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Salient. Victoria University Newspaper. Volume 38, Number 14. June 20, 1975

Banishment and Detention N France

[unclear: Banishment] and Detention [unclear: N] France

It was then that 3 of them—Charlie [unclear: Hing], Felix Teheriura and Robert [unclear: Ahn] were transferred to France by military aircraft and incarcerated in the prison of Fresnes. They then succeeded in engaging a lawyer: Maitre Henri Le-[unclear: erc]. The latter made constant calls to [unclear: the] Minister, to whom he communicated [unclear: the] affair. The Minister seemed frightened. He did not have the dossier and it as the lawyer of the prisoners who was communicating the text of the decisions [unclear: to] him.

Doubtless because it was warmer there and therefore with a small humane gesture, the three Tahitians were transferred to the prison of Baumettes where they will be detained, but under particularly harsh conditions. M. Pleven, then Keeper of the Seals, granted them on 21 February, 1973, the benefit of special rules of detention not without having beforehand consulted the special Commission for these rules.

The Tahitians refused to make a plea for pardon, but desired that the injustices of which they were victims should be repaired—i.e. that the proceedings at Papeete be reviewed or rejected.

But there is nothing that can be done. The law is the law and the Minister has declared himself to be powerless, while at the same time saying that it would not be possible to refuse a pardon. But this pardon that they had not asked for but which was expected would be given to them, was refused on 18 February, 1974, by M. Taittinger, who became Minister of Justice.