By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

PAPEETE, French Polynesia – French Polynesian president, Oscar Temaru, is appealing to French leaders to support his bid to join the leader’s retreat for the Pacific Islands Forum this week in Cairns.
Mr. Temaru says that it is important he attend the leader’s retreat and not be excluded from participation.

Radio New Zealand International reported, “The leaders’ retreat offers an opportunity for private discussions once the formal summit is concluded. Mr Temaru says although French Polynesia has only become an associate Forum member, it’s not normal that he is excluded from the retreat. He says the French President’s Office has now written to the Forum secretariat in Suva. This comes after his earlier letter, soliciting Forum support for Tahiti’s decolonisation, went unanswered.”

Mr. Temaru said he was interesting in gaining French support after he spent a month in Paris for medical care.

The Pacific Forum is a union of Pacific Leaders from 16 countries. Members meet to discuss regional economic and political issues affecting the region.

For more information, please see:Radio New Zealand International – French Polynesian President Wants Help from Paris to be Allowed into Forum Leader’s Retreat – 02 August 2009