New Caledonia's largest pro-independence party has come out in support of French Polynesia's Oscar Temaru, who is in a clinch with the French judiciary.
Caledonian Union Photo: supplied FB
The mayor of Faaa and leader of French Polynesia's pro-independence movement suspended his hunger strike amid a protracted dispute with the prosecutor.
Mr Temaru had $US100,000 seized as he was appealing a conviction linked to the funding of a community station, Radio Tefana.
The Caledonian Union said the case showed that the French state was against pluralism in Tahiti and only wanted the French voice to be heard.
It said the $US1 million fine given to Radio Tefana amounted to its death knell.
The party said after New Caledonia's unrest of the 1980s subsidies were being given to various radio stations.
Pointing to the exile of Pouvanaa a Oopa, the Caledonian Union said there was a tradition of using the judiciary to go after French Polynesia's leaders pushing for autonomy or independence.
Mr Temaru is poised to resume his hunger strike on Monday in Tahiti when the courts are due to hear his case against prosecutor Herve Leroy.