). A symbolic traditional Reconstruction became a major prior- stone-laying ceremony followed in ity for the government (CIN, 22 Feb honor of the five voyaging canoes 2010), and New Zealand announced that had sailed from New Zealand to a NZ$5.5 million recovery plan for the Rarotonga (CIN, 2 June 2010). island (CIN, 13 Mar 2010). However, jon tikivanotau m jonassen the Aitutaki mayor expressed opposi- tion to Habitat for Humanity New Zealand’s offer to build seventy-two References new homes, saying that the island needs housing that is strong and suits CIN,&RRN,VODQGV1HZV Daily. Rarotonga. the environment (CIN, 17 Mar 2010). Air New Zealand launched a NZ$1.00 fare to Aitutaki for the period 21–29 French Polynesia March to assist in the Aitutaki recov- ery program (CIN, 20 Mar 2010). The frequent making and unmaking of There were two dramatic rescues political alliances by opportunist poli- during 2009–2010. The country’s ticians, resulting in regularly occurring police-managed patrol boat Te ousters of governments since 2004, .XNXSD rescued a Canadian sailor continued during the review period, about 450 km (280 miles) northeast of with one successful motion of no Rarotonga (CIN, 6 Oct 2009). Forty- confidence in late 2009 and another eight-year-old Sylvain Caron and his change of majority in the assembly in fox terrier Eddie had for three days 2010. Yet none of these events repre- hung on to their sinking forty-foot sented anything substantially new. The ketch Inherit the Wind before being ongoing chaotic situation continued to rescued (CIN, 7 Oct 2009). Some six annoy the French government, which months later, four other people were by mid-2010 was planning yet another rescued by 7H.XNXSD after having revision of the territory’s organic law. 216 the contemporary pacific ‡ 23:1 (2011)

Meanwhile, the economic situation is Michel Yonker; and Haddad him- further deteriorating. self. Another former postal director, Before this inevitable round of the Alphonse Teriierooiterai, who had political debacle began, however, pub- been detained earlier, was released in lic attention in Tahiti during the begin- July pending further investigations ning of the review period was turned (TPM, Aug 2009). for a while to the long overdue efforts However, the principal suspect in by the French judiciary to examine the affair, Flosse himself, was initially some of the earlier misdeeds of lead- protected from investigations because ing politicians. Most prominently, of his parliamentary immunity as a the investigation of corruption senator. In late June, the prosecutor’s charges against Senator Gaston office formally demanded the lifting Flosse intensified in the second half of Flosse’s immunity, and on 22 July, of 2009 at a pace never seen before. the Senate granted a partial lift so that (Former President Flosse held office he could be interrogated for a short as the country’s top elected official while in Paris a few days later. Because under various titles 1982–1987; increasing evidence was accumulating, 1991–2004; Nov 2004–Feb 2005; in late August the prosecutor’s office Feb–April 2008.) Among other things, once more demanded the lifting of the Flosse was accused of receiving bribes senator’s immunity (TPM, Aug 2010, amounting to several million euros Sept 2010). from French businessman Hubert The intensification of these judicial Haddad. Because some of the pay- inquiries coincided with the appoint- ments were apparently masked as ment of José Thorel as the new public payments for advertisements in the prosecutor on 31 August. During French Polynesia telephone directory, his first few months in office, Thorel as well as in the onboard magazine of proved that he was much more deter- the territorial airline Air Tahiti Nui, mined to prosecute political corrup- the corruption plot became known as tion cases than his predecessor Jean the “phone book affair.” Bianconi, whom some suspected of In connection with this affair, vari- being a crony of former French Presi- ous government departments, banks, dent Jacques Chirac and there fore offices, residences, and the head- rather inclined to protect Flosse and quarters of Flosse’s party, Tahoeraa his collaborators (TPM, March 2010). Huiraatira (People’s Rally), were Besides the “phone book affair,” searched by the authorities, incrimi- judicial investigations were also nating materials were seized, and c onducted into the activities of the enough evidence was gathered to former presidential intelligence service, arrest several officials and business- staffed with retired French secret ser- men and place them in detention. vice agents, which Flosse had illegally By July 2009, the detained included set up during his presidency in order Geffry Salmon, the former director to carry out surveillance and spying of the territorial post office and Air operations on his political opponents Tahiti Nui; Flosse’s secretary Melba during the 1990s and early 2000s Ortas; Haddad’s business partner (TPM, Sept 2009). pol i t ical reviews ‡ polynesia 217

