Current Polynesian president Oscar Temaru has based most of his political plan on gaining independence for French Polynesia. The country held a vote in 2015 to return the country to the UN's Special Committee on Decolonization List. The vote passed with an overwhelming majority. Many local groups have pledged their support to the president and his push for independence. Many believe that independence would lend more legitimacy to reparation requests for the 60's through 90's nuclear tests that occurred on Mururoa. However, not everybody is supportive of independence for the islands. Enrique Braun-Ortega, a former government official, claims that French Polynesia is in no condition to ask for independence. His claim is that the current government is incapable of dealing with the economical issues that have plagued the islands; instead diverting attention to the growing calls for independence. Many French expatriates say they are worried that, should independence be gained, they will lose the benefits that French oversight has brought to the country. The colonies will have to start supporting their own military without the French aid it has grown accustomed to. But, in addition, the island will be able to take some rules in their own directions, like what is taught in the school system. It doesn't matter whether you support the independence movement or not, with independent rule, things will be different for the former colonies. But is "different" not what we are fighting for? Sources:
http://thediplomat.com/2012/10/french-polynesia-last-vestiges-of-frances-empire/2/ http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/people-queue-to-vote-at-the-polling-station-of-punaauia-for-the-of-picture-id146459862
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Tom HodekHi! My name is Thomas Hodek and I am the author of this site. This is an active project for an English course I am enrolled in. I am an American student and award-winning actor. My goal with this site is to spread awareness of the plight of the French colonies, which are not yet autonomous. A side note: This blog is very much a work in progress, so be patient with it! Archives
November 2016
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