Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
Encyclopedia
The Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People was a political party
in French Oceania/French Polynesia
. The party was led by Pouvanaa a Oopa
.
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 on November 17, 1949. 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
, achieving greater autonomy from metropolitan France. RDPT published a bulletin called Te Aratai
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. In the 1951 election, Pouvanaa had won with 70% of the votes in French Oceania. The party won the January 18, 1953 Territorial Assembly election, winning 18 out of 25 seats. Notably, Pouvanaa did not get elected from the Papeete seat he contested.
Gradually RDPT was radicalised. It began calling for Tahitian take-over of French- and Chinese-owned businesses, substituting French officials with Tahitians, return of Tahitian lands to Tahitians and substituting the French tricolour with flag used during the reign of Queen Pomare
.
scheme, to prepare the islands for independence. The French government had become increasingly bothered by the influence of RDPT, and the local Governor conspire against the RDPT government. Protests against the RDPT government 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.
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.
In 1960 Pouvanaa a Oopa's son, Marcel Oopa
, was elected to the French National Assembly as a RDPT candidate. He died in 1961, and his seat was temporarily filled by John Teariki. 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.
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.
In 1965 elected representatives of RDPT formed a new party (with Teariki at its helm), Here Ai'a
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in French Oceania/French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
. The party was led by Pouvanaa a Oopa
Pouvanaa a Oopa
Pouvanaa a Oopa was a French Polynesia politician and Tahitian nationalist, who led a Tahitian separatist movement against French rule, before being exiled to France in the late 1950s....
.
Political profile
Pouvanaa had been elected to the French National AssemblyFrench National Assembly
The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
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 on November 17, 1949. At the time of its foundation, the party proposed various political and social reforms in favour of the Maohi
Maohi
In the Polynesian mythology of Tahiti and other islands of French Polynesia, the Maohi are the ancestors of the Polynesian peoples....
community, such as calling for land reform
Land reform
[Image:Jakarta farmers protest23.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Farmers protesting for Land Reform in Indonesia]Land reform involves the changing of laws, regulations or customs regarding land ownership. Land reform may consist of a government-initiated or government-backed property redistribution,...
, expanded access to education and employments in the public sector, strengthened social security. The party sought to increase the powers of the Territorial Assembly
Assembly of French Polynesia
The Assembly of French Polynesia is the unicameral legislature of French Polynesia, located at the Place Tarahoi in Papeete, Tahiti. It consists of 57 members who are elected by popular vote and by proportional representation in 6 multi-seat constituencies. The only official language of the...
, achieving greater autonomy from metropolitan France. RDPT published a bulletin called Te Aratai
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
French legislative election, 1951
Legislative elections were held in France on 17 June 1951 to elect the second National Assembly of the Fourth Republic.After the Second World War, the three parties which took a major part in the French Resistance to the German occupation dominated the political scene and government: the French...
and 1953 elections. RDPT leaders Dr. Florisson and Jean-Baptise Céran-Jerusalémy became French Senator and French Union
French Union
The French Union was a political entity created by the French Fourth Republic to replace the old French colonial system, the "French Empire" and to abolish its "indigenous" status.-History:...
assemblyman, respectively. In the 1951 election, Pouvanaa had won with 70% of the votes in French Oceania. The party won the January 18, 1953 Territorial Assembly election, winning 18 out of 25 seats. Notably, Pouvanaa did not get elected from the Papeete seat he contested.
Gradually RDPT was radicalised. It began calling for Tahitian take-over of French- and Chinese-owned businesses, substituting French officials with Tahitians, return of Tahitian lands to Tahitians and substituting the French tricolour with flag used during the reign of Queen Pomare
Pomare IV
Pōmare IV, Queen of Tahiti , more properly Aimata Pōmare IV Vahine-o-Punuateraitua , was the queen of Tahiti between 1827 and 1877...
.
Political confrontations
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 taxIncome tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
scheme, to prepare the islands for independence. The French government had become increasingly bothered by the influence of RDPT, and the local Governor conspire against the RDPT government. Protests against the RDPT government 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
French constitutional referendum, 1958
A constitutional referendum was held in France on 28 September 1958. Voters were asked whether they approved of the adoption of a constitution for the French Fifth Republic written by Charles de Gaulle. It was overwhelmingly approved, with 82.6% in favour...
, and Céran was expelled. Céran's followers founded a rival party, RDPT-Aratai.
Pouvanaa jailed
Pouvanaa campaigned for independence in the 1958 referendum. After the referendum, Pouvanaa was arrested. He was accused of plotting a revolutionary uprising, by setting the capital PapeetePapeete
-Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront esplanade*Bougainville Park -Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront...
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.
In 1960 Pouvanaa a Oopa's son, Marcel Oopa
Marcel Oopa
Marcel Pouvanaa Oopa was a Tahitian politician, the son of the Tahitian leader Pouvanaa a Oopa. He belonged to the political party Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People , led by his father...
, was elected to the French National Assembly as a RDPT candidate. He died in 1961, and his seat was temporarily filled by John Teariki. In the 1962 National Assembly election
French legislative election, 1962
- National Assembly by Parliamentary Group:...
, 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.
Nuclear test and ban
Once it became publicly known that France intended to conduct tests of Nuclear bombs in French Polynesia, the RDPT was radicalised. Not only the party oppose the testing programme, it also revived its campaign for Polynesian autonomy. In 1963, President Charles de GaulleCharles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
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.
In 1965 elected representatives of RDPT formed a new party (with Teariki at its helm), Here Ai'a
Here Ai'a
Here Ai’a is a political party in French Polynesia. It was created by John Teariki in 1965. At the legislative elections on May 23, 2004, and by-elections on February 13, 2005, the party was part of the Union for Democracy , that won 28 out of 57 seats...
.