A third matter, dubbed the “sushi the country’s former strongman was affair,” involved the embezzlement of arrested on 9 November and placed public funds to pay for an exclusive in detention in Tahiti’s Nuutania party hosted in the presidential palace Prison. Flosse’s detention was con- to celebrate the expected election sidered a landmark event because it victory of Tahoeraa in May 2004 (a signified that the justice system was at miscalculation, since the elections last working properly and that even were ultimately won by Flosse’s formerly all-powerful political lead- opponents and marked the end of his ers had to submit to it. After further semi-authoritarian regime). On 24 investigation, Flosse was released on September, for this “affair,” Flosse bail on 25 November but remained received a one-year suspended prison under judicial control (TPM, Dec sentence, a fine of more than one mil- 2009). lion cfp francs (US$10,000), and one By that time, however, current year of ineligibility for public office, to politics had once again caught up with be effective immediately (meaning he investigations of the past. To recall would lose his position as senator, and the existing situation: Oscar Temaru thereby his immunity). However, the had been president of the country senator’s attorneys managed to obtain since February 2009 in a coalition a delay by lodging a second appeal comprising his own pro-independence (TPM, Oct 2009). UPLD; Jean-Christophe Bouissou’s pro- As if three affairs were not enough, French splinter party Rautahi (Unity; Flosse and his party leadership were the name of its caucus is Ia Ora Te also charged with bribing Noa Tetu- Fenua [May the Land Live]); and anui, an assembly member who was initially, as major coalition partner, part of the opposing coalition, Union Flosse’s Tahoeraa. In April, how- pour la Démocratie (upld), which ever, after heavy arguments between had won the 2004 elections. Tetuanui Temaru and Flosse, Tahoeraa left the crossed the floor to join Tahoeraa in government, and Temaru made a new October of the same year, which led to alliance with Gaston Tong Sang’s Flosse retaking the presidency again more pronouncedly pro-French coali- for a few months before by-elections tion, To Tatou Aia (Our Land). definitively ousted him in February Given the difference in ideologies, 2005. While Tetuanui had always it was not surprising that conflicts claimed his switching of allegiance had between Temaru and Tong Sang arose been caused by his disappointment quickly during the following months, with the policies of upld leader Oscar particularly because of Temaru’s fre- Temaru, the investigations uncovered quent statements in favor of indepen- evidence that Tetuanui had received dence, each of which were strongly financial aid from members of Taho- contradicted by Tong Sang (TP, 17 eraa at the time of his floor crossing June 2009). At the same time, a group (DT, 28 Oct 2009; NT, 28 Oct 2009; of opportunistic outer islands repre- TPM, Nov 2009). sentatives gradually shifted their sup- After the French Senate finally port away from Temaru and formed lifted Flosse’s immunity completely, their own assembly caucus, named Te 218 the contemporary pacific ‡ 23:1 (2011)

Mana o te Mau Motu (The Power of Edouard Fritch was appointed vice the Islands), in September (TP, 18 Sept president (TP, 28 Nov 2009). 2009). In mid-October, Clarenntz Ver- The replacement of Temaru with naudon, another politician notorious Tong Sang represented the third for his constant changes of allegiance, change of government in 2009, and formed his own political party with a the fifth since the early election of few fellow opportunists, contributing 2008. Since new parties and caucuses even more to the political instability are often created and dissolved, and (NT, 26 Oct 2009). individual politicians switch parties While Tong Sang still rejected even more frequently, it is increasingly speculation about an overthrow of more difficult to constitute majorities. the Temaru government in October, Shortly after Tong Sang’s election, a by mid-November To Tatou Aia, group of several hundred concerned Tahoeraa, and Te Mana o te Mau citizens demonstrated against the Motu had agreed on the formation political instability and demanded of a new government. On 19 Novem- fresh elections in order to end the ber, a motion of defiance, intended