Tahiti Presse: 1 July 2001
TAHITI: OSCAR TEMARU RE-ELECTED HEAD OF PRO-INDEPENDENCE PARTY
Tahitian pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru has been re-elected as head of the party, but has left open the issue of contesting the territory's presidential elections.
PAPEETE (Tahiti Presse): Tahitian pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru has been re-elected as head of the party, but has left open the issue of contesting the territory's presidential elections.
The annual congress of the Tavini Huiraatira independence movement took place on June 29-30 in the city of Mataiea, in Tahiti.
Tavini Huiraatira members also reaffirmed taking part in the "colonial institutions ".
The independence movement now has 13 councillors in the Assembly of French Polynesia since the last Territorial elections, in May 2001.
Tavini Huiraatira members did not reach an agreement, however, on some other questions on the agenda such as the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2002.
" For the presidential election, our members have different point of views. We will decide on this issue in a new forum, in the three months to come," said Oscar Temaru.
In the past, the Tavini Huiraatira has asked voters not to participate in national elections.
The name of the Tavini candidates for the next legislative elections are not yet known either.
Next year, French Polynesia will elect two representatives at the National Assembly.
Oscar Temaru (left) tops party elections again.
Photo: Tahitipresse/Christine Durocher