168 the contemporary pacific • 22:1 (2010)

2009). A woman who gave birth to and high-profile regional-hosting com- the prime minister’s grandson issued mitments disguising the reality of an a complaint when she had to pay a overburdening political structure. hospital fee of nz$1,000 (the rate for Several prominent deaths during tourists and contract workers) instead the year received national attention. of nz$26 (the fee for locals and per- The funeral of Sir Pupuke Robati, manent residents) (CIN, 29 Aug 2008). former prime minister and longtime Deputy Prime Minister Maoate, in his member of Parliament for the island of role as minister of health, promised to Rakahanga, was held on 1 May 2009 look at the issue more closely (CIN, 30 (CIN, 27 April, 1 May 2009). Lawyer Aug 2008). Albert Numanga, former John McFadzien, who served as Cook manager of the Cook Islands Tourism Islands solicitor general from 1983 office in Auckland, faced four charges to 1995, died 13 May 2009 (CIN, 14 of defrauding the Cook Islands gov- May 2009, 1). Sir Tangaroa Tangaroa, ernment of a total of nz$1 million. former queen’s representative and Numanga spent over ten years work- member of Parliament for Tongareva, ing in the Cook Islands tourism sector. was given a state funeral service on Numanga’s former boss, Chris Wong, 29 May 2009 (CIN, 29 May 2009). also faced charges of misusing govern- Professor Ron Crocombe passed away ment funds, including using thousands on 18 June 2009 (CIN, 19 June 2009), of dollars for gambling in the Auck- and the nation paid a special tribute to land Sky casino (CIN, 11 Feb 2009). the great scholar (CIN, “Salute to Papa Members of the Public Expenditure Ron,” 26 June 2009). Review Committee resigned as of 1 The year ended, as it began, with October 2008 because of a perceived public uncertainty in the current lack of support from the govern- administration. The government ment. Deputy Prime Minister Maoate received criticism when it announced declared that the committee was still a new policy of limiting heads of min- needed, despite the fact that much of istries to three terms (CIN, 23 June, 19 its workload had been taken over by June 2009). the audit department (CIN, 26 Sept jon tikivanotau m jonassen 2008). The government’s audit office revealed that over a million dollars of fundraising activity was going on References in public schools, restating the gov- ernment’s concern that there was too CIN, Cook Islands News. Daily. Rarotonga. much fundraising (CIN, 16 July 2008). Such reliance on private initiatives for funding underlines the conflict- ing priorities that continue between French Polynesia politicians, businesses, traditional The chronic political instability that leaders, and citizens. Overall, in the has been plaguing the country since rapidly changing social environment, 2004 continued, with no fewer than the country continued to spiral into an three different governments during the uncertain future, with depopulation period under review. The surprising pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 169 alliance between the two former arch- government had frequently changed enemies Oscar Temaru and Gaston from one of respect and reconciliation Flosse broke apart almost as quickly to one of interference, confrontation, as it had come to be. With short-term and colonial arrogance. coalitions now possible between each In mid-July, new French Secretary and every political party, political for Overseas Territories Yves Jego ideologies seem to be increasingly visited the country and urged the irrelevant, less and less masking the local government to be more account- opportunist ambitions of politicians able. While promising that the annual for power and money. amount of subsidies from Paris for the Many important people passed country government would remain away during the year under review. stable for 2009, he announced that the On 16 August 2008, former Arch- gigantic new hospital under construc- bishop Michel Coppenrath, the first tion in Taaone (begun under Flosse in Tahitian Catholic priest, died at age the early 2000s) will not receive any 84 (TPM, Sept 2008), followed on 4 French funding for its operation. A November by his elder brother Gerald week later, High Commissioner Colrat Coppenrath, an attorney, legal scholar, announced the gradual closing down and politician who had served as of the remaining French army and air French Polynesia’s senator from 1958 force bases during the next few years to 1962 (TPM, Dec 2008). On 4 Janu- (TPM, Aug 2008). ary, entrepreneur and master navigator While these announcements gave Francis Cowan, one of the pioneers of rise to speculations about France’s the revival of traditional navigation decreasing commitment to the country, in Oceania, passed away at age 82 local politics entered another round (TP, 5 Jan 2009). Alexandre