French Polynesia's biggest church has sharply criticised the French state, saying Paris should repent for its crimes committed against God and the people.
The explosion from a French nuclear test at Mururoa in French Polynesia. France conducted 193 tests between 1966 and 1996. Photo: AFP
At the conclusion of its 135th synod, the Maohi Protestant church called on France to abrogate its nuclear compensation law, saying it fails to compensate the victims of the weapons tests.
In its statement, the church called for the UN to be allowed to send experts to French Polynesia to study the contamination which it says is slowly killing people.
The church also called on the UN to make France respect its resolutions, most notably that the indigenous people are the rightful owners of the natural resources.
It said France was disrespectful towards the indigenous people, which adds to the fracture between the rich and poor.
France carried out 193 nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific and after maintaining for decades that they were clean, Paris adopted a compensation law in 2010.
However, most claims have been rejected.