to political chaos (TPM, Dec 2009). replace Temaru with Tong Sang, was Further evidence for, and instances filed in the Assembly of French Poly- of, political opportunism soon nesia. The text of the motion charged appeared. In December, it was Temaru with lacking the skills to lead revealed that Michel Yip (a former the country out of the ongoing eco- ally of Temaru who had voted for nomic crisis and being unable to unify Tong Sang) was granted a concession the divided political forces. UPLD repre- for his pearl farm less than a month sentatives, however, considered Tong after the formation of the new gov- Sang’s move to overthrow a coalition ernment (TPM, Jan 2010). But on 30 government in which he was a partici- November, less than a week after the pant, in order to gain the presidency vote, another reconfiguration had for himself, as nothing but selfish and already taken place; Hiro Tefaarere hypocritical (TP, 19 Nov 2009). and Clarenntz Vernaudon resigned On 24 November, even though from To Tatou Aia’s caucus and Tong Sang had stated before the vote joined UPLD. (Vernaudon subsequently that he was holding a strong majority resigned from upld on 25 January.) of 32 seats, the motion was adopted Meanwhile, Te Mana o te Mau Motu, by only a bare majority of 29 votes after a few months in existence, was of the three caucuses, against the 24 dissolved, with its members rejoining votes of upld and its ally Ia Ora Te other formations (TPM, Jan 2010). Fenua, with 3 abstentions (TP, 24 Nov How absurd the level of political 2009). opportunism had become was demon- Four days later, Tong Sang pre- strated by representative Heifara Izal, sented his new cabinet of thirteen min- who on 3 December switched parties isters, mainly composed of To Tatou twice within a single day, from Taho- Aia and Tahoeraa politicians who had eraa to upld in the morning and back served in previous Flosse and Tong to Tahoeraa in the afternoon. Both Sang governments. Flosse’s son-in-law switches were documented by written pol i t ical reviews ‡ polynesia 219 declarations—a deed possibly worthy any such expenses because he had of mention in the Guinness World always eaten in the presidential palace Records as the quickest political floor cafeteria and had always worn the crossing in history (TP, 3 Dec 2009). same suit. Furthermore, he said, the On 11 December, another group amount of his debt largely exceeded of opportunists formed a new caucus his funds (TPM, Jan 2010). Accord- named Te Natiraa (The Alliance), ing to Flosse, the money illegally presided over by Sandra Levy-Agami received from Hubert Haddad had (TPM, Jan 2010). A few days later, been used to pay child support for his Chantal Galenon resigned from many illegitimate children, not for his Tahoeraa to become an independent. personal enrichment. Supporters of This meant that Tong Sang’s coalition Flosse, including his son-in-law Fritch, had once again lost the majority (TP, therefore denied that his behavior 14 Dec 2009). constituted anything reproachable like While plenty of new material for embezzlement but rather gave Flosse future investigations was being cre- credit for being a responsible parent ated, the investigation and sanction- (TP, 12 Dec 2009). ing of old misdeeds continued. On 1 More financial irregularities and December, former minister Armelle misappropriations of funds were Merceron, an ex-Tahoeraa member revealed to have taken place within with her own adventurous history the territorial television station TNTV of party switching, was sentenced in a report from the Territorial Audit to a fine of 2 million cfp francs Court, released on 23 February (TPM, (US$20,000) for favoritism because March 2010). A few months later, during her ministerial term she had similar irregularities and misdeeds awarded contracts to friends without were reported to have occurred within proper public advertisement. On 2 the Institut Louis Malardé, a public December, Gaston Flosse was once medical research institute in Papeete more detained but was released again (TPM, May 2009). Meanwhile, the on bail before Christmas (TPM, Jan gigantic new territorial hospital in 2010). Taaone (one of the prestige projects While the investigations revealed from Flosse’s presidency, totally ever more details about Flosse’s oversized for a small country) was still corrupt activities, both he and his not in service, and its costs of opera- supporters remained stubbornly tion are estimated to be so high that convinced that none of his deeds con- they risk ruining the entire govern- stituted anything illegal or immoral. ment budget (TPM, Jan 2010). After During one examination, the judge similar instances of mismanagement asked