Léon- with the upcoming French Senate elec- tieff, economist and former president tions of 21 September. On 10 July, a (1987–1991), and recently appointed common ticket was agreed to by the chairman of the Social Contingency parties of the two historic pro-French Fund (the territorial health insurance), and pro-independence leaders Gaston passed away on 2 March at age 61 Flosse and Oscar Temaru—Tahoeraa after a dazzling political career. On Huiraatira (People’s Rally) and Tavini 13 March, veteran politician Tino- Huiraatira (People’s Servant)/Union mana “Milou” Ebb, former mayor of pour la Democratie (upld)—which Mataiea and president of the assembly were already forming a common from 1994 to 1996, died at age 75 caucus in the assembly under the name (TPM, April 2009). of Union pour le Développement, la The review period began with the Stabilité, et la Paix (udsp) (TPM, Aug arrival of the new French high com- 2008). The two former archenemies missioner, Adolphe Colrat, on 5 July, had reconciled in July 2007 and taking the place of Anne Boquet as the entered into a coalition in order to representative of the French govern- fight Gaston Tong Sang, leader of To ment (TPM, Aug 2008). Boquet’s term Tatou Aia (Our Homeland) coalition had been fraught with controversy, and president of the country since since her attitude toward the local April 2008, whom they both criti- 170 the contemporary pacific • 22:1 (2010) cized as being too pro-French. Since The election clearly showed that, Temaru, then Speaker of the assembly, despite massive efforts by the French was not interested in a senate seat, government in support of Tong Sang, attorney Richard Tuheiava was nomi- Temaru and Flosse jointly still rep- nated by Temaru’s party as the second resented the majority. Even though candidate on the common list with Flosse had previously lost most of Flosse (TP, 8 Aug 2008). his ideologically pro-French voters to Since 1999, Flosse had been the Tong Sang, the majority of Tahoeraa country’s only representative in the party officials, particularly mayors French Senate on a nine-year term, in and councilors of rural municipali- addition to his various local offices. ties, were still loyal to their old leader. In a reapportionment of seats, French In Flosse’s case, the strategy of the Polynesia had received a second seat in new generation of French Gaullists the senate due to its increased popu- under President Nicolas Sarkozy to lation for the 2008 elections, while neutralize controversial figures of ex- the term of office for senators was President Jacques Chirac’s old guard reduced to six years. French sena- clearly failed. “Sarkozy succeeded in tors are elected by the so-called grand bringing down Jacques Lafleur and electors (ie, deputies of the National Lucette Michaux-Chevry, but Flosse Assembly, members of regional is his toughest nut to crack,” com- assemblies, and delegates of munici- mented a local observer, referring to pal councils). The electoral campaign parallel figures in New Caledonia was therefore mainly limited to the and Guadeloupe who were recently municipal councilors of the forty-eight removed from all positions of power municipalities of French Polynesia, (Tahiti resident, pers comm, 22 Dec who make up a large majority of the 2008). country’s 697 grand electors. Besides As Flosse was 77 at the time of the Flosse-Tuheiava ticket, President his reelection but Tuheiava only 34, Tong Sang ran as the official candi- French Polynesia’s delegation now date of the French ruling party Union includes not only the oldest but also pour un Mouvement Populaire (ump) the youngest of all 346 French sena- on a ticket with Pirae Mayor Béatrice tors. Not only did the French Gaul- Coppenrath-Vernaudon (TP, 12 Sept list ump party no longer support 2008). Flosse, but it also openly opposed Since the majority of the municipal him; therefore, he refused to rejoin its councils were ruled by either Temaru’s caucus and now sits in the ranks of the Tavini or Flosse’s Tahoeraa parties, few independent senators. Tuheiava, Flosse and Tuheiava won with 372 on the other hand, joined the caucus and 361 votes, respectively. Compet- of the French Socialist party, follow- ing candidates Tong Sang and Cop- ing a partnership agreement between penrath-Vernaudon received only 318 the Socialists and Temaru’s Tavini and 308 votes each. Five other tickets Huiraatira party. As the first openly of splinter parties received only a few pro-independence parliamentarian to or no votes at all (TP, 21 Sept 2008; represent the country in Paris, Tuhe- TPM, Oct 2008). iava promised to raise the issue of pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 171 independence in the French Senate. gradually cancelled by 2015 (TPM, The first initiatives he began work- Dec 2008). ing on were the revision of the still The reform plans provoked vocal legally