17 May 2014

Ma'ohi Nui (French Polynesia) Commemorates 1st Anniversary of Re-inscription by United Nations as non self-governing territory

Worldatlas.com

"...In cases such as French Polynesia, an arrangement termed 'autonomous' can continue with political inequalities passed on from earlier dependency versions, and then projected as a valid form of self-government, notwithstanding the nature of the specific arrangement which in this instance has never been compared against internationally recognised self-determination criteria. The model which has been constructed for, and applied to French Polynesia is illustrative of a governance arrangement with its genesis in a dependency model which has been changed in form and nomenclature over time, but not in substance. This has served to perpetuate the political power imbalance which has led to a process of internalisation and de facto legitimisation of the political dependency model under the guise of 'autonomy.' It should not surprise that such a model would be inconsistent with international principles of full self-government." 

- Excerpt from the "Assessment of self-governance sufficiency in conformity
with internationally-recognised standards - Country French Polynesia."

*****

"
The re-inscription of the territory now provides an opportunity for the people to move toward an act of self-determination where the options of full political equality would be available. This right is guaranteed by international law, and will  now be watched closely by the United Nations.
U.N. re-inscription requires not only clear evidence of democratic deficiencies in the political arrangements of non sovereign countries, but also needs political support by member countries of the U.N. General Assembly for the process to succeed. There is ample evidence that the political status of this French dependency is far from what is considered under international standards, and the adoption of the resolution by the U.N. General Assembly, without a vote, on May 17, 2013 confirms this realisation."  

- an international decolonisation expert.


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Political leader Oscar Temaru and Kanaky political leader Marie-Claude Tjbaou participate in commemoration marking the first anniversary of the U.N. re-inscription of French Polynesia. New Caledonia was formally re-inscribed by the U.N. in 1986.

Temaru and Tjibaou speak with the press during the commemoration.  

The two political leaders conduct press conference.

A few of the thousands of marchers in commemoration of U.N. reinscription.


Temaru provides information to the press during commemoration.


(Pictures by Overseas Territories Review)