Flosse how he had covered his were revealed concerning the interna- food and clothing expenses, since tional airport at Faa‘a, management of water and electricity bills were all that the airport was taken away from the was ever paid from his official bank country government and returned to account, which was fed by his gener- French state control (TPM, April 2010). ous salaries as president and senator. The juridical examinations con- Flosse responded that he had not had tinued but slowed in the following 220 the contemporary pacific ‡ 23:1 (2011) months. After several convicted leaders in both French Polynesia and politicians, including Flosse, had filed New Caledonia expressed their deep a constitutional lawsuit, on 10 June concern about this statement, since the French Constitutional Council the concept was in clear violation of declared sentences including automatic the French constitution and the UN loss of eligibility to be unconstitutional Charter, both of which include the (TPM, June 2010). In consequence, right of overseas territories to self- the Paris court of appeal confirmed determination (TPM, Feb 2010). Sar- Flosse’s earlier sentence for the “sushi kozy’s controversial anti-independence affair,” but left decisions regarding statement, which had not been heard his ineligibility for public office to be as unambiguously from the French made at another trial by a higher court government for many years, was then (TPM, July 2010). Reflecting on this reiterated by French Deputy Philippe situation, Tahiti-Pacifique Magazine Gosselin (from Sarkozy’s party, Union editor Alex Du Prel expressed suspi- pour un Mouvement Populaire), who cion that certain protective networks visited Tahiti together with Minister from the Chirac-Flosse era were still for Overseas Territories Marie-Luce working behind the scenes (TPM, Penchard in early February (TPM, May 2010). March 2010). The first significant event in the Sarkozy’s apparently chauvinistic New Year was French President and colonialist attitude had raised Nicolas Sarkozy’s speech on principles eyebrows earlier. In September 2009, of French overseas territories policy, the final report of the “Etats Généraux given on Réunion Island in the Indian d’Outre-Mer,” a series of public work- Ocean on 19 January. Concerning shops about the future of all French French Polynesia, the president con- overseas territories, had been pre- sidered it intolerable that the people sented to the president, and the section of the country had to suffer from the from French Polynesia contained the irresponsibility of their politicians and recommendation to create a memorial announced the elaboration of a new for the victims of nuclear testing on electoral system before the end of the the atolls of Moruroa and Fangataufa year. This announcement received a in the Tuamotu archipelago from 1966 rather lukewarm reception in Tahiti, to 1996 (TPM, Nov 2009). Pretending since Sarkozy’s government had to follow these recommendations, Sar- already imposed an electoral system kozy announced in October his inten- reform in 2007 (against the expressed tion to declare the former nuclear test opinion of the French Polynesia sites on Moruroa, as well as the site assembly) and held early elections of the former air force supply base on under that reform in early 2008, with- Hao Atoll, as “places of memory and out improving political stability at all. territorial pride” in order to commem- Another section of Sarkozy’s speech orate French Polynesia’s contribution encountered major criticism; accord- to French national defense—thus ing to the president, independence was twisting the original proposition into an “impassable red line” for French its exact opposite. The local nuclear overseas territories. Pro-independence test victims’ association, Moruroa e pol i t ical reviews ‡ polynesia 221

Tatou (MeT), reacted with outrage close to the testing site that were also to the president’s statement, calling affected by nuclear fallout (TP, 5 Dec it a provocation and a mockery of 2009). On 19 December, a protest the thousands of Polynesians suffer- march against the bill in its current ing from various radiation-induced form, organized in Papeete by MeT, diseases because of the tests (TP, 30 gathered about 2,000 people, includ- Oct 2009). ing upld and Tahoeraa political lead- The issue of health damages caused ers (TP, 19 Dec 2009). However, the by nuclear testing was another topic demonstration was to no avail, as the prevalent during the review period. French Parliament passed the bill into After long debates and much criticism law on 22 December (TPM, Jan 2010). from nuclear veterans’ associations, As the year went along, politi- the