Marcel Oopa
Encyclopedia
Marcel Pouvanaa OopaMarcel Pouvanaa Oopa (b. April 21, 1917, Fare, Huahine Nui
island, French Oceania, d. July 14, 1961, Paris
, France
) was a Tahiti
an politician, the son of the Tahitian leader Pouvanaa a Oopa
. He belonged to the political party
Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
(RDPT), led by his father. Marcel Oopa was a carpenter by profession.
Marcel Oopa joined the Pacific Battalion during the Second World War, and fought in North Africa
. He fought at battle of Bir Hakeim
and in military campaigns in Libya
and Tunisia
. Marcel Oopa received the croix de guerre
medal as well as the Resistance Medal, French Liberation Medal
and the Libya campaign medal.
In 1950 Marcel Oopa took part in the first May Day
celebrations in the history of French Polynesia, participating in military uniform. In 1959 he became a councillor in the Leeward Islands
, replacing his deceased uncle.
In 1960 Marcel Oopa was elected to the French National Assembly
from the French Polynesia
seat in a by-election
, after his imprisoned father had been deposed from his parliamentary seat. Marcel Oopa sat in the group 'Popular Republicans and Democratic Centre' (RPCD, the parliamentary faction of the Popular Republican Movement
).
Marcel Oopa died in cancer
at a the Tenon Hospital in Paris on July 14, 1961. His father had been allowed to sit by his bed, after intense pressure from Tahitian on the French authorities. Marcel Oopa's seat in the French National Assembly was temporarily filled by John Teariki, also from the RDPT.
Huahine
Huahine is an island located among the Society Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Leeward Islands group . The island has a population of about 6,000.-Geography:...
island, French Oceania, d. July 14, 1961, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) was a Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
an politician, the son of the Tahitian leader 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....
. He belonged to the political party
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...
Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People
The Democratic Rally of the Tahitian People was a political party in French Oceania/French Polynesia. The party was led by Pouvanaa a Oopa.-Political profile:Pouvanaa had been elected to the French National Assembly in 1949...
(RDPT), led by his father. Marcel Oopa was a carpenter by profession.
Marcel Oopa joined the Pacific Battalion during the Second World War, and fought in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. He fought at battle of Bir Hakeim
Battle of Bir Hakeim
Bir Hakeim is a remote oasis in the Libyan desert, and the former site of a Turkish fort. During the Battle of Gazala, the 1st Free French Division of General Marie Pierre Kœnig defended the site from 26 May-11 June 1942 against attacking German and Italian forces directed by Lieutenant-General ...
and in military campaigns in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
and Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. Marcel Oopa received the croix de guerre
Croix de guerre 1939-1945 (France)
The Croix de guerre 1939–1945 is a French military decoration created on September 26, 1939, to honour people who fought with the Allies against the Axis force at any time during World War II.-Recipients:...
medal as well as the Resistance Medal, French Liberation Medal
French Liberation Medal
The French Liberation Medal or more precisely Liberated France Medal is a decoration of the French Republic which is issued to any veteran of the Second World War who participated in the liberation of France....
and the Libya campaign medal.
In 1950 Marcel Oopa took part in the first May Day
International Workers' Day
International Workers' Day is a celebration of the international labour movement and left-wing movements. It commonly sees organized street demonstrations and marches by working people and their labour unions throughout most of the world. May 1 is a national holiday in more than 80 countries...
celebrations in the history of French Polynesia, participating in military uniform. In 1959 he became a councillor in the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
, replacing his deceased uncle.
In 1960 Marcel Oopa was elected to the French National Assembly
French 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 ....
from the 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...
seat in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
, after his imprisoned father had been deposed from his parliamentary seat. Marcel Oopa sat in the group 'Popular Republicans and Democratic Centre' (RPCD, the parliamentary faction of the Popular Republican Movement
Popular Republican Movement
The Popular Republican Movement was a French Christian democratic party of the Fourth Republic...
).
Marcel Oopa died in cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at a the Tenon Hospital in Paris on July 14, 1961. His father had been allowed to sit by his bed, after intense pressure from Tahitian on the French authorities. Marcel Oopa's seat in the French National Assembly was temporarily filled by John Teariki, also from the RDPT.