Temaru lashes out at French judiciary

Transcript

French Polynesia's opposition leader, Oscar Temaru, has hit out at France over the way it has favoured the veteran politician Gaston Flosse.

Although he is France's most convicted politician, he has never been jailed and a sentence, delivered this week, which bans him from public office, is yet to be enforced.

Mr Temaru says Flosse has enjoyed protection and should have been jailed 50 years ago.

In contrast, he says, the Tahitian nationalist leader Pouvanaa a Oopa was jailed and exiled for political reasons on trumped-up charges.

He says it has taken 50 years for this injustice is being recognised.

Flosse maintains his innocence and refuses to resign while appealing to Francois Hollande for a presidential pardon.

Mr Temaru says there is no justice in a colonial system.  

OSCAR TEMARU: We are fed up with the French justice. We want to be judged on behalf of the Maohi people, not on behalf of the French people any more. This guy should have been in jail 50 years ago. He started as the mayor of Pirae. He as the owner of an insurance company. All the vehicles of the city of Pirae, the administration of Pirae, the local administration, all that were insured in his own company. It was a conflict of interest. Everybody knows it. And that has been covered by the right wing in France because this guy belongs to the right wing. All these cases before the court have been covered all the time by the right wing in France. And just before, seven years before him, Mr Pouvanaa a Oopa was put in jail, sent ot France in prison, and we have been asking to review his judgment. And we've just got it - 50 years after. You see what kind of justice we have in this country. No we are fed up, that's why we want to be judged on behalf of the Maohi people and not the French people.

WALTER ZWEIFEL: Do you think there is a possibility that this verdict will not be delivered so that Gaston Flosse can stay in office?

OT: I don't think so. We cross our fingers - wait and see.

WZ: In a statement, the presidency is also critical of the judiciary, saying the judiciary has overturned a democratic decision, i.e. his election victory last year. What do you say to that?

OT: There is no democracy in a country where there is no justice, there is no democracy in a country ruled by another country. I repeat: he should have been in jail 50 years ago. he has stolen the money from the people for 50 years.

WZ: You told a news conference there should be a fresh election. Why?

OT: That's democracy. Otherwise, he'll choose another puppet. To be the president of this country he will be behind to pull the strings.