"If we do not aspire to full autonomy, to sovereignty, to independence, what progress are we to make?", wondered Oscar Temaru, president of the French Polynesia, during the opening speech before the so-called Estates-General that are being held these days in the French overseas territory. Temaru spoke on self-determination as "the natural evolution of a people", and said that independence does not mean a breaking-off. Temaru's statements have come as a surprise and caused unease at the opening of the Estates-General, the debate in which Polynesian and French political parties, as well as members of the civil society, meet to set priorities and fix French Polynesia's political, social and economic agenda.

Members of the two employers associations participating on the discussions and two pro-autonomy parties disagreed with the Polynesian president. They rejected secession as the archipelago's ultimate goal, and some said Temaru should not even have raised the issue in his speech.

According to the pro-independence leader, his stance was appropriate after Nicolas Sarkozy declared in the summoning of the overseas territories' Estates-General last February that "each territory must master its own destiny. Fellow countrymen and countrywomen, I invite you to speak your mind without taboos". Temaru then invited to "set without taboos a new common framework for France and Polynesia".

From French Polynesia to Ma'ohi Nui
Prior to the Estates-General discussions, Polynesian president proposed the Assembly to hold a referendum to change the archipelago's official name. Temaru suggested the name Ma'ohi Nui or Tahití Nui, meaning 'Great Tahiti'. Tahiti is the name of the most populated island of the French Polynesia. A member of the opposition said the plan was Taihiti's "attempt to impose its will on the remaining islands".

Further information:

• Le Dépêche de Tahiti: Le "cap" proposé par Oscar Temaru fait tousser...
• Lejdd.fr: Tahiti, vers l'indépendance?
• MónDivers: El president polinesi parla clar: el seu objectiu és la independència
• Oscar Temaru speech, video and text.