France Urged to Apologize for Nuclear Testing in French Polynesia
A parliamentary report calls on France to apologize for nuclear tests in French Polynesia.
Key Points
- • France urged to formally apologize to French Polynesia for nuclear tests.
- • The inquiry cites profound health and environmental consequences from 193 tests.
- • Call for a historians commission to document nuclear testing history.
- • Recommendations include reforming compensation laws for affected individuals.
A parliamentary inquiry report released on June 17, 2023, has recommended that France issue a formal apology to French Polynesia regarding the nuclear tests conducted on its atolls from 1966 to 1996. The commission, led by Deputy Didier Le Gac and Deputy Mereana Reid-Arbelot, emphasizes that the apology must be sincere, serving as a step toward reconciliation rather than a mere symbolic gesture. The inquiry highlighted that a total of 193 nuclear tests carried out over three decades have led to profound health and environmental consequences for the Polynesian population.
The report advocates for the apology to be legislated within the organic law of 2004, which governs the autonomy of French Polynesia. Additionally, it suggests creating a commission of historians tasked with documenting the archives related to France's nuclear testing policies, thereby establishing a shared historical memory.
Significantly, the report reveals estimates from the local social security organization, CPS, which states that costs related to radiation-induced illnesses amount to over one billion euros, for which they plan to seek compensation from the French state. The commission has outlined 45 recommendations aimed at addressing the health impacts and ensuring better compensation for victims. These include abolishing the threshold requirement for measuring radiation exposure and initiating epidemiological studies into health issues affecting those impacted by the nuclear tests.
Moreover, the inquiry addresses ongoing environmental concerns, citing that while some pollution from the tests has been mitigated, biodiversity in the region has been severely disrupted. Existing laws regarding compensation, particularly the 2010 legislation that established a compensation committee, are seen as inadequate, prompting the need for reform to better meet the victims' needs. The findings of the inquiry have received support from organizations advocating for nuclear disarmament and justice, marking a significant step toward acknowledging the historical injustices suffered by the people of French Polynesia.