The Assembly of French Polynesia has called for a United Nations mission to visit Tahiti and assess directly the political situation and aspirations of the Mā‘ohi people.
The resolution, passed on 24 September with 54 of the 57 members voting in favour, calls for a UN mission to obtain a “direct and objective assessment” of the situation in French Polynesia.
The resolution received support across the political divide, including the three major groups in the assembly — Tavini Huira‘atira, the breakaway A Fano Ti‘a, and autonomist parties.
Support for the resolution comes after previous calls for a UN information mission to French Polynesia were rejected by the French State.
French Polynesia was re-listed on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories in 2013, placing its political status and the right to self-determination within the framework of the UN decolonisation process.
For years, however, France has rejected the role of the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation in determining the future political status of Mā‘ohi Nui.
The latest resolution seeks direct UN engagement and an assessment of the views and aspirations of the Mā‘ohi people as part of the wider discussion over French Polynesia’s political future..
