French Polynesia is a sprawling possession of France in the Pacific Ocean, made up of 118 volcanic and coral islands and atolls, including Tahiti. For France this huge stretch of the Pacific - as big as Western Europe - remains strategically valuable. Atomic testing on the atolls enabled France to keep the nuclear clout it needed to remain one of the world's leading powers. The issue of independence dominates the political agenda.
Overview
There are five island groups - the Society islands, the Tuamotu archipelago, the Gambier islands, the Marquesas islands and the Tubuai islands. Tahiti is the most densely-populated island. European contact was gradual; the Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and British were credited with the discovery of one or more of the islands. In the 18th century European traders and missionaries came, bringing diseases which wiped out much of the indigenous population.
Island life was portrayed by the celebrated artist Paul Gauguin
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The missionaries tried to put a stop to local religious practices, nudity and other aspects of indigenous life. Some forms of Polynesian culture were lost for many years. Tahiti, in the Society islands, became a French colony in 1880. France later annexed other islands to form the French Colony of Oceania. In 1946 the islands became an overseas territory and in 2004 gained "overseas country" status. Pro-independence movements flourished in the 1970s and over time the islands took more control of internal affairs, culminating in a statute granting increased autonomy in 1996. There has been friction with Paris over nuclear testing. France conducted 41 atmospheric tests on the Mururoa atoll and neighbouring Fangataufa from 1966. In 1975, under international pressure, it switched to underground tests. Ending a three year moratorium, French President Jacques Chirac said testing would resume in 1995. The move provoked international anger and protests in Papeete turned violent.
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Nuclear tests took place on Mururoa and Fangataufa
Tests were carried out between 1966-1996
UN study said radioactivity levels were negligible
Test site dismantled in 1998
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Six of the eight planned tests were carried out, the last one in January 1996. At the end of the programme Paris agreed to a 10-year compensation package. In 1995 the UN's nuclear watchdog concluded that radiation levels around the atolls posed no threat. In 1999 Paris admitted that fractures had been discovered in the coral cone at the sites. The atolls continue to be monitored. In March 2009, the French government enacted legislation to allow compensation for former workers at France's nuclear weapons test sites. French Polynesia enjoys a high standard of living, but wealth is unevenly distributed and unemployment is high. Tourism is an important money-earner; travellers favour Tahiti and Bora Bora. Boasting a year-round warm climate, volcanic peaks and tranquil lagoons, it is easy to see why the islands are popular. French Polynesia is, though, prone to typhoons.
Facts
- Territory: French Polynesia
- Status: French overseas territory
- Population: 251,000 (via UN, 2006)
- Capital: Papeete, on Tahiti
- Area: 4,167 sq km (1,609 sq miles)
- Major language: Tahitian and French
- Major religion: Christian
- Life expectancy: 71 years (men), 76 years (women)
- Monetary unit: Pacific franc
- Main exports: Cultured black pearls, fish and coconut products
- GNI per capita: $16,540 (World Bank, 1999)
- Internet domain: .pf
- International dialling code: + 689
Leaders
Head of state: (French) President Nicolas Sarkozy, represented by High Commissioner Adolphe Colrat President: Oscar Temaru French Polynesia's assembly elected Oscar Temaru in February 2009 after his predecessor Gaston Tong Sang resigned following a threatened no-confidence motion. The presidential election was the third since the 2008 early general election called by France to increase political stability in the territory. Mr Temaru leads the pro-independence Union For Democracy, and used to be an anti-nuclear tests campaigner. He is president of French Polynesia for the fourth time in less than five years. Frequent switching of allegiances among a small power elite has resulted in a regular handing of the presidency around a small circle of names. Gaston Flosse, generally described as pro-France, had ruled French Polynesia for most of two decades before being forced to step down in 2004. He was later re-elected when the more pro-independence group of Mr Temaru joined him in a coalition in 2008. That coalition was ousted in April that year. In voting in February 2009, the group formerly aligned with Mr Flosse backed Oscar Temaru, electing him as the current president. There have also been seven changes of government in French Polynesia since the general elections of 2004. • French Polynesia has a 57-member assembly which is elected every five years. The president is elected from the assembly. France retains responsibility for foreign affairs, defence, justice and security. The territory is represented in the French parliament by two deputies and a senator. It is represented at the European Parliament.
Media
There are two daily newspapers. TV and radio services are provided by the French public overseas broadcaster, RFO, and by private operators. Multichannel TV packages are available; they include French and international channels. The press Radio - RFO Polynesie - public, operated by Reseau France Outre-Mer
- Tiare FM - private
- Radio Bleue - private, FM
- Star FM - private
- Radio 1 - private, FM
Television News agency
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