(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL - there thirty years -
FLNKS shakes New Caledonia (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
On 20 November 1984, the city of Thio on the east coast of New Caledonia is occupied by
Kanak activists and activists that block the road and maritime access, making an
independent municipality. The new Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front inaugurates a
new phase in the anti-colonial struggle, whose stated aim is "socialist Kanak
independence." ---- Since taking possession of New Caledonia on behalf of the French
government in 1853, Kanak, Melanesians originating in Southeast Asia, arrived there nearly
four thousand years, were held in apartheid situation done in a colonial setting. They
still carry a true original Community civilization organized around the "custom" made
donations and gifts-against, classless, stateless. ---- First revolts ... ---- The
colonial situation (relegation to "reserves" in 1859, renamed in 1998 "customary areas",
forced labor and traffic ban in the code of the native population from 1887 to 1946,
outvoted by a settler-colonialism. ..) of course has caused reactions of local people from
the pain of living, refusing to procreate, to violent revolts.
The uprising in 1878 lasted twelve months, around the great chief Atai who united many
tribes against the pressure on land for new settlers and their extensive farms. "Cleaning"
of the guerrilla lasted six months, when we will see the majority of the 4,250 deported
communards arrived in 1872, asking for weapons to their guards to quell the "cannibals",
with the exception of a few individuals around Louise Michel and Charles Malato,
anarchists in solidarity insurgent-es and true first white actors of anticolonial support.
The repression was terrible with nearly 2000 dead Kanak, rallied by the assassination of
Ata? Kanak (whose head was preserved as a trophy, his skull long "forgotten" in the
reserves of the Museum of Man in Paris has been officially returned to traditional
authorities and is again Kanak country since 3 September 2014). The second great Kanak
rebellion will place from February to July 1917 Doui Bouarate leaders around Christmas and
Nea, who will find death. It is triggered by the forced recruitment of Kanak as part of
the war of 14-18.
... The modern emancipation
The first form "modern" political organization Kanak was founded in 1946 with the creation
of the Caledonian Communist Party (CCP) around Jeanne Tunica, European, rapidly gathering
over 2000 members. The CCP, the victim of attacks and repression, disappeared in 1948. The
churches both Catholic and Protestant foster creation of native originally associations in
1953 the establishment of the Caledonian Union (UC) gathering small white and Melanesians.
The years 1968-1969 will come home Kanak few students went to study in France. They will
participate in the foundation of the "red scarves" and the group "1878" at the origin of
the Kanak Liberation Party (Palika) in 1976.
The CPU gradually sliding the demand for autonomy to the independence clearly claimed its
1978 congress New leadership was elected in 1977 with among others Pierre Declercq,
Metropolitan teacher arrived in the Territory in the 60s, as Secretary; Tjibaou, a former
student in sociology and ethnology at Lyon and Paris from 1968 to 1970 and defrocked
priest; Francois Burck, M?tis Caldoche, and two young Kanak: Yeiw?n? Yeiw?n? and Eloi
Machoro. The UC and Palika founded in 1978 with the United Front for Liberation Kanak
(FULK around Yann C?l?n? Ur?guei) a separatist Front (FI) in response to the deep desire
for unity of the vast majority of the Kanak people. But September 19, 1981, Pierre
Declercq is murdered. He was replaced by Eloi Machoro.
In 1982 other actors take the stage in the Kanak movement: the Kanak Women's Group in
struggle (GFKEL, a revolution in Kanak world remained very patriarchal on the place of
women); the Trade Union of Kanak and Exploited Workers (USTKE) multiracial union seeking
to expand the struggle for independence and social emancipation struggles in companies,
whose motto is "Factories, tribes, even fight! "; and in France, information Association
and support for the rights of the Kanak people (AISDPK), which brings together
anti-colonial, revolutionary (LCR, CNT, FA, OCL, UTCL), trade unionists, communists and
socialists, environmentalists, Christians, activists of the last French colonies (Dom-Tom)
and various "friends Kanak".
