French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson speaks at UN Fourth Committee of the UNGA. Photo: screen capture UN web TV
Analysis -The French Senate has issued a massive report dedicated to future orientations regarding French Polynesia's future.
The 111-page report covers a whole range of issues, from recommended clarifications on the French Pacific territory's powers under its current autonomy status, to other matters of concern, including attempted foreign interference from foreign powers, such as Azerbaijan, or the growing problems associated with the consumption of drugs, including methamphetamine.
The report follows a visit to French Polynesia by the Senate's Law Committee from 11 to 22 April, then chaired by François-Noël Buffet, who is now France's Minister for Overseas Territories under the recently appointed government headed by Prime Minister Michel Barnier.
The approach was to examine how the current autonomy status is functioning, in what is described as France's "most achieved example of institutional autonomy granted to a French collectivity under the Constitution".
But the report notes that French Polynesia still "appears as an unfinished model" which "still requires a number of adjustments" that would allow more "specificities" with a French annual funding and transfers to the tune of €1.7 billion.
Back in Paris, the four senators are under the impression that following a period of instability, French Polynesia's institutions have now largely "stabilised".
They also noted that, apart from the pro-French "pro-autonomy" parties, the range of political opinions within the pro-independence camp regarding French Polynesia's future were ranging from "immediate independence" to "an independence envisaged after 10 to 15 years" or a "shared sovereignty" with France.
French Polynesia's President Moetai Brotherson came to power in May 2023. He is also a member of the pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira party.
More powers should be transferred
In a number of passages, the report is suggesting that several areas of competence and exercise of power should be defined more clearly, and more powers delegated, based on the recognition that it is not easy to administrate a territory located tens of thousands of kilometres away.
President Brotherson was in Paris earlier this month, where he had a chance to meet newly appointed Overseas Minister François-Noël Buffet days after his appointment.
"I was very glad to hear the minister say one cannot administer a collectivity, such as, French Polynesia from a distance of some 18,000 kilometres," Brotherson told local media, in a direct reference to the Senatorial report.
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Concerns on foreign interference
But on other subjects, the senators also express concern at the fact that French Polynesia, due to its strategic location in the Pacific Ocean, is subjected to the influence of several key players, especially "the United States, Asia and mostly China".
It also notes that more recently, "some foreign powers, even though farther geographically, have shown they intend to influence French Polynesia's political situation and its relationship with the French State".
They cite Azerbaijan as one of those states seeking to detach French Polynesia from France through a 'Baku Initiative Group (BIG) against French colonialism' that would bring political and material support to the pro-independence movement in French Polynesia.
"The interference of a foreign power in the territory's affairs and in its relations with France, already identified in New Caledonia, is a matter for concern. It must be taken seriously," the Senators wrote, recommending that "attempts of foreign influence or interference aiming at encouraging anti-French feelings... must be monitored".
In July this year, Brotherson denied French Polynesia would not sign any deal with Azerbaijan, where a delegation of his ruling pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira had just attended a "Congress of French Colonies" meeting, which took place on 17 and 18 July in the Azeri capital Baku.
In attendance were several French Overseas countries and territories, including French Polynesia and New Caledonia.
But Brotherson said any deal signed is at party and non-governmental level.
"There is no agreement, and there will be no agreement between (French) Polynesia and Azerbaijan until we are an independent country," he said.
"This is just a non-governmental organization supporting another non-governmental organization, which is Tavini Huiraatira. So there is no agreement between Azerbaijan and French Polynesia. And there won't be any."
Brotherson told local public broadcaster Polynésie La Première that French Polynesia's current status is clear and French Polynesia's foreign affairs are under the control of France.
But he signalled that engaging in deals with Azerbaijan-supported and so-called "Baku Initiative Group" (BIG, created in October 2023) which is said to promote independence for French colonies, was a way for the pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira to use this as a leverage in relation to Paris.
"What I am saying is that we have been re-listed on the United Nations list of territories to be decolonized since May 17, 2013.
"Since that date, we have continually requested the French State to come to the discussion table, which it has not done.
"So tomorrow, if the [French] State finally decides to come to the discussion table, we will no longer need to go to Azerbaijan. It's as simple as that."
In the footsteps of the UN Decolonisation Committee
The senatorial report comes just days after French Polynesian delegations took part in the United Nations' decolonisation committee.
Speaking at the UN meeting as the head of a non-self-governing territory, on 7 October in New York, Brotherson suggested a "roadmap" be put in place for future talks on its status in relation to France.
He said the objective was not necessarily to obtain independence, but rather ask for the right to exercise their right to self-determination.
"I reaffirm our government's full support for a comprehensive transparent and peaceful decolonisation process with France, under the scrutiny of the United Nations," he told the meeting.
