28 Apr 2006

French Polynesian royal families warn of land occupation

5:16 am on 28 April 2006

Descendants of Tahiti's royal families say they may occupy land in French Polynesia if rulings by a yet to be established customary tribunal are ignored.

The group, led by Joinville Pomare, says the families no longer want to be treated as fools by the territorial and the French government as they try to regain land taken since the beginning of French colonisation in 1842.

A ceremony is scheduled to be held in three days to install what Mr Pomare calls 15 judges to make up the new lands tribunal.

He says the land restitution by the local government has so far been based on the recipients' party colours and not on entitlement.

The land claims are based on the undertaking by France to leave land matters with the customary powers.

This was restated in 1880 when King Pomare V signed an agreement with France to let it run the government.

A first target may be the atolls of Tupai and Mururoa.

Similar claims had earlier been lodged in the French supreme court by the Prince Royal of Tahaa, Tauatomo Mairau, who wants to restore the Tahitian monarchy.