From the beginning of 1983, the political and social situation hardens which will cause
the holding of the roundtable Nainville-les-Roches in July between the French government
and all the political components of the Territory. For the first time, an internal
autonomy project with maintenance of the French presence, recognizes the "innate and
active right Kanak independence." The debate on the electorate for the future
self-determination referendum is open, but the French government is considering in any
case to change the Caledonian electorate. This fool's bargain led to the radicalization of
the movement and processing of FI in FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation
Front), at its constituent congress from 22 to 24 September 1984.
The creation of the FLNKS
FI organizations are joined by the Melanesian Progressive Union and the PS Caledonian
(becoming the PSK). Its charter states "socialist Kanak independence" as the goal. Its
chairman Jean-Marie Tjibaou says: "Sovereignty give us the right and the power to
negotiate interdependencies. For a small country like ours, independence, is to properly
calculate interdependencies. ?
FLNKS offers "active boycott" of local elections on 18 November 1984. On election day,
Eloi Machoro, general secretary of the CPU, an ax to break the ballot box in the
municipality of Canala and opinion public in France discovers the struggle of the Kanak
people through this photo shock concrete symbolizing the radical rejection of the
political game and its institutions. Abstentions exceeds 80% among Kanak: the new
Territorial Assembly is a white and reactionary elected chamber half the population of the
Territory. The field is intense mobilization dams throughout the territory, town halls
occupied. In the weeks that follow, the general mobilization under the joint
responsibility of local committees and tribes concerned will block all economic activity.
In late November, a national convention of delegates from the local committees appoint a
provisional government "Kanaky" with Tjibaou as president; and December 1, the direction
of the FLNKS confirms this government and the full naming Eloi Machoro Security Minister.
Eloi Machoro, teacher at Canala, born in 1946 in the tribal Nak?ty, comes from one of the
clans who had participated in the murder of Atai and crushing of the uprising. Eloi and
relatives need to be among the first to take up the struggle for "freedom fighters".
The "Common Thio" humiliates the colonial power
The active boycott was a big success in Thio: less than 25% of the 1 700 registered in the
municipality voted only 10 Kanak. The mining town of Thio, is the only municipality in the
still administered by a European side, Roger Gaillot, former excluded member of the CPU,
became leader of the local National Front. On 20 November 7th
roadblocks and a naval blockade isolate the town from the rest of the Territory. All
traffic is banned in the city, vehicle Le Nickel deposits are requisitioned and occupied
fuels. 200 activists FLNKS led by Eloi Machoro invade the gendarmerie. About 17 hours, the
Kanak express their joy, Kanaky flag in the lead. Noumea discovered these images on
television.
The vast majority of Kanak population participates in the movement. FLNKS commits a dialog
operation to disarm the heavily armed Europeans dozens of weapons were recovered. Patrols
and guard towers are set up to protect businesses and stores. Self-defense is organized
local tribes. In fact not a single shot was fired against the Europeans and the whole
production unit remains in the state during the occupation. December 2, Eloi Machoro and
nearly 400 men surround upon landing four helicopters carrying about 90 gendarmes and
force them to go to Thio-Village where they join, once disarmed, other gendarmes recluse
in their barracks.
Thio near the bridge, a fifth helicopter pours fifteen men of the GIGN. They soon find
themselves blocked by a solid dam. Eloi Machoro intimate the order to the officer leading
the GIGN commando, helpless and humiliated, to retreat. Before the determination and
organization of Kanak, the colonial power is reflected in the obligation to negotiate the
release of all his men held hostage and their return pitiful Noumea is set up without a
single shot does was fired.
