Nuclear protest

walk-out

From a Papeete correspondent

Autonomists in the French Poly nesian Territorial Assembly walked out in August over a French move to have a nuclear-powered generator built in the territory. Their protest was based on a fear of pollution and contamination of the environment, but they were unable to force a re jection of the project. They left the majority parties to approve the prin ciple of such a generator to produce electricity.

The drive against the nuclear plant was launched 10 days earlier b> Polynesia’s Reformist deputy, Mi Francis Sanford, and the Federation of Autonomist parties, which claimec the proposed plan would create a risl of pollution and contamination of th( environment in the event of accident The autonomists have 13 seats ou of 30 in the assembly. They hav< been working against the project foi several months. In January, th< Mayor of Moorea, former Demo cratic Centre deputy, Mr Johi Teariki, condemned the scheme in i speech in the presence of Mr Beman Stasi, then French Minister for Over seas Territories. Mr Stasi argued a the time that it would be cheaper t( build a nuclear plant than a majo dam required for a hydro-electricit; station.

The latest walkout was the secon so far in 1974 by autonomists. The; also boycotted a session of th assembly in June in protest agains the maiority parties’ policies.

In Noumea, also, the Frencl authorities have been sounding or views in establishment of a nucleai powered generator for New Cab donia.