temaru denies snub of bastille

NEWS
French Polynesia president Oscar Temaru is denying a "snub" of highly symbolic Bastille Day celebrations on 14th July.
He turned up hours after the beginning of formal ceremonies instead visiting a shanty town scheduled for state rehabilitation on the west coast of Tahiti.
Temaru jokingly dismissed local controversy.
"That was a whole media hype," Temaru told avaiki nius agency.
He had already attended commemorative ceremonies yesterday and the day before, he said.
Temaru said people were "surprised" to see him show up at Bastille Day after some local media said he would boycott.
"There was a lot of people there and they were so happy to see me there."
Temaru says he accepted some people were upset at his late arrival.
He asked critics to put this in perspective.
"Bastille is a symbolic celebration of something that happened over 200 years ago."
Other priorities might include those who have suffered under the French republic, including the poor and disadvantaged, he said.
French-owned dailies Les Nouvelles and La Depeche printed full front page stories on Temaru's Bastille Day attendance for days before and after, as well as several inside pages.
On local television, Temaru accused some local media of lacking "objectivity" in their reporting of his Bastille day participation.

LINKS
Oscar Temaru won't celebrate 14th of July
A large audience and Oscar Temaru attended Bastille day
IN FRENCH
Oscar Temaru ne fêtera pas le 14 juillet
Cérémonie du 14-Juillet: public nombreux, Oscar Temaru présent
Oscar Temaru visite les quartiers insalubres de Punaauia