Pacific

Tahiti opposition lashes Fiji and PNG over decolonisation issue

17:56 pm on 16 May 2012

French Polynesia's opposition parties have hit out at Fiji and Papua New Guinea after they reported that the 120-member Non-Aligned Movement had last week decided to support Tahiti's decolonisation bid.

The Tahoeraa Huiraatira of Gaston Flosse says their support is an unacceptable interference in France's internal affairs.

The To Tatou Aia, led by Gaston Tong Sang, has condemned the two countries for backing what it calls the illegitimate position of the territory's president, Oscar Temaru.

The Tahoeraa says the people of French Polynesia have all democratic rights in contrast to the people of Fiji who live in a dictatorship.

Both parties say the massive vote in Tahiti for Nicolas Sarkozy in the presidential election shows that French Polynesians want to stay with France.

The To Tatou Aia says to end this dangerous interference, the people should vote for pro-autonomy candidates in next month's election of a new French National Assembly.

There has been no comment from Mr Temaru about the outcome of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Egypt