Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

French Polynesia

2000; University of Hawaii Press; Volume: 12; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1353/cp.2000.0035

1527-9464

Karin Von Strokirch,

Migration, Identity, and Health

The year under review holds echoes of years past in terms of yet another split in the governing coalition between Gaston Flosse's Tahoeraa and Emile Vernaudon's Ai'a Api. As a result Vernaudon was bent on revenge and joined forces with the pro-independence opposition. The outcome of the senatorial elections also brought a sense of déjà-vu as Flosse added the final jewel to his collection of political offices. Concurrent with the election campaign was the trial of antinuclear activists who participated in the airport riots three years ago. Nonviolent demonstrators were let off with a warning, whereas those guilty of violence and two trade union leaders, the supposed instigators of the riots, were subject to prison sentences. Defense lawyers failed to persuade the judge of a government conspiracy against the activists. The issue that most preoccupied the government during these twelve months was the campaign to reform the statute of autonomy via a constitutional amendment. The process and content of the reform was, however, quite different from that of the Noumea Accord in New Caledonia.