nuclear-news

Time France gave back its atomic test islands to their Pacific peoples

The two atolls Moruroa and Fangataufa were ceded to France at no cost in 1964 to allow its military to begin testing its nuclear weapons.

The two islands were used as nuclear weapon testing sites in the late 1960s by the French government which made use of ship-based, bomb, and atmospheric detonation trials. 

TAHITI LEADER PUSHES FOR RETURN OF NUCLEAR ATOLLS President calls for France to give back Moruroa and Fangataufa  WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, ) 19 Jan 12, Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i – The French Polynesian president Oscar Temaru has called for street protests should France refuse to return the two atolls used for its nuclear weapons tests.

Mr. Temaru made the call as one of the territory’s senators, Richard Tuheiava, is to submit a proposed law in Paris seeking the atolls’ return and a review of the compensation offered for the tests’ impact.

His comment comes as the territorial assembly in Tahiti endorsed the
senator’s initiative with 30 of the 57 votes.

He says if France refuses to give back what belongs to the
Polynesians, people should close their homes and the administration to
take to the streets in protest.

Mr. Temaru says Paris should be told that it render to Caesar the
things that are Caesar’s.

The two atolls Moruroa and Fangataufa were ceded to France at no cost
in 1964 to allow its military to begin testing its nuclear weapons.

[PIR editor’s note: Moruroa and Fangataufa are part of the Tuamotu
Archipelago, east of territory’s capital in Papeete. The two islands
were used as nuclear weapon testing sites in the late 1960s by the
French government which made use of ship-based, bomb, and atmospheric
detonation trials. Recently, former president of French Polynesia
Gaston Tong Sang spoke out against proposed changes to compensations
laws involving French nuclear testing in the region. French
Polynesia’s Union for Democracy party has criticized Tong Sang, saying
although there are “urgent problems facing the territory, there is
still room to stand up for the test victims.”]

Radio New Zealand International: www.rnzi.com
http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2012/January/01-18-12.htm

January 19, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | OCEANIA, politics international