France's Chirac Visits South Pacific Islands, Denies Nuclear Tests Harmed Workers

Associated Press Breaking ^ | Jul 26, 2003 | Christine Ollivier

[Kaslin]

PAPEETE, Tahiti (AP) - French President Jacques Chirac, making his first visit to Polynesia since ordering a final round of nuclear tests in the South Pacific in 1995, on Saturday defended the decades of testing that some islanders claimed gave them cancer.

Chirac, making a five-day visit to the French territory of Tahiti, said the atomic tests that generated international outrage helped establish France as a world power.

"Without Polynesia, France would not be the great power that it is, capable of expressing in the concert of nations an autonomous, independent and respected position," he said.

Dancers wearing traditional garb and beating drums greeted the president the day before at the airport in Papeete, the capital, with cries of "Chirac, Chirac," in a welcome ceremony organized by his close ally and friend, Tahiti Gov. Gaston Flosse.

But behind the orchestrated show of public support, an association of hundreds of former nuclear test site workers urged the French government to recognize its claim that the nuclear tests made them sick.

France detonated at least 123 nuclear weapons in the volcanic rock beneath Mururoa Atoll, about 750 miles southeast of Tahiti, between 1975 and 1996. The French exploded another eight under nearby Fangataufa Atoll.

Chirac broke a three-year international moratorium on nuclear testing shortly after coming to power in 1995, sparking a global uproar. The testing was stopped a year later.

But workers vowed to stage demonstrations during Chirac's four-day visit to the Pacific region to force the government to "recognize the health consequences of the military nuclear tests."

The Association for the Veterans of Nuclear Tests has asked France to fund studies about the effects of radiation exposure and pay for doctor's visits for workers and their families.

But in a local newspaper interview published Friday, Chirac squarely denied the tests had sickened workers and said surveys of radiation exposure were unnecessary.

"There are no health consequences, either in the short-term or long-term," he told daily "les Nouvellles de Tahiti." He said experts had concluded that detailed radiation surveys were not needed, though the government would keep checking radiation levels.

A researcher for the Association for the Veterans of Nuclear Tests estimated last year that former workers at the sites had a 34 percent risk of developing cancer over their lifetime - twice the rate seen in France's overall population.

The association has said it wants the government to fund studies about the effects of radiation exposure, pay for doctor's visits for workers and their families and recognize the link between their exposure to radiation and cancer.

In 1998, a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said France's tests in the South Pacific had left "extremely modest radiation levels" and posed no threats to people. It also predicted that there would be no change in cancer incidence.

The last series of tests at Mururoa and Fangataufa, about 750 miles southeast of Tahiti, broke a three-year international moratorium on nuclear testing. The tests sparked criticism of Chirac in many Pacific nations.

Between 30,000 and 40,000 military personnel worked at least temporarily at the nuclear sites during the 30-year span of tests, Marcus said.

[Numbers Guy]

"Without Polynesia, France would not be the great power that it is, capable of expressing in the concert of nations an autonomous, independent and respected position," he said.

Jacques has a great future in stand-up.

[river rat]

""Without Polynesia, France would not be the great power that it is, capable of expressing in the concert of nations an autonomous, independent and respected position," he said."

I see Chiraq is still delusional and lying....

Semper Fi

[sgtbono2002]

France is a world power only in their own minds.

[onyx]

"Without Polynesia, France would not be the great power that it is, capable of expressing in the concert of nations an autonomous, independent and respected position," he said.

Great power? NOT.

Respected? NOT.

This is such a choice remark it's suitable for framing.

[Bernard]

"Dancers wearing traditional garb and beating drums greeted the president the day before at the airport in Papeete, the capital, with cries of "Chirac, Chirac," in a welcome ceremony organized by his close ally and friend, Tahiti Gov. Gaston Flosse."

What they didn't hear was the entire chant. "Chirac, Chirac, don't step in the Chirac"...

[southernnorthcarolina]

"Without Polynesia, France would not be the great power that it is..."

[watchin]

Probably just testing the weapons he was working on for Saddam.

"Chirac broke a three-year international moratorium on nuclear testing shortly after coming to power in 1995, sparking a global uproar."

What???? Chirac acted unilaterally, like some kind of old west cowboy, defying the international community??

What a pathetic clown he is.

[mikrofon]

JC: "We belief zat zese nuclear tests haf done no harm atoll..."

[xzins]

lol

[Mike Darancette]

The mayor of a small village said to Mr. Chirac, "Look into my son's eyestalks and tell him weapons testing caused no damage".

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

This is why half of my husbands relatives have either died at an early age, or have had limbed amputated to remove the cancer.

So not only are these people exploited by the French's attempt to be a world power they are subjected to Frances's socialize medicine. The people of Tahiti don't even have the ability to have an (simply by US standards) angiogram done on the island. Instead they have to fly to France to have medical care that is available throughout the US in every small city hospital.

This is of course bought and paid for by the French goverment, but financed by the people of the islands by taxing them to death. Anything brought into the country by a local is taxed at 100% value.
So if they come here a buy a camera for $400. It cost them a additional $400 in taxes to bring it into the country. Once it is taxed the goverment puts a sticker on it to identify that it has been taxed.

Oh and before I forget, they don't have any representation in the French legislature. I belive that caused a war in this country .......

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

"I'm just a little drunk, ha ha!!"

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

"What do you mean Saddam's sons are dead? Don't even think it!"

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

I hope that this guy offered to take him for a ride in an outrigger beyond the reef. Here sharkie, sharkie lunch is ready.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

What does this picture tell you? You're in great company, Chirac!

[Squantos]

http://nuketesting.enviroweb.org/hew/Usa/Tests/

[.cnI redruM]

If you ever visit the the Polynesian Cultural Center on Ohau, there are seven different traditional South Seas Islander cultures on display. The French colony Marquesa has 1/10 the population it had before France showed up. All six of the other cultures, while subjugated to either the US, Australia or Great Britain are still growing exponentially in population if not wealth.

Their colonial administration was about as effective as their adminsitration was in Canada or Vietnam. They still hang on in Marquesa, but noone is willing to stay there when Tahiti and Hawaii are a short flight away.

As for the nuke tests, I'm sure CHirac would tell you those islanders paddle better with three arms anyway.

[Paul Atreides]

Seems that every time he turns around, Chiraq has to deny something.

[mass55th]

"Jacques has a great future in stand-up."

Is he related to Baghdad Bob?