bill providing for the compensa- cal struggles once more filled the tion of nuclear test victims introduced headlines. As part of the coalition by Defense Minister Hervé Morin was agreement between To Tatou Aia and passed in the French National Assem- Tahoeraa that had brought Gaston bly on 30 June and on 14 October Tong Sang to power in November, in the Senate (TPM, Aug 2009, Nov Assembly Speaker Philip Schyle (of 2009). The Morin bill is intended to To Tatou Aia), elected in April 2009, provide compensation for former test was to resign after his one-year term site workers who suffer from a num- expired and leave the position to a ber of listed radiation-specific diseases. member of Tahoeraa. In mid-March Hitherto the victims had to prove the 2010, Gaston Flosse announced his connection between their symptoms candidacy for this position, as per the and radiation exposure in individual coalition agreement, and Tong Sang costly and time-consuming lawsuits. indicated acceptance of this. Schyle However, both MeT and the French protested vehemently on the grounds metropolitan nuclear victims’ associa- that Flosse was unacceptable due to tion aven have criticized the bill for the ongoing judicial investigations. In not going far enough. For example, in early April Schyle resigned from the order to be eligible for compensation, To Tatou Aia caucus to become an patients need to prove their employ- independent, thereby causing Tong ment at the testing base, which is Sang to lose his majority (TP, 3 April not always easy since many of them 2010). were hired on a casual basis, without Intensive negotiations between the much documentation. Second, the list different political camps followed, and of diseases recognized as radiation- eventually the three leaders presenting caused in the bill is limited, and many their candidacy for the vote on 9 April symptoms that were suggested by the were Gaston Flosse for Tahoeraa (and victims’ associations are not included. purportedly also for To Tatou Aia, Furthermore, the entire process is according to their agreement); Oscar limited to people who had been physi- Temaru for upld; and, surprisingly, cally present on the testing sites and a Temaru’s former ally Jean-Christophe few defined neighboring islands, but Bouissou (who had been close to Tong it excludes other inhabited islands Sang before joining Temaru’s camp). 222 the contemporary pacific ‡ 23:1 (2011)

In the first two rounds of voting, nents, themselves deeply divided into none of the candidates received a two camps—upld and Tahoeraa. majority, because most To Tatou Aia With no solution to continuing members refused to vote for Flosse political chaos in sight, in addition to and preferred Bouissou instead. In the worldwide financial crisis, it is not the third round, Flosse as the third- surprising that the economy of French rate contestant had to drop out, and Polynesia is in bad shape. In mid- Temaru was elected the new Speaker April, when the renowned American with a majority of 30 votes, against 20 financial rating agency Standard & for Bouissou and 7 abstentions. While Poor’s released its annual credit rating Bouissou’s scores remained constant of all countries and territories, French throughout the voting, Temaru’s tally Polynesia received a rating of bbb-, increased compared to his scores in the second-to-worst possible grade (TP, the first and second rounds, indicat- 22 April 2010). The country was thus ing that several Tahoeraa members ranked on par with many developing had eventually voted for him. In his countries in economic distress, such inaugural speech, Temaru thanked as Bangladesh, Gabon, and Mongolia, Flosse, whom he addressed as “aito” and got even lower ratings than other (hero), for his support; Flosse sarcasti- Pacific nations with economic dif- cally responded that Temaru should ficulties such as Fiji and Papua New rather thank Tong Sang, because the Guinea. Reasons given for the low latter had broken his promise and rating were the negative growth of thereby prevented Flosse from winning French Polynesia’s economy, financial (TP, 9 April 2010). Between the first mismanagement by the local govern- and the second rounds, Tong Sang had ment, and especially the rampant formally asked President Sarkozy to political instability, which makes dissolve the assembly and call for early economic policy unpredictable and elections, but the French president the country therefore unattractive for refused, pending the planned electoral investors (TPM, May 2010). In a move reform yet to be elaborated. that might further aggravate the bad In the ensuing election of the credit ranking, in January President assembly board and