valid political trial of historic protests by civil servants unions, sup- Tahitian leader Pouvanaa a Oopa ported by local opposition politicians. (sentenced to a long prison term and Senator Flosse accused France of banishment in France on trumped-up preparing its withdrawal from the ter- charges in 1959), as well as the clas- ritory and breaking previously given sification of the historic temple Marae promises. Jégo, on the other hand, Taputapuatea on Raiatea island as a defended his reform plan as a measure unesco world heritage site (TP, 11 of social justice. The pensioners, he and 19 Oct 2008). argued, were a privileged class who During the months following the could handle cuts in their income very senate election, a great controversy well, compared to the majority of the arose about the adjustment of pen- population who work in the private sions, leading to mass protests. Pres- sector, where they have to survive ently, all retired French civil servants on low wages and receive only mini- resident in French Polynesia (regard- mal social services (TPM, Dec 2008). less of where they worked before) Despite a huge protest march of about receive a so-called indexation of 75 5,000 public servants on 9 October, percent on top of their pensions. Con- another one of 1,000 on 27 October, sidering the absence of an income tax and a roadblock in downtown Papeete in French Polynesia, this essentially by 2,000 protestors on 12 November, represents a doubling of the pension the French Senate passed the pension amount they would receive if residing reform law on 18 November (TPM, in metropolitan France. This is one of Dec 2008). the major reasons for French pension- While the bureaucratic elite unsuc- ers to move into the country, thus cessfully fought to preserve their increasing the French settler popula- privileges, the economic situation of tion but at the same time contributing the country continued to deteriorate. to the local economy through their The visitor count of 182,556 in 2008 massive spending. The indexation has represented another record low, 9.2 long been controversial. During a visit percent below the year before, bring- to Tahiti in July 2008, French Secre- ing the number of tourists down to the tary for Overseas Territories Yves Jégo level of twenty years ago. Considering announced that pensions for retired the 2008 world financial crisis, these civil servants whose work was not figures are likely to drop even more related to an overseas territory would in 2009. The economic crisis touched no longer be indexed (TPM, Aug 2008). other sectors as well, with notably During another visit to the country the pearl industry and agriculture in mid-October, Jégo announced in recession. In 2008, the country a detailed reform plan, according imported 35 billion cfp francs (about to which all existing indexations us$350 million) worth of agricultural will remain in place for life, but the products, accounting for 90 percent of indexation of new pensions will be the locally consumed food (TPM, Nov 172 the contemporary pacific • 22:1 (2010)

2008, Jan 2009). On 11 June 2009, promises concerning the 2009 budget the Ministry of Finance announced (TP, 8 Dec 2008). Without a major- that tax income for the country gov- ity, the government could not pass the ernment would be 30 percent less than budget and was deadlocked. that of the preceding year (TPM, July During the following two months, 2009). Tong Sang met several times with With the country’s economy in opposition leaders Temaru and Flosse serious recession, poverty is an ever- in order to find a way out of the increasing problem. According to a political crisis, but the negotiations census taken by a French researcher, failed each time to bring about sub- there are now 321 houseless persons stantial agreement (DT, 26 Dec 2008). in the city of Papeete alone. The cen- In late January, Tong Sang was able to sus did not cover the adjacent subur- convince Lévy-Agami to vote in favor ban municipalities, so actual figures of the 2009 budget so that it could are probably much higher (TPM, May finally be passed (TP, 27 Jan 2009), 2009). but this was only a temporary move, While the economy kept declin- and she refused to rejoin the ranks of ing, the political instability went into To Tatou Aia in the assembly, leaving another round. On 26 September, a the government without a majority. few days after the senate elections, Multiple negotiations between internal divisions within the gov- assembly members followed until ernment became apparent, as Jean- 31 January, when Temaru, Flosse, Christophe Bouissou—the leader of and Bouissou announced that they Rautahi (“Unity”), the second largest had formed a new governing coali- constituent party within the To Tatou tion. Bouissou stated that Tong Sang Aia coalition, and chairman of the To had failed to pull the