Monday, November 15, 2004

Trouble in Paradise

Go to Tahiti and start spending French Francs. Actually you buy and spend Pacific French Francs, not Euros.

What is "French Polynesia"? It appears that there is ambiguity and controversy. Colonies are, of course, out and so are large island chains that include international waters. Add the efforts of the friends of French President Chirac to find him a job with immunity from any sort of criminal prosecution when his term expires in 2007, and contested elections and a royal family with ambitions -- and this really gets interesting.

Mr. Rene Hoffer takes all of this seriously. Enough to take the title President of Tahihi (sic). The French Supreme Court has taken up the case. Yet, is their jurisdiction settled? Is this a case for the UN?