By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, February 25 – Even as France intervenes in its former colony Mali, its current colony French Polynesia is pushing forward at the UN for self-determination.
Amid news that French Polynesia is pushing to be put on the list of the UN Special Committee of 24 on Decolonization, Inner City Press spoke Monday to a number of Pacific island Permanent Representatives.
Some are formally in support of French Polynesia's request. Another pointed out that at the Non Aligned Movement meeting in Tehran, self determination was referred to, but not the C-24 list. “This puts us in a delicate position,” the Permanent Representative told Inner City Press, openly wonder about Indonesia and Chile, for example.
More cynically or analytically he told Inner City Press, “this is a drama for Oscar Temaru, for the upcoming election or for his legacy.” But isn't decolonization the trend? Shouldn't it be?
Later on Monday a large country's Deputy Permanent Representative mused to Inner City Press that self-determination and sovereignty are “two different things, just look at the Falklands or Malvinas.” Look indeed.
But France and its colonies are not an issue not only in the Security Council, but in the UN's North Lawn building. Watch this site.
