French Pacific Territories Take Independence Fight to UN

Two of France’s territories in the Pacific—French Polynesia and New Caledonia—will argue for independence before the United Nations General Assembly’s Special Political and Decolonisation Committee (Fourth Committee). The Committee will also hear petitioners from both islands who oppose the move. The Tapura party representative says the majority of Polynesians are not for independence. Both territories are already listed by the U.N. as “non-sovereign territories to be decolonised.” Since 2013, when French Polynesia was restored to the list, the strongest delegation has been led by the pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira party (which has been in power since last year). This year, it is sending a 17-strong delegation....