Tests off; repression on

"The end of French Nuclear Testing for another year does not mean the end of French Colonialism in the Pacific," said Mr Robert Reid, Associate Secretary of the South Pacific Action Network (SPAN) and South Pacific Officer of the New Zealand University Students' Association.

"Span and NZUSA believe that the damage caused by French Colonialism is far greater than just Nuclear Testing. The economy of French Polynesia is being ruined by French military presence. France is stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars of nickel from New Caledonia every year. And in the anachronistic condominium of the New Hebrides the indigenous people are refused citizenship of their own country," Mr Reid said.

Span has called on the New Zealand Prime Minister to support the action of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, the Fijian Prime Minister in taking steps to end French occupation of the Pacific.

"New Zealand must oppose all other aspects of French Colonialism and not just Nuclear Testing if it is to be seen as sincere," said Mr Reid.

"As France and the United States of America are the only powers not moving towards self-government for their territories in the Pacific they must be brought to the United Nations Committee on De colonisation."

"If New Zealand does not do this it shows that it has no genuine concern for the people of the Pacific but only a dubious concern for the health of New Zealanders," said Mr Reid.