country out of Tatou Aia caucus in the assembly— the crisis and had contributed to the publicly criticized the government division of the political landscape for being unstable and advocated an instead of working for unity. Bouis- alliance with the opposition parties in sou supported Temaru’s candidacy order to create a more stable majority, for president, calling Temaru the as To Tatou Aia at that time held only political leader with the greatest a one-seat majority over the combined charisma of all, who solely would be opposition of upld and Tahoeraa (TP, able to overcome the political divi- 28 Sept 2008). Throughout the latter sion of the country (TP, 31 Jan 2009). part of the year, the relations between This sudden change of discourse by Tong Sang and Bouissou deteriorated, Bouissou surprised many observers, as did those with other members of since Bouissou had always identified the governing coalition. On 8 Decem- himself as favorable to France and had ber, To Tatou Aia lost its majority, as denounced Temaru as a divisive, anti- one of its assembly members, Sandra French extremist until a few months Lévy-Agami, resigned from the coali- before. tion to become an independent. The Flosse, on the other hand, was reason given for her resignation was slightly angry at Temaru, whom he Tong Sang’s not respecting electoral accused of violating the 2008 part- pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 173 nership agreement between the two dissidents from To Tatou Aia); while parties, which promised Tahoeraa the Lévy-Agami received her own vote. presidency while upld would hold the For the second round, Lévy-Agami position of Speaker. Consequently, the and Fritch withdrew their candidacies Tahoeraa assembly members dissolved (they had already made very concilia- their common caucus with upld, tory speeches in the first round), and but still agreed to vote for Temaru. Temaru was elected the new president Flosse said he and his party had no with 37 votes (including the 12 votes other choice, since they all wanted to of Tahoeraa and the 1 of Lévy-Agami). remove Tong Sang from office, but the One day later, the same majority new organic law of 2007 no longer elected Edouard Fritch to the posi- allowed motions of no confidence but tion of speaker to take Temaru’s place only so-called motions of defiance, (TP, 11 and 12 Feb 2009). which include the automatic election After long negotiations among the of a new president (TP, 2 Feb 2009). three parties of the new coalition, On 4 February, upld, Tahoeraa, Temaru presented his new cabinet and Rautahi introduced a motion on 16 February, mainly comprising of defiance against Tong Sang with former ministers from previous gov- Temaru as their candidate. How- ernments. Temaru originally wanted ever, Tong Sang circumvented this by to nominate Bouissou to be his vice declaring his resignation on 7 Febru- president, but Flosse refused to accept ary, thereby enabling the election of this. Finally, the coalition agreed on a new president in several rounds upld member Tony Geros, who had with multiple candidates (TPM, March been vice president during Temaru’s 2009). Apparently, this move was an previous presidency from September attempt to gain time and to divide the 2007 to February 2008. The cabinet new majority. consisted of 15 ministers, 7 of whom For the presidential election on 11 were part of upld, 5 of Tahoeraa, and February, Edouard Fritch (Flosse’s 3 of Ia Ora Te Fenua. Flosse himself son-in-law) and Sandra Lévy-Agami did not want any position in the new declared their candidacies as well, in government (TP, 16 Feb 2009). addition to Temaru and Tong Sang. With 37 of 57 seats in the assembly, Previously, Bouissou had formed a the new government held the strongest new caucus in the assembly named Ia majority since 2004. For a short while, Ora Te Fenua (Let The Land Live), hope was rising that the chronic insta- into which several other members bility was finally being overcome. deserted from To Tatou Aia, further Meanwhile, the courts continued weakening Tong Sang’s position. In their inquiries into past wrongdo- the first round, Temaru received 24 ings of leading politicians, who had votes as expected (the 18 assembly previously been virtually immune from members of upld, as well as 6 of Ia justice for decades. On 3 December, Ora Te Fenua); Tong Sang received 20 for his illegal use of public land for a (the remaining members of To Tatou private party house, Mahina Mayor Aia); Fritch gathered 12 votes (those Emile Vernaudon was sentenced to of his own caucus, including some a suspended one-year jail sentence, 174 the contemporary pacific • 22:1 (2010) a fine of 3 million cfp francs (about conference on 21 January. Since the us$30,000), and one year of ineli- authenticity of the document has so gibility for public office (TPM, Jan far not been established, Flosse