Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People: Difference between revisions
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The '''Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People''' ({{lang-fr|Rassemblement démocratique des populations tahitiennes}}, abbreviated '''RDPT''') was a [[political party]] in [[French Oceania]]/[[French Polynesia]]. The party was led by [[Pouvanaa a Oopa]]. |
The '''Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People''' ({{lang-fr|Rassemblement démocratique des populations tahitiennes}}, abbreviated '''RDPT''') was a [[political party]] in [[French Oceania]]/[[French Polynesia]]. The party was led by [[Pouvanaa a Oopa]]. |
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Pouvanaa had been elected to the [[French National Assembly]] in 1949. After that victory, the 'Pouvanaa Committee' (formed by his Pouvanaa's supporters for the election campaign) and a group of ex-servicemen founded the RDPT. At the time of its foundation, the party proposed various political and social reforms in favour of the [[Maohi]] community, such as calling for [[land reform]], expanded access to education and employments in the public sector, strengthened social security. The party sought to increase the powers of the Territorial Assembly, acheiving greater autonomy from metropolitan France.<ref name="cam">Denoon, Donald. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=gB9mHNE17jgC The Cambridge History of the Pacific Islanders]''. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press, 2004. pp. 339-340</ref><ref>Aldrich, Robert. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=jYh0AAAAMAAJ France and the South Pacific Since 1940]''. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1993. p. 172</ref> |
Pouvanaa had been elected to the [[French National Assembly]] in 1949. After that victory, the 'Pouvanaa Committee' (formed by his Pouvanaa's supporters for the election campaign) and a group of ex-servicemen founded the RDPT. At the time of its foundation, the party proposed various political and social reforms in favour of the [[Maohi]] community, such as calling for [[land reform]], expanded access to education and employments in the public sector (substituting French officials with Tahitians), strengthened social security. The party sought to increase the powers of the Territorial Assembly, acheiving greater autonomy from metropolitan France. Pouvanaa was proposed substituting the [[French tricolour]] with flag used during the rein of Queen Pomare.<ref name="cam">Denoon, Donald. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=gB9mHNE17jgC The Cambridge History of the Pacific Islanders]''. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press, 2004. pp. 339-340</ref><ref>Aldrich, Robert. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=jYh0AAAAMAAJ France and the South Pacific Since 1940]''. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1993. p. 172</ref><ref name="prol"/> |
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The RDPT rapidly became widely popular amongst the Maohis. In particular it attracted support from poor rural populations. Pouvanaa retained his seat in the French National Assembly in the [[French legislative election, 1951|1951]] and 1953 elections. RDPT leaders Dr. Florisson and Jean-Baptise Céran-Jerusalémy became French Senator and [[French Union]] assemblyman, respectively.<ref name="cam"/> |
The RDPT rapidly became widely popular amongst the Maohis. In particular it attracted support from poor rural populations. Pouvanaa retained his seat in the French National Assembly in the [[French legislative election, 1951|1951]] and 1953 elections. RDPT leaders Dr. Florisson and Jean-Baptise Céran-Jerusalémy became French Senator and [[French Union]] assemblyman, respectively.<ref name="cam"/> |
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However, running the regional government became increasingly difficult for the party. The RDPT sought to build a national economy through the introduction of an [[income tax]] scheme, to prepare the islands for independence. The French government had become increasingly bothered by the influence of RDPT, and the local Governor conspirated against the RDPT government. Protests against the RDPT goverment were mobilized by the urban opposition, the Chinese community and in particular the French business community. Moreover rivalry between Pouvanaa and Céran had reached a critical point, and Céran was expelled. Céran's followers founded a rival party, [[Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People-Aratai|RDPT-''Aratai'']].<ref name="cam"/> |
However, running the regional government became increasingly difficult for the party. The RDPT sought to build a national economy through the introduction of an [[income tax]] scheme, to prepare the islands for independence. The French government had become increasingly bothered by the influence of RDPT, and the local Governor conspirated against the RDPT government. Protests against the RDPT goverment were mobilized by the urban opposition, the Chinese community and in particular the French business community. Moreover rivalry between Pouvanaa and Céran had reached a critical point at the time of the [[French constitutional referendum, 1958|1958 referendum]], and Céran was expelled. Céran's followers founded a rival party, [[Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People-Aratai|RDPT-''Aratai'']].<ref name="cam"/><ref name="prol">Finney, Ben R. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=ubjIwBFtjJsC Tahiti: Polynesians Peasants and Proletariats]''. New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction Publishers, 2007. pp. 23-24</ref> |
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Pouvanaa campaigned for independence in the 1958 referendum. After the referendum, Pouvanaa was arrested. He was accused of trying to iniate a revolutionary uprising, by setting the capital [[Papetee]] on fire. He was subsequently sentenced to eight years in jail, and another 15 years of banishment from French Polynesia. Pouvanaa's supporters consistently claimed that he had been framed.<ref name="prol"/> |