committees, upld Tong Sang procured a loan of 4.8 bil- and Tahoeraa divided the leadership lion cfp francs (US$48 million) from positions between themselves, while France, even though French Polynesia To Tatou Aia got none (TP, 14 April is already highly in debt from previ- 2010). Flosse meanwhile announced ous loans that have never been paid that Tahoeraa was no longer part of back (TPM, Feb 2010). In addition, the majority, but that for the time the country has become highly depen- being he would not ally himself with dent on direct financial assistance Temaru in order to overthrow Tong from Paris, as the French government Sang as president (TP, 15 April 2010). spent 239 billion cfp francs (US$2.39 This essentially meant a deadlocked billion) in the territory in 2009 (TP, situation in which Tong Sang was now 5 Aug 2010). In mid-May, President leading a minority government while Tong Sang claimed he had not been the assembly was run by his oppo- informed about the devastating finan- pol i t ical reviews ‡ polynesia 223 cial situation during his earlier terms comparable to that of Latin American in office and thus had been unable to countries (TP, 10 March 2010). The do anything to improve it—a state- reason for this inequality lies in the ment through which he indirectly extreme disparity between the high admitted how dysfunctional the politi- salaries of the public service function- cal apparatus of the government was aries, who receive approximately 180 (TPM, June 2010). percent of their French metropolitan The low ranking by Standard & equivalents, and the minimum wage in Poor’s was not the only alarming the private sector, which is only about economic news. The tourism industry, 60 percent of the French level (TPM, once praised as the motor of French Dec 2008). Polynesia’s economic development, The agricultural sector, a basis for is in massive recession. The overall all successful Pacific Islands econo- number of visitors in 2009 was only mies, has been totally neglected in 163,000, lower than it was twenty French Polynesia. While most locally years ago (TPM, Feb 2010). With consumed food is imported, many most hotels seeing only 35 percent fertile lands, formerly intensively occupancy rates, many of them find cultivated, lie unused and overgrown. themselves only one step away from This seems astonishing, since unlike bankruptcy (TPM, April 2010). During in the two other Polynesian political the past two years, 6,000 Tahitians entities with a comparable rate of food lost their jobs, which for many of imports, Hawai‘i and Rapa Nui, most them meant sinking into total pov- land in French Polynesia is in pos- erty, since many urban working-class session of native families and should families have no access to subsistence thus be easily available for agriculture. agriculture and, unlike metropolitan In an interview during the annual France, French Polynesia has neither agricultural fair in September, Tahitian unemployment insurance nor welfare agriculturalist, scholar, and activist payments (TPM, May 2010). Gabriel Tetiarahi deplored the absence According to a study by the territo- of any significant agricultural policy rial office of statistics and the Agence by the successive territorial govern- Française de Développement (French ments for decades (TP, 13 Sept 2009). Development Agency) conducted in As if all of this was not enough, August 2009, more than one quarter the economic problems were aggra- of the population of French Poly- vated by natural disaster on 4 Febru- nesia were living below the poverty ary, when cyclone Oli devastated the line (defined as having an income Tuhaa Pae (Austral Islands) archipel- corres ponding to the legal minimum ago south of Tahiti. Especially hard hit wage), while at the same time the gap was the principal island Tubuai (TPM, between the rich and the poor was March 2010). increasing at an alarming rate. Accord- Despite all the internal troubles, ing to the study, income distribution foreign affairs remained an important in French Polynesia is much more field of political action. During the unequal than in metropolitan France; annual Pacific Islands Forum meeting the distribution pattern is rather in Cairns, Australia, in August 2009, 224 the contemporary pacific ‡ 23:1 (2011) then President Temaru demanded a trasts markedly with New Caledonia, Tahiti embassy in Australia as well as where no one in the political spectrum full Forum membership. Both of these objects to the territory’s decoloniza- efforts were in vain (pir, 5 Aug 2009, tion, even though the pro-French par- 12 Aug 2009). ties there want the process of decolo- More dramatic was Temaru’s nization to result in a status other attempt to attend