French Polynesia's assembly president Temaru snubbed at UN Decolonization seminar

The president of the French Polynesian assembly, Oscar Temaru, has been prevented from attending a United Nations regional seminar on decolonization in New Caledonia, New Zealand media reported on Tuesday.

Temaru, who has been campaigning for French Polynesia's independence from France for decades, had no invitation to the meeting in Noumea which aims to help inform people about how they can exercise their right to self-determination.

France took French Polynesia off the decolonisation list before it launched its nuclear weapons tests but allowed New Caledonia to be re-inscribed following the unrest of the 1980s.

Temaru said when he wanted to join Tuesday morning's talks, the organizers stopped him, Radio New Zealand International reported.

Temaru said he has the support of New Caledonia's FLNKS movement and Kanak unions.

No Pacific Island government supports Temaru's bid although he has repeatedly raised the matter at the Pacific Islands Forum summit.

Source: Xinhua