and 2009). Subsequently, on 22 January, his attorneys claimed it to be a forgery Vernaudon was removed from the produced by his political opponents mayoralty of Mahina, a post he had in order to damage his career. His held since 1978 (TPM, Feb 2009). On theory failed to explain, however, how 5 January, Leonard Puputauki, the the document ended up in the drawer former commander of the presidential of his desk, where the police found it security and aid agency gip under (TPM, Jan–Feb 2009). While the inves- Flosse’s presidency before 2004, was tigations concerning the Couraud case sentenced to a three-year prison term continued, local journalist Alex Du and a fine of 5 million cfp francs Prel was sentenced by a Paris court to (about us$50,000) for his responsibil- a fine of €1,000 (about us$1,400) for ity in the death of several sailors on slander, because he had in an earlier the gip ship Tahiti Nui, which had article accused the local judiciary of been wrecked on a reef in September inaction in the case (TPM, July 2009). 2003 (TPM, Feb 2009). The Couraud case was not the Another affair possibly involv- only one possibly implicating Sena- ing the gip, the unresolved death of tor Flosse. In another affair involving French journalist Jean-Pascal Couraud corruption, the former director of in 1997, made its way into the head- the Postal and Telecommunications lines once more in January 2009. Office, Alphonse Teriierooiterai, and Couraud, who had been working on a French businessman Michel Yonker story about a corruption affair poten- were arrested and placed in detention tially involving Flosse and then French on 24 April (TPM, May 2009). A few President Jacques Chirac, disappeared months later, on 12 June, French mil- in December 1997, and his body has lionaire businessman Hubert Haddad, never been found. Initially treated as a a close friend of Gaston Flosse, was suicide, the case was reopened in 2004 arrested during a visit to Tahiti and when Vetea Guilloux, a former gip jailed as well (TPM, July 2009). member, gave controversial testimony It was coalition politics, however, in which he claimed that his col- that filled the headlines again, as the leagues, under orders from their supe- allegedly stable governing coalition of riors, had kidnapped, tortured, and upld, Tahoeraa, and Rautahi broke killed Couraud on a ship and dumped apart after barely two months of exis- his body into the sea. During a search tence. The new political crisis began in of Flosse’s house in Pirae in September mid-March, when President Temaru 2008, police found a written state- returned from a working trip to Paris. ment by Vetea Cadousteau, another While Temaru and his ministers pre- former gip agent who had died under sented their negotiations with French unclear circumstances in 2004, which government officials as successful, confirms Guilloux’s testimony. The Flosse claimed the trip was redundant presentation of this document to the and that it had brought no substantial public on 29 December (NT, 30 Dec results (TP, 8 and 16 March 2009). 2008) caused Flosse to give a press In the following weeks, Flosse made pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 175 similar comments, criticizing the coalition partners was not uncontested government’s lack of action facing the within Temaru’s own ranks. Several ongoing economic crisis (TP, 27 March leading members of upld voiced their 2009). While divisions within the gov- concern and declared their opposition erning coalition thus became increas- to Tong Sang, whom they, like Flosse, ingly obvious, opposition assembly accused of being a French puppet. members under their leader Tong Sang Two upld members thus voted for behaved suspiciously uncritical toward Fritch, and two more abstained (TP, Temaru. On 31 March, Tong Sang 9 April 2009). publicly declared to be ready to work During the following days, Temaru together with the president. tried hard to form a unitary govern- Temaru at first attempted to ignore ment that included all parties. Unsur- Tong Sang’s declaration and down- prisingly, however, Flosse refused to played Flosse’s critical comments, participate and insisted on remain- but in early April, he began to make ing in the opposition. On 17 April, serious efforts to hold his coalition Temaru presented his new cabinet; together. Since the annual reelection of besides the incumbent 7 upld minis- the assembly Speaker was coming up, ters and 2 of the 3 incumbents of Bou- Temaru gave Flosse an ultimatum to issou’s Ia Ora Te Fenua, it included 5 stop his comments and submit himself new ministers of To Tatou Aia, most to the majority, or resign from his of them ministers in Tong Sang’s pre- mandate as an assembly member; oth- vious cabinets (TPM, May 2009). erwise, upld would not reelect Fritch Two Tahoeraa incumbents, Teva as assembly Speaker (TPM, May 