the United Nations than independence, which is only one Decolonisation Seminar, held in May of several options under international 2009 in Noumea, New Caledonia. law (Regnault 2010). Heading a UPLD delegation including In this context of lacking decolo- his lieutenant, Vito Maamaatuaia- nization with international oversight, hutapu; Senator Richard Tuheiava; one of the most burning issues is the and Representative Hiro Tefaarere currently uncontrolled immigration of (a turncoat politician who, originally French settlers. The need for a sepa- radically pro-independence, had been rate body politic for French Polynesia, part of Tong Sang’s party for some as was created for New Caledonia in time before recently rejoining upld), the 1998 Noumea Accord, became Temaru attempted to enter the pro- clear once again when the French ceedings of the seminar, to which he State Council (France’s highest court) had been invited by Kanak leaders. declared unconstitutional a local law His delegation was denied entry and enacted by the Assembly of French physically removed from the scene Polynesia that reserved 95 percent by French police forces, apparently of jobs in territorial administration because French Polynesia is not on the to persons resident for five years or UN list of non-self-governing territo- more, because it infringed on equality ries, and thus its representatives were clauses in the French constitution (TP, precluded from participating (TPM, 26 Nov 2009). June 2010). With an ongoing economic crisis, The incident once more resulted in increasingly corrupted and meaning- intensive polemics between pro- and less politics, as well as frustration anti-independence leaders in Tahiti. over the lack of progress toward The absence of French Polynesia decolonization through the as yet from that UN list (it was unilater- unsuccessful initiatives of the upld ally removed by France in 1947) leadership, it is not surprising that represents a great anomaly, since more radical activists are turning away virtually all other dependent territo- from the political system entirely and ries in the Pacific are listed. Temaru creating their own institutions and had demanded reinscription at every governments. One of these activ- Pacific Islands Forum meeting he ists, heir of the Tahitian royal family attended during his presidencies, Teriihinoiatua Joinville Pomare, had gaining some, but not yet sufficient, to postpone his planned installation as international support (Corbin 2009). king in September due to protests by Each time, his initiatives provoked his opponents (TP, 9 Sept 2009). But polemic and irrational critiques from his organization, Te Huiarii Mata- his adversaries at home. This con- ara e Pae (The Five Watchful Eyes of pol i t ical reviews ‡ polynesia 225

Royalty, also known as the Royal/ an annual cultural event and was cel- Indigenous Customary Council), con- ebrated this year in Papeari on Tahiti’s tinued land occupations (TP, 10 May south shore (TP, 27 Nov 2009). In 2010), and strongly denounced party mid-May, five traditional Polynesian politics in an open letter to President sailing canoes, from Aotearoa (New Sarkozy complaining about corrup- =HDODQG WKH&RRN,VODQGV6ëPRD tion among the established politicians Fiji, and Tahiti, met off Raivavae in (TP, 7 Dec 2009). In addition to three the Austral Islands and continued their more obscure self-proclaimed royalist voyage through the country, gathering governments established a few years in Moorea, Tahiti, and finally Raiatea before (led by claimants Tauatomo for extensive ceremonies and cultural Mairau, Bruno Tapunui Fuller, and protocol (TPM, June 2010). Keatuaura Kemataru, respectively), The big cultural event of the year three others were created during the 2010, however, was to be the sailing review period: the highly controversial of an outrigger canoe from Tahiti to Hau Pakumotu (Government of the China, traversing more than 10,000 Island Clouds), led by Beky Teamo; kilometers of ocean through various the Nation Autochtone Maohi (Indige- countries of Polynesia, Melanesia, nous Maohi Nation), presided over by Southeast Asia, and East Asia. The Faahei a Tapu (TPM, April 2010); and voyage, intended to reversely duplicate the État Indépendent du Royaume de the historic migration route of the Tahiti et ses dépendances (Independent Austronesian peoples from southern State of the Tahitian Kingdom and its China through Taiwan and Southeast Dependencies), led by Michel Teha- Asia into the insular Pacific, was to ruru and other chiefly descendants end in Shanghai during the 2010 Expo (M Teharuru, pers comm, May 2010). and attract attention to the stand All of these organizations (the list of