The nuclear weapons of the great powers

French Polynesia should be apologized for nuclear tests

France should apologize to French Polynesia for the country's nuclear tests in the second half of the 20th century that affected the island group's inhabitants. This was stated by a French government report on Tuesday, according to AFP.

France carried out 193 tests between 1966 and 1996 to build up its nuclear arsenal. Tens of thousands of people are said to have been exposed to harmful levels of radiation, which led to a health crisis.

According to the investigative website Disclose, which has information about the tests, people are said to have been affected worse by the radiation than French authorities have admitted.

A step towards reconciliation with French Polynesia”

A French apology to French Polynesia for the nuclear tests in the region is a “fundamental step towards the reconciliation process between French Polynesia and the state”, according to the authors of a new French government report published on Tuesday, AFP reports.

The report states that the 193 nuclear tests carried out by France in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s exposed the island group’s inhabitants to greater health risks than the authorities have been willing to admit.

The French tests remain a sensitive subject in French Polynesia, where they are seen as evidence of racist and colonial actions.