Pacific

Thousands rally in Tahiti over nuke legacy

06:01 am on 20 July 2021

Several thousand people in French Polynesia have joined a march demanding France own up to the damage caused by its nuclear weapons test.

The rally was organised by nuclear veterans group and the pro-independence opposition to mark the day in 1974 when fallout from an atmospheric nuclear test covered all of French Polynesia.

In solidarity with their family and friends back home French Polynesians in Auckland also held a demonstration at the Auckland University of Technology.

The organiser of that event Ena Manuireva was born during the French Nuclear weapons testing and his family and home island Mangareva were directly impacted.

He joins us now, Ia o rana and welcome Ena, firstly tell us what is the significance of the date on which this March was held?

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Anti-nuclear rally in Papeete Photo: FB Association 1933