2009). Rohfritsch and Fréderic Riveta, At the same time, the president started refused to follow the directions of negotiating with Tong Sang about the their party and retained their minis- possible formation of a unitary gov- tries. This act of defiance led to the ernment including To Tatou Aia. suspension of their party member- Flosse reacted to these moves with ship by order of a special Tahoeraa outrage and called a special board board meeting on 20 April. This time, meeting of his Tahoeraa party on 7 however, the authoritarian handling April, at which they decided to leave of their case backfired on Flosse, as Temaru’s government and join the one of his closest followers, Bruno opposition. At the same time, Flosse Sandras, the mayor of Papara and one heavily criticized Tong Sang, whom of the country’s two deputies in the he accused of undermining the Flosse- French National Assembly, resigned Temaru coalition by order of the his party membership in protest and French government (TP, 7 April 2009). solidarity with Rohfritsch and Riveta Temaru nevertheless went ahead in (TP, 20 April 2009). On 24 April, even his negotiations with Tong Sang, and Flosse’s hitherto most loyal lieutenant, they agreed on the formation of a new Edouard Fritch, asked his father-in- majority. On 9 April, Philip Schyle law Flosse to retire from politics in of To Tatou Aia was elected the new order to let the party modernize itself Speaker with an overwhelming major- and become less authoritarian (TP, 24 ity of forty votes, against only fourteen April 2009). for Fritch. However, this change of This most recent episode in the 176 the contemporary pacific • 22:1 (2010) political drama of French Polynesia e Tatou (MeT, in French Polynesia) was quite significant, as it showed had mixed reactions to the bill. While how irrelevant political ideologies aven generally approved of the initia- have become, since by now, all politi- tive, the organization questioned cal parties have at one time been in whether the bill would really help a coalition with one another, even all the victims, since according to its if their purported ideologies are as estimates, only a few hundred among different as French Gaullist–affiliated the thousands of nuclear-test veterans (To Tatou Aia) and pro-independence would qualify for compensation. MeT Tahitian nationalist (upld) (TPM, May was even more critical. Its chairman, 2009). Since opportunism might soon Roland Oldham, lauded the French become the only measurement of poli- government’s finally acknowledging ticians’ maneuvering, it seems unlikely health damage due to radiation, but he that a recipe to create political stabil- expressed his doubts about its hav- ity will emerge anytime soon. ing a serious commitment to helping Another unresolved issue that the victims. Nuclear-testing expert entered the headlines concerned the Bruno Barillot, a collaborator of MeT, consequences of French nuclear test- mentioned that the amount of money ing, which had taken place between provided for compensation in the bill, 1966 and 1996, on the health of the divided by the number of potential country’s inhabitants. On 23 March, victims, was far less than the amounts French Minister of Defense Hervé of compensation received by test Morin announced the introduction victims who had recently won indi- of a bill to grant compensation to all vidual lawsuits. Barillot furthermore former test-site workers suffering from expressed doubt that the compensa- a number of specific radiation-caused tion commission could act indepen- diseases. This would represent a great dently if it was operating under the step forward, as until a few years ago Ministry of Defense, which, he said, the French government denied that would be “as if one asks a torturer to any health damage had been caused compensate his victims” (TPM, April by its tests. In the few lawsuits that 2009). In a communiqué of 5 April, had been won by test victims in the MeT denounced the bill as “disgrace- last few years, the burden of proof ful” and “fraudulent” because of its of suffering from a radiation-caused lack of transparency, and asked the disease was on the plaintiff. The draft government of French Polynesia to bill stated that all former test-site employ all means to achieve a substan- workers would have a claim to receive tial revision before the bill’s introduc- compensation if they suffered from tion into the French Parliament (TP, one of the diseases defined in the bill. 5 April 2009). After meeting with the For the verification of each case, a leaders of MeT, President Temaru’s commission of physicians and lawyers cabinet council unanimously rejected would be created within the Ministry the bill (TP, 29 April 2009). of Defense. At the same time, on 27 April, the The nuclear test victims associa- litigation of a historic case began in tions aven (in