of French Polynesia and the Pacific which might not be exhaustive here) Islands pavilion. The project was argue, if not for immediate restoration initiated as a collaboration between of independent precolonial kingdoms Tahitian scientist and journalist Hiria in the area, then for recognition of Ottino and cultural activist Clément customary law and customary politi- Pito, who had started building the cal representation, as they have been canoe several years ago. While Pito recognized by France for more than a continued the construction of the century in both New Caledonia and vessel and contributed his cultural Wallis and Futuna. knowledge, Ottino, who had lived in Less explicitly political traditional China for several years, was able to cultural activities also continued to establish the necessary international play an important role during the contacts and procure funding from review period. The annual celebra- local philanthropists (TPM, Dec 2009). tion of Matarii I Nia (Rising of the However, after the canoe had been Pleiades) in late November, introduced completed, and was named Upoo in 2005 by an earlier Temaru govern- Tahiti (Head of Tahiti) and blessed in ment as a possible future national a traditional ceremony in mid-April, holiday, is now firmly established as the two partners had a falling-out and 226 the contemporary pacific ‡ 23:1 (2011)

Ottino subsequently left the project. 2009); US-born journalist Al Prince, Gaining the support of Assembly editor of the territory’s only English- Speaker Oscar Temaru, Ottino built language publication in the 1990s, the his own canoe in record time and Tahiti Beach Press, passed away at named it O Tahiti Nui Freedom, in 67 on 9 April (TP, 9 April 2010); and tune with Temaru’s political message. French mathematics professor Jacques Both canoes were ready to go by June, Borzeix, who was instrumental in the turning the cultural project into a race 1987 founding of the Tahiti branch to reach Shanghai before the closing of of French University of the Pacific the Expo (TPM, May 2010, July 2010). (which later became the separate A more serious controversy devel- University of French Polynesia in oped over another kind of vessel, the 1999) died in June in Noumea at age giant rapid ferry ship King Tamatoa, 67 (TPM, July 2010). which was brought to the country by The review period ended with yet international shipowner Bill Ravel another display of local politics, when and started service between Tahiti and on 10–14 June, French Polynesia’s the Leeward Islands in March 2010, public servants attempted to hold a intending to revolutionize interisland general strike to protest against the communications. While many people gradual cutting back of the bonuses appreciated the service offered, others on top of their pensions. The strike were concerned about the economic blocked the international airport impact and sustainability of operat- for four days, leaving thousands ing the huge ship, which was clearly of tourists stuck, which once more oversized for operating between small worsened the image of the country islands like those of French Polynesia as a destination and thus contributed (TPM, April 2010). Tong Sang’s gov- to the decreasing number of tourists ernment refused to exempt the ferry (TPM, July 2010). In the end, the strike from taxation, and since the business achieved nothing substantial, similar was not profitable, Ravel announced to many previous “general strikes” led that the ship would suspend service by union leaders well connected with unless it was granted tax-exempt the political class and not seriously status (TP, 7 June 2010). Since the interested in solving the country’s government would not give in to these economic problems. demands, the ferry eventually faced lorenz gonschor bankruptcy and in early July ceased operations and left the country (TP, 5 July 2010). References One of the few positive items in Corbin, Carlyle. 2009. Caribbean Self this review period might be that fewer Determination in the 21st Century. prominent people passed away than Address to a conference of Pueblo Sober- during the previous review period. ano of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, 27 Tahitian economist Emile Vanfasse, November. Published online in the Over- former minister of finance in the seas Territories Report 8 (4): 1–10. first Temaru government, died on http://www.normangirvan.info/wp-content/ 22 November at age 69 (TPM, Dec uploads/2009/12/corbin-caribbean-self pol i t ical reviews ‡ polynesia 227

-determination.pdf [accessed 10 September maker, Merata Mita, who produced 2010] a number of outstanding television

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