23 Apr 2008

French Polynesian Human Rights League tackles anti-Asian comments

8:33 am on 23 April 2008

The French Polynesian Human Rights League says it will lodge a formal complaint over allegedly anti-Asian remarks by two unionists to a local newspaper last week.

Cyril Legayic and Mahinui Temarii told the Nouvelles de Tahiti that being governed by an Asian is frightening.

The comment was made after Gaston Tong Sang, whose family arrived from China more than a century ago, was elected president for a second time.

The League says it amounts to provoking hatred and racial discrimination if suggestions are allowed to stand that the new president will only support the interest of ethnic Asian business leaders.

It says the comment could prompt the public prosecutor to seek to disband the union.