Scott-Murphy, John --- "Tahitian Activist in Danger" [1995] HRightsDef 2; (1995) 4 Human Rights Defender

Tahitian Activist in Danger due to Misquotation

Gabriel Teterahi, head of Tahititan NGO Hiti Tau, faces an uncertain future when he returns to Tahiti after being misquoted by a Reuter's journalist during a press conference in Australia.

Mr Teterahi was quoted out of context in a way which made him appear to advocate violence. French language media in Tahiti have already condemned Mr Teterahi, accusing him of inciting violence and wishing to kill people in the struggle for independence.

The incident demonstrates the lack of cultural understanding of the journalist involved and of the way in which violence makes news.

The press conference took place in Canberra on September 14, requiring Mr Teterahi to speak in English, his third language.

While speaking generally about the situation in Tahiti, which has seen recent violent street actions by Tahitians in response to a variety of French provocations, including nuclear testing, he spoke freely and unprepared.

He was quoted as saying "We need to be more violent, we need to kill people, we need to burn the city", amongst other things.

Mr Teterahi was actually protesting the fact that the only way in which their issues had come to the attention of the world was through violence. French control of Tahiti was such that local peaceful efforts to raise the issue of independence were continually suppressed. He was not advocating the use of violence. Gabriel Teterahi has issued a clarification statement but this is not likely to receive headline treatment in Papeete.

Mr Teterahi is well known amongst Australian and Pacific NGOs. They have come to his support, the Australian Council for Overseas Aid (ACFOA) being the most prominant. In a statement issued soon after the event ACFOA President Bill Armstrong strongly supported Mr Teterahi. Another ACFOA statement accused Reuters of "irresponsible and manipulative misreporting".

The danger of Gabriel Teterahi's situation is clear to anyone with a historical knowledge of the French colonial presence in the Pacific. Trumped-up charges and the "discovery" of weapons is a common method of destroying peaceful advocates of change - who can forget the years of confinement endured by Pouvanna, exiled in France, away from his beloved Tahiti?

Other dangers could emerge in vigilante actions or through direct French military involvement. During the 1980s, in New Caledonia, several attempts were made on the lives of independence leaders Jean-Marie Tjibaou and Eloi Machoro. Both are now dead, the victims of violence.

John Scott-Murphy
September 22