Military withdrawal 'will harm French Polynesian economy'
Updated
The French Pacific territory of French Polynesia is trying to convince the government in Paris not to halve the number of military personnel based there.
Pacific Correspondent Campbell Cooney reports that as part of a cutback on military spending, France has announced it is removing a marine infantry regiment from French Polynesia, and closing an airbase near the capital Papeete.
As a result, the number of French armed forces in French Polynesia will be halved to 1,000 personnel.
A leading member of the ruling pro-autonomy coalition government, Jean-Christophe Bouissou, says that while there is no military threat from which the territory needs defending, he and his colleagues hope to convince the government in Paris to change its decision on economic grounds.
"Having 1,000 people that might leave tomorrow will really have some kind of impact on the economy," he said.
The cutbacks are part of a broader reduction by France of its military of around 50,000 personnel.
