ACTiON SOCiAlist the Kanaks demand for independence.
sional of following a boycott of the November elections.
Caledonia is situated in Pacific Islands on the eastern coast ot Australa. It has been a French colony since 1853 Mitterrand's visit followed the killing of Kanak leader Elio Machoro a week earlier and was aimdialogue which looked as if it had been broken'.
The 'dialogue' took place with Dick Ukeiwe staunchly pro-Frenc eader of the colony as wel Jean-Marie Tjibaou, leader of the provisional government of Kanaky.
Edgar Pisani, French ex-cabinet minister commissioner for development, recommending a 'solution' that dOWS TOT some self. government but keeps association with Kanaks the indigenous Melanesian population, want complete independence and remain unconvinced that Mitterand's solution wolle satisfy their demands.
The Times 1c out that while the 'dialogue was taking place a huge nickel mine the east Cors town Thio, Machoro's headquarters, was bowe towardd Prate leather killing of the The Pisani proposals are objected Kanaks. Even if the date of the brought forward to July the Kanaks point out that PRESIDENT MITTERRAND of France flew to New Caledonia on Saturday 20 January to intervene directly in the developing Algeria-style crisis over The Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front, a coalition of 10 organisations, established a proviKanaky on 1 December electoral reform would be required for such a vote to be democratic.
Under French law any French citizen can vote in such a referendum. French civil servants, military personnel, and their families can vote the minute they set foot in the colony.
The French government has already increased its security forces on the island to 3,250. All these soldiers are eligible to vote on the island's destiny.
I ne other objection the Kanaks have to the proposal that they wish voting to be contined to those least one parent born in New Caledonia Miles B00 The demographic balances in the island have been created by the French. In 1971 French minister openly stated that it was important to bring as many white people as possible to New Caledonia drown Kanak aspirafor macpenaence according to Kanak leader Hnalaine Uregei.
took three years from 1971 for the Kanaks to be transformed from a majority into a minority in Today out of a population of 150,000, there are 65,000 Kanaks (about 45 cent of the populasettlers French public servants. The remaining 15-20 per cent is made up of guest workers who . came Pacific QUIC mostly during the nickel DOOM in 1970's.
The battle against the French imperialist rule goes back a long way. soon as the white European settlers arrived in the mid-nineteenth centur! they stole, the good land and forced the Kanaks onthe reserves the poorest land.
Armed In 1878 there was an armed uprising which was ly by French troops but by rrench convicts some of whom were communards with the notable exception of Louise Michel.
In World War 1 when Kanaks, along with other colonials from the French were sent to the NOTLA CASLeN Europe to be butchered by guns, another revolt took place.
One of the leaders of this, Chief Noel, was beheaded and the uprising was once again drowned in blood.
Between 1917 and 1946 the French authorities devised special system for the Kanaks to remain within LIlt reservanus They were only allowed to work for white people The Kanaks were denied the right to vote un1946. 1953 night at 6pm there was a gun salute which signalled the towns.
Even today the Kanaks are not allowed to speak their own language arrival of . the French Socialist Party into coverineil raised Kanak aspirations for inaependence anew. onv to be bitterly disappointed by the compromise solution put forward.
Socialist The Rhodesia-style assembly November is full of anti elected independence, anti-socialist whites Their opposition any reform is backed up by ine rignl-wing in rrance who aim to 'safeguard the of Prance French settlers' by waging the same kind of campaigr leading up to the French general election in 1986 as they did against Algerian independence in the early sixties.
There are three govern. ments in Caledonia loudy. Ine cololllal goverl ment, the French authorities, and the provisional government of Kanaky. The racist, imperialist rule of the : French will not be ended with a neo-colonial solution.
It will only be ended by giving full support to the Kanaky demand for total independence.