Retaliation
At the same time, the entire area is in a situation of "pre-insurrection" town halls of
occupations, police stations and dams. In Noumea, FLNKS ensures the protection of the most
endangered independence. On the other hand, mobile police keep coming metropolis, bringing
the total to 6,000 men, a policeman for 10 Kanak (excluding actual armed forces). Any
demonstration is prohibited, the army appears in town. On 2 December, a confrontation on a
dam in another region will lead to the death of a white farmer and Edgard Pisani left for
New Caledonia as a special envoy of the French government with a mandate "to ensure order,
maintain dialogue and prepare the terms under which exercised the right to
self-determination. " Before any negotiations, it calls for the lifting of the dams.
For its part FLNKS poses its own conditions: Cancellation of local elections, organizing a
self-determination referendum reserved only Kanak and "victims of history" (non-Kanak born
to parents themselves born in the Territory so especially Caldoches) and release of
political prisoners. But while FLNKS is preparing to lift the barriers on December 5, the
"loyalists" of the "clan M?tis" ride an ambush on the road against Tiendanite Kanak
militants killed ten including two brothers Jean Marie Tjibaou. To avoid climbing in a
very unfavorable ratio of forces to the Kanak Tjibaou will still remove dams on 10
December. That day the encircling dams are raised Thio closing somehow the "Common Thio"
will remain the most significant action of the "events of 1984".
The success of Thio, Eloi Machoro tries to continue its occupation strategy and graduated
violence. January 11, 1985 near La Foa, the death of young Yves Tual, near Roger Gaillot,
triggers a "loyalist" riot in Noumea. Edgard Pisani ordered the "neutralization" of Eloi
Machoro and dispatch of the GIGN commando. Around 6 am on January 12, Machoro Eloi, who
participated in the occupation of a farm, is hit by a bullet in the chest and Marcel
Nonnaro is killed instantly. Eloi dying without care. Many testimonies from both sides
tend to show that some members of the GIGN avenge the insult came from the disarmament
Thio. In Noumea, Loyalist express their joy and a commando even tries to attack the morgue
to get the head of Eloi. The state of emergency and curfew were enacted primarily to
Kanak. The record from the active boycott of November 18 is heavy for the Kanak people: 15
killed, hundreds wounded, 104 prisoners in Noumea, 20 vandalized tribes. The project of
independence-association, reviled by proponents of colonial status quo, submitted on 7
January with Edgard Pisani, is buried before they have been discussed.
The struggle continues
Until 1988, the mobilization continues. Resistance increases against the Pons status
established with the return of the right in power in France, denying any specificity
Fulani Kanak, and leads to the actions of April 1988 and the onslaught of the cave on
Gossanah Island Ouvea May 5 real act of war by some 19 dead Kanak executed after
surrender. Of the June 1988 Matignon Accords agreements are seen as a "capitulation" to
the "Loyalists" RPCR (Rally for Caledonia in the Republic) and the French government
whereas FLNKS these are agreements "truce" preserving the future. Tjibaou and Y?w?n?
Y?w?n? are murdered by one of their own, hostile to these agreements, on 4 May 1989.
The struggle continues in more institutional forms, such as the handover of nickel mines
in Northern Province, and social ties with the fighting conducted by USTKE. Noumea Accords
June 1998 provide for the holding of a referendum on self between 2014 and 2018 with an
electorate "frozen" to the voters in 1998 and permanent residents for more than 20 years
before the end of 2014.
Not only the Kanak people did not join the long list of small prime missing peoples in all
latitudes, but since the 1920s, he again believed in number (about 100 000 people now out
of a population about 250 000 people), and pride; and civilization, without being in
contact with the intact market system is still alive. The claim of sovereignty remains as
the need for support for anti-colonial metropolis. Today the Kanak people is less united
than before. But on the other hand, a mixed culture develops in youth. In a country that
has experienced more than a century of apartheid, it is not nothing! Kanak have avoided
the front racial confrontation, they paid the price of this choice bloodshed.
Daniel Warrior
former co-chair of the AISDPK
Related Link: http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/
http://www.anarkismo.net/article/27743