France) and Moruroa the Papeete court, in which eight mem- pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 177 bers of MeT had sued the territorial before their departure to the other health insurance cep as well as their world, making it one of the most former employer, the French Nuclear important sacred places of the entire Energy Commission, because the two island. Similar beliefs are held all over institutions refused to recognize their Polynesia. For example, Fatuosofia radiation-related health problems Point on Upolu (Sāmoa), Ka‘ena Point as occupational diseases. While the on O‘ahu (Hawai‘i), or Cape Reinga plaintiffs’ attorneys were optimistic on the North Island (Aotearoa / New about their chances to win, President Zealand) have a comparable function. Temaru was rather skeptical, stating Whereas these places are protected as that only an international court would natural parks or historic sites, the land have the necessary neutrality to make of Tataa Point was recently bought a fair decision (TPM, May 2009). The by a hotel company, which has been litigation took several months until operating a luxury hotel in immediate the decision was made on 25 June. proximity to the sacred place for many Only one of the plaintiffs won, with years and is now planning to extend the French Nuclear Energy Commis- the hotel complex onto the Tataa sion sentenced to pay him compensa- property. In the course of a general tion, whereas the lawsuits of the seven renaissance of traditional Polynesian other plaintiffs were dismissed (TPM, religion, an association was formed July 09). the previous year in order to protect The Morin bill was further dis- the sacred site. The participants of the cussed, and the Assembly of French ceremony reiterated their demands Polynesia, when asked for advice, and asked the government to declare gave a “reserved” (ie, neither for nor Tataa Point a protected site immedi- against) opinion on 14 May (TPM, ately in order to prevent its desecra- June 2009). A Tahitian delegation tion and stop the construction plans met with Minister Morin in mid-June (TP, 21 March 2009). to urge improvements (TPM, July While this and many similar initia- 2009), but on 25 June, the Morin bill tives to protect and perpetuate the was adopted by the French National country’s cultural heritage are con- Assembly without major modifications tinuing, the related issue of custom- (TP, 25 June 2009). ary leadership came up again in late Meanwhile, an issue of cultural May. Joinville Pomare, heir of the preservation and spiritual heritage royal family that ruled Tahiti until the attracted attention. On 21 March, French annexation in 1880, was pro- 1,500 activists gathered at Tataa Point claimed king of Tahiti under the style (the northwestern cape of Tahiti Island of Pomare XI in a ceremony attended at the boundary between Faaa and by about a hundred of his followers Punaauia municipalities) in order to in Pirae. In addition, high chiefs were hold a traditional religious ceremony appointed for Tahiti’s districts as well and thereby confirm the sacredness as some of the outer islands. The coro- of the place. In traditional Tahitian nation was part of a campaign for the religion, Tataa Point is the gather- recognition of traditional chiefly titles ing point for the souls of the dead that Pomare has been leading for sev- 178 the contemporary pacific • 22:1 (2010) eral years. In a communiqué, Pomare and announced that it would sup- stated that France broke its promise port the ump ticket (TP, 2 June 2009). to respect the king, the district chiefs, Following this most recent return of and the traditional land tenure system Tahoeraa to its former pro-French in the treaty of annexation signed with Gaullist stance, rumors spread about his great-great-granduncle Pomare V the formation of a new “autonomist in 1880, and that the restoration of alliance” of all anti-independence these institutions was the first step to parties (“autonomist” meaning pro- ensure the respect of the treaty (TP, 28 French, in local political discourse) May 2009; TPM, May 2009). in order to topple Temaru. Flosse While Pomare’s coronation and clarified that the alliance was for the related initiatives represent an inter- European elections only, making the esting alternative to party politics, rumors seem to be unfounded, at least the latter were once again filling the for the time being. headlines as the European elections The elections on 6 June had the approached. French Polynesia is repre- usual low turnout (a little more than sented in the European Parliament as 20 percent). Despite the supposed part of the three-seat French Overseas rallying of all “autonomist” par- constituency, but voting turnouts are ties behind the ump ticket, the latter usually very low. Nevertheless, the scored second with only 32.7 percent, preparation of the