PAPEETE (Tahitipresse/PINA) — Thousands of people gathered here to pray for five people who disappeared last week aboard a twin-engine Piper Seneco aircraft in the Tuamotu Archipelago.
Aboard the missing plane were the pilot and four prominent politicians from the pro-autonomy Fetia Api party.
The politicians included party president Boris Leontieff and two candidates for next month’s French general elections, Arsen Tuairau and Ferfine Besseyre. Marquesas Islands Mayor Lucien Kimitete was also on the plane.
All the churches of Tahiti took part in prayer services. Among the participants were French Polynesia President Gaston Flosse, France’s High Commissioner Michel Mathieu, Fetia Api leaders and families of the politicians and pilot.
They all said that hope of finding the men should continue, as no evidence of a disaster has been found so far.
“We all have been moved by this tragedy. We all know that one day we can all go through the same ordeal,” said Flosse.
French President Jacques Chirac and Minister for Overseas Territories Brigitte Girardin sent messages to express solidarity with the families of the missing.
