Tax Hurriedly Repealed

Work Ceases In Papeete

Tahiti Assembly Stoned: New Tax Hurriedly Repealed

Tahiti did not take kindly to the new Leftist Government introduced by the recent election victory of the RDPT Party (Democratique des Populations Tahitiennes) led by Jean Baptist Celan-Jerusalemy and Pouvanaa a Oopa (see April PIM, p. 21).

AS a result of the new Govern ment’s activities (introducing new measures of home rule, talking rather irresponsibly about creating a new independent Republic of Tahiti, and bringing in income taxation), the community prac tically rose in rebellion.

There were two days of demon strations—some newspapers called them riots—in the last week of April (29th and 30th).

For years, there has been in creasingly sharp division between the RDPT Party, which seems to have become more and more Red and anti-European, and the more moderate elements, which represent the official, commercial and trading classes. Until this year, the latter always provided the administrative body set up to advise and assist the Governor. The appearance of Pouvanaa a Oopa and Celan- Jerusalemy as heads of the gov ernment gave Tahiti quite a shock.

These “Ministers” were far too rough and hasty in introducing the hated income tax, and in talking of an independent republic. The trading classes became seriously alarmed. Premier and Government increased the general uneasiness by arrogantly insisting that taxation be imposed at once.

There are 30 members now in the

new Assembly—l 7 in RDPT, and

13 in opposition. The latter joined with citizens generally in forming an enlarged and resistant Demo cratic Union. Alfred Poroi, well known Mayor of Papeete supports it; Rudolph Bambridge, well-known lawyer, is President; members in clude Princess Pomare and Marcel Tixier, Mayor of Uturoa.

The new tax stirred them; the proposal to form a republic and secede from France brought strong action.

All Ceased Work

Merchants, traders and in dustrialists, as a protest, closed up their establishments everyone in Paneete ceased work.

The Assembly was sitting. With out apparent direction, hundreds of idle workers began to gather in front of the Assembly building, and demands for the withdrawal of the new tax were loudly voiced.

Gendarmes tried to control the crowd, which swelled into thous ands as sightseers came from all directions.

No one seems to know exactly how it started—but presently a section of the crowd began to bombard the building with stones. The crash of broken glass (about 60 windows were broken) seemed to spread the excitement.

In the beginning, it was a good natured crowd, booing and jeering; but as the police tried to gain order, the stone-throwing got out of hand.

The Assembly members normally number 30) and off] cowered inside, as the stones ras all around them.

Finally, the police brought oul fire brigade. The brigade hose»; crowd, which scattered. The n brought out the scared legish. and escorted them to the resio of the Governor, Dr. Henri BE where they were given sanctus The next demonstration made by a crowd estimated at which marched to the residenr the Governor. Represent.

Tahitians interviewed the Gov\ and demanded (a) the repe* the new tax laws and CbJ« assurance that the RDPT-don ted government would not< allowed to sever the centurr connection between France French Polynesia (or Fi r Oceania).

Air of Grimnsss

The full Territorial Assembly] the following day. The merctt and traders’ strike was still] and there was an air of grin about the crowds which waitd Papeete’s streets.

The Assembly did not waste ; The new tax law was repealer According to later news? reports (which on May 5 trickling through from Tah;i week after the foregoing ew the crowd sang the “MarseilH and dispersed; the shops wen: opened for business; and alii calm again.

Nothing like this had hapc in Tahiti for over one hux years—not since the 1840’s, Admiral du Petit Thouars am warships arrived to remove 0 Pomare from her throne ; formally establish French ereignty.

Pouvanaa a Oopa