elections had some slightly behind the upld-supported impact on the political life of the Socialist ticket, which won the major- country. In late May, five candidates ity with 33.25 percent of the votes. from French Polynesia presented them- The MoDem list scored third with selves on various French party lists, 17.83 percent. Since neither Maamaa- including former Temaru government tuaiahutapu nor Alpha were on minister and independence supporter leading positions on their respective Keitapu Maamaatuaiahutapu on the lists, neither of them won a seat in the Socialist party list supported by upld; European Parliament (results from equipment minister Tearii Alpha of French Ministry of the Interior Web To Tatou Aia on the list of ump, who site). was also supported by Jean-Chris- The European elections were tophe Bouissou’s Rautahi party and not the only occasion for political ex-Tahoeraa deputy Bruno Sandras ideologies to create divisions within (TP, 22 and 25 May 2009); as well as the Temaru–Tong Sang coalition. Nicole Bouteau on the list of French Shortly thereafter, tensions arose centrist party Mouvement Démocrate again, this time around the issue of (MoDem). Most striking was the independence. At the opening of the absence of a Tahoeraa candidate. The “Etats Généraux de l’Outre-Mer,” party had overcome its latest internal a workshop on the future of French divisions when Edouard Fritch had overseas territories initiated by the retracted his criticism and once more French government, Temaru used the supported Flosse as the unquestioned term Maohi Nui (Greater Maohi) party leader (TP, 5 May 2009). To instead of French Polynesia and stated everyone’s surprise, Tahoeraa then that independence should be where invited Alpha to a party convention the country is heading (TP, 11 and 16 pol i t ical reviews • polynesia 179

June 2009). The following day, Tong pir, Pacific Islands Report. Daily Internet Sang insisted that the French presence news. Honolulu. http://pidp.eastwestcenter was beneficial for the country and .org/pireport should be maintained (TP, 17 June TP, Tahitipresse. Daily Internet news. 2009). A few days later, Tong Sang Tahiti. http://www.tahitipresse.pf signed an agreement in Paris, mak- TPM, Tahiti Pacifique Magazine. Monthly. ing his To Tatou Aia party the offi- Tahiti. http://www.tahiti-pacifique.com cial French Polynesia chapter of the ump (TP, 18 June 2009). During an assembly session the following week, Flosse severely criticized Temaru’s pro- Māori Issues independence position, which he had previously tolerated if not encouraged For the first time since I began writing (TP, 26 June 2009). these reviews on Māori issues in 1994, At the annual “autonomy holiday” I can provide a report that in total has of 29 June, commemorating both the more positive aspects than negative. signing of the 1880 annexation docu- The highlight has been the influence ment and the enactment of a 1984 the Māori Party has been able to have statute of internal autonomy for the on the new National-led government. territory, one could see Flosse once There were also the benefits that more together with Tong Sang and are finally starting to flow to Māori Bouissou celebrating autonomy within after the Labour government, in its the French Republic. As usual, Presi- dying days, set out to win back Māori dent Temaru boycotted the festivities support through Treaty of Waitangi while honoring Tahitian resistance to claims settlements. New Zealand colonization at a monument in Faaa still has a very long way to go before (TPM, July 2009). The previous year, Māori are accorded the respect owed Flosse had participated in Temaru’s us as the country’s first nation. That ceremony for the first time, but this includes recognizing and upholding year, he was absent again. The politi- our sovereignty as guaranteed by the cal leaders thus symbolically reaf- Treaty of Waitangi and reversing the firmed their respective ideologies, shocking statistical trends in all socio- while those ideologies have become economic areas. Nevertheless, this past virtually meaningless in their actions. year looked like a good start in that lorenz gonschor direction. The November 2008 election resulted in a landslide victory for the References conservative National Party, which won 58 seats in the 120-seat Parlia- DT, La Depêche de Tahiti. Daily. Tahiti. ment. With support of the right-wing French Ministry of the Interior Web site. act Party’s 5 seats, the National Party Results of the European Elections for had sufficient numbers to form a French Polynesia. http://www.interieur government. However, the new prime .gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats minister, John Key, announced that -elections/ER2009/08/COM/987/987.html he would lead a National minority NT, Les Nouvelles de Tahiti. Daily. Tahiti. government with confidence-and-