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In 1960 Pouvanaa a Oopa's son, [[Marcel Oopa]], was elected to the French National Assembly as a RDPT candidate. He died soon afterwards. In the [[French legislative election, 1962|1962 National Assembly election]], RDPT candidate [[John Teariki]] was elected from French Polynesia. Territorial Assembly elections were held the same year. With 14 out of 30 seats, RDPT retained its position as the largest party in the Assembly albeit their number of seats had decreased. After the election RDPT formed a coalition government.<ref name="cam2">Denoon, Donald. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=gB9mHNE17jgC The Cambridge History of the Pacific Islanders]''. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press, 2004. p. 342</ref> |
In 1960 Pouvanaa a Oopa's son, [[Marcel Oopa]], was elected to the French National Assembly as a RDPT candidate. He died soon afterwards. In the [[French legislative election, 1962|1962 National Assembly election]], RDPT candidate [[John Teariki]] was elected from French Polynesia. Territorial Assembly elections were held the same year. With 14 out of 30 seats, RDPT retained its position as the largest party in the Assembly albeit their number of seats had decreased. After the election RDPT formed a coalition government.<ref name="cam2">Denoon, Donald. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=gB9mHNE17jgC The Cambridge History of the Pacific Islanders]''. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press, 2004. p. 342</ref> |
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Revision as of 11:16, 19 September 2009
The Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People (Template:Lang-fr, abbreviated RDPT) was a political party in French Oceania/French Polynesia. The party was led by Pouvanaa a Oopa.
Pouvanaa had been elected to the French National Assembly in 1949. After that victory, the 'Pouvanaa Committee' (formed by his Pouvanaa's supporters for the election campaign) and a group of ex-servicemen founded the RDPT. At the time of its foundation, the party proposed various political and social reforms in favour of the Maohi community, such as calling for land reform, expanded access to education and employments in the public sector (substituting French officials with Tahitians), strengthened social security. The party sought to increase the powers of the Territorial Assembly, acheiving greater autonomy from metropolitan France. Pouvanaa was proposed substituting the French tricolour with flag used during the rein of Queen Pomare.[1][2][3]
The RDPT rapidly became widely popular amongst the Maohis. In particular it attracted support from poor rural populations. Pouvanaa retained his seat in the French National Assembly in the 1951 and 1953 elections. RDPT leaders Dr. Florisson and Jean-Baptise Céran-Jerusalémy became French Senator and French Union assemblyman, respectively.[1]
However, running the regional government became increasingly difficult for the party. The RDPT sought to build a national economy through the introduction of an income tax scheme, to prepare the islands for independence. The French government had become increasingly bothered by the influence of RDPT, and the local Governor conspirated against the RDPT government. Protests against the RDPT goverment were mobilized by the urban opposition, the Chinese community and in particular the French business community. Moreover rivalry between Pouvanaa and Céran had reached a critical point at the time of the 1958 referendum, and Céran was expelled. Céran's followers founded a rival party, RDPT-Aratai.[1][3]
Pouvanaa campaigned for independence in the 1958 referendum. After the referendum, Pouvanaa was arrested. He was accused of trying to iniate a revolutionary uprising, by setting the capital Papetee on fire. He was subsequently sentenced to eight years in jail, and another 15 years of banishment from French Polynesia. Pouvanaa's supporters consistently claimed that he had been framed.[3]
In 1960 Pouvanaa a Oopa's son, Marcel Oopa, was elected to the French National Assembly as a RDPT candidate. He died soon afterwards. In the 1962 National Assembly election, RDPT candidate John Teariki was elected from French Polynesia. Territorial Assembly elections were held the same year. With 14 out of 30 seats, RDPT retained its position as the largest party in the Assembly albeit their number of seats had decreased. After the election RDPT formed a coalition government.[4]
Once it became publicly known that France intended to conduct tests of Nuclear bombs in French Polynesia, the RDPT was radicalized. Not only the party oppose the testing programme, it also revived its campaign for Polynesian autonomy. In 1963, President Charles de Gaulle issued a ban on the party, invoking a law that enabled outlawing political organizations that threatened French 'national integrity'. The decision was motivated by a message from Pouvanaa to RDPT from jail, which had called on the party on advocate full independence.[4]
In 1965 elected representatives of RDPT formed a new party (with Teariki at its helm), Here A'ia.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Denoon, Donald. The Cambridge History of the Pacific Islanders. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press, 2004. pp. 339-340
- ^ Aldrich, Robert. France and the South Pacific Since 1940. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1993. p. 172
- ^ a b c Finney, Ben R. Tahiti: Polynesians Peasants and Proletariats. New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction Publishers, 2007. pp. 23-24
- ^ a b c Denoon, Donald. The Cambridge History of the Pacific Islanders. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press, 2004. p. 342