"We can pave the way for a decolonisation process that can serve as an example to the world, a process rooted in peace and mutual respect.
"But one crucial element is still missing: the co-construction of a detailed programme of work that would serve as a clear roadmap guiding our path forward for the implementation of the decolonization process.
"We are committed to working with all political forces in French Polynesia, including our brothers from the opposition present here today. Together, in unity and in respect for our political differences, we can build this road to self-determination."
In 2013, under a pro-independence government, French Polynesia obtained its re-inscription to the UN list of non-self-governing territories.
Since then and until last year, France refused to attend the UN sessions on decolonisation for French Polynesia.
In 2023, for the first time, there was a statement from its representative to the UN, Nicolas de Rivière.
French permanent representative to the UN Nicolas De Riviere speaks at the UN Fourth Committee of the UNGA. Photo: screen capture UN web TV
French representative repeats its 2023 stance
This year again, de Rivière delivered a short statement, reiterating the 2023 position.
He said French Polynesia's current autonomy status allows Polynesians to express their ambitions and own specificities.
He also stressed that "French Polynesia's highly autonomous status, guaranteed by the French Constitution, allows Polynesians to express their ambitions while respecting their own particularities".
"The role of the French Republic remains above all to work with the local authorities to develop the territory, and to pursue a dialogue of trust on all issues.
"Last year, France decided to address the Fourth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly on the topic of French Polynesia for the first time. We hope to continue this practice, which bears witness to the ongoing dialogue between the State and the Government of French Polynesia."
He added however that "this change of method does not imply a change of policy: there is no process between the (French) State and the Polynesian territory that leaves a role for the United Nations".
"The French Republic wishes to support the development of French Polynesia. Financial transfers from the State to French Polynesia represent nearly €2b each year, worth 30 percent of the territory's GDP."
In terms of international relations for French Polynesia, de Rivière said France was willing to "support French Polynesia... to integrate into its regional environment and beyond".
Brotherson 'astounded'
Reacting outside the session, Brotherson told local media he was "astounded" by the French representative's statement which, he said, was "disconnected".
"His response consists in coming to the UN to tell the UN that the UN has no business in discussions pertaining to French Polynesia's process... I'm sure the members of the Fourth Committee will appreciate," he told public broadcaster Polynésie la 1ère.
Petitioners both pro-independence (17 speakers) and pro-France (four speakers) also took the floor during the three-hour session on Monday 7 October, with pro-France speakers underlining the amount of financial aid taken care of each year.
"France is investing US$2b per year in our territory populated by 280,000 inhabitants spread over an area of 5.5 million square kilometres," pro-France Tapura Huiraatira party delegate Tepuaraurii Teriitahi told the UN.
"This money funds our schools and its mostly Polynesian teachers, the security of our citizens and the protection of our immense exclusive economic zone, and many things more.
"This guarantees our children a stable future with free access to education and health services."
MP Moerani Frébault (French Polynesia's elected member of the French National Assembly) said: "Who's going to protect our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), our vast maritime wealth that feeds our people in a region some obscure powers are vying for?"
"The trauma of colonisation that some are still invoking of nothing but a murmur of the past, a shadow that fades away in the light of a modern, strong and resilient French Polynesia. Independence would just mean placing us in jeopardy."
The pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira party "is trying to depict our country as oppressed and exploited by France and that the majority of French Polynesians would be in favour of independence. We are inviting the UN's fourth committee to French Polynesia so they can see for themselves how we live and who wishes to access independence or not", Frébault said.
Pro-independence Tavini's vice-president and Chair of the French Polynesian Assembly (Parliament) Antony Géros, in his contribution, spoke of his desire to "see the beginning of a dialogue" on the issue.
The full session can be viewed here.
"Better associate French Polynesia to France's Indo-Pacific strategy"
One of the suggested remedies, in the Senate's report, is to "better associate French Polynesia to France's Indo-Pacific strategy".
The senators consider the current level of involvement, at this stage, is "insufficient" and that they should be more involved, even in the course of definition of the French posture in the region.
"Taking into account its importance in terms of maritime area and its regional insertion, French Polynesia is a key component of any action in the South Pacific," they said.
"France's role is to accompany French Polynesia in its development, while maintaining the French Republic's presence in the Pacific."
Drug trafficking
Another chapter of the report touches on a sharp increase in the traffic and consumption of crystal methamphetamine.
About 30 percent of people serving jail sentences in French Polynesia have been convicted of drug-related offences and another 10,000 inhabitants are believed to already consume the substance, the senators warned.
A newly engineered drug called fentanyl is already causing major damage in the United States.
Senators are recommending that more should be invested in "judicial and security forces" to combat the phenomenon more effectively, including through "interceptions at sea".
