France, Alternative Libertaire AL #245 - 1984: 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. By this action, the new Kanak Socialist National Liberation
Front inaugurates a new form of anti-colonial struggle whose declared goal is "socialist
Kanak independence." ---- On 18 November 1984 Eloi Machoro breeze ax an urn in Canala.
---- 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 situation of apartheid in fact in a colonial setting. They still carry
a true original Community civilization organized around the "custom" made donations and
gifts-against, classless, stateless where human relations and forms of production based on
individual needs are related to a philosophy that excludes any form of domination,
exploitation and oppression. The "leaders", holder of the "word" and custodian of the oral
memory, do not lie on top of the company.
First revolts...
The colonial situation (relegation to "reserves" in 1859, renamed in 1998 "customary
areas", forced labor and traffic ban in the native code from 1887 to 1946, limited voting
until 1957 epidemics caused by new viruses, famine, outvoted by a settler-colonialism,
especially after the "nickel boom" in 1963...) of course has caused reactions of local
people from the pain of living, refusal child-bearing, violent revolts, some of which lead
to true insurrections.
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. This was
the first event "national" Kanak somehow. "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 around
Louise Michel and Charles Malato, the first true anarchist solidarity insurgents and white
actors of anticolonial support.
The repression was terrible with nearly 2,000 Kanak dead, the assassination of Ata?
rallied by Kanak (whose head was preserved as a trophy, his skull long "forgotten" in the
reserves of the Museum of Man in Paris, just to be officially returned to traditional
authorities and is again Kanak country since 3 September 2014 - see the head of Ata?, film
Mehdi Lallaoui, 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, a victim of attacks and repression against disappears in 1948.
The fire comes from both Catholic and Protestant churches that will drive the creation of
indigenous associations originally in 1953 for the creation of the Union Caledonian (UC)
brings together small white and Melanesians.
The years 1968-1969 will go home a few Kanak 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 slips gradually the demand for autonomy to the independence clearly claimed its
congress in 1978, both under the pressure of these promising new movements "Kanak
awakening" and following the departure of the majority its European members. 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 CPU 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 assassinated. 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, revolution in a very traditional Kanak world 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! "; the occupation of the West Coast Land Committee; Pierre
Declercq Committee; and in France, information Association and support for the rights of
the Kanak people (AISDPK), with many local committees, which brings together committed
long anti-colonial, revolutionary activists of all stripes (with a strong presence of the
LCR and all components of the libertarian movement: CNT, FA, OCL, UTCL), trade unionists,
communists and socialist personalities, 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 throughout the
territory, which will cause the holding of the roundtable Nainville-les-Roches in July in
France between the French government and all components Planning policies. 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.
The creation of the FLNKS
This fool's bargain lead to the radicalization of the movement and processing of FI in
FLNKS (Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation) at its constituent congress from 22
to 24 September 1984. The various organizations FI are joined by Melanesian Progressive
Union and the PS Caledonian (becoming the PSK). Its charter specifies "socialist Kanak
independence" as the goal. With rare foresight, president Tjibaou declare: "Sovereignty
will give us the right and the power to negotiate interdependencies. For a small country
like ours, independence, is to properly calculate interdependencies.?
FLNKS decides to end the institutional politics and proposes an "active boycott" of local
elections on 18 November 1984. On election day, Eloi Machoro, general secretary of the
CPU, an ax to break the urn election in the municipality of Canala and the metropolis
public 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 following
the general mobilization under the joint responsibility of local committees and tribes
concerned will block all economic activity.
In late November a national convention delegates from 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, Canala, born in 1946 in the tribal Nak?ty, comes from one of the
clans rallied in 1978 who had participated in the murder of Atai and crushing of the
uprising. In an oral culture of society, 1878 it was yesterday, and 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 of the
coast is still administered by a European, Roger Gaillot, former member excluded from 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 SLN were requisitioned and deposits 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. Traditional
authorities are part of the action. The FLNKS militants committed 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 apparatus
of production remains unchanged throughout the occupation.
December 2, Eloi Machoro and nearly 400 determined men armed with machetes, machetes,
puzzle and, for some, guns, encircle upon landing four helicopters carrying about 90
gendarmes and force ceux- one, without any opportunity to respond to the risk of a share
of bloodshed and another to get to Thio-Village where they join, once disarmed, other
gendarmes cloistered 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. Armed facing hard time in Eloi Machoro ends with the
safe custody of their 90 colleagues and that 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, activists ensure the protection of the
most endangered independence, especially the few Europeans known for their support for the
fight. The aid supplies to isolated tribes is organized. On the other hand, mobile police
squads 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, war ships refuel the north of the island.
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 ". He landed on 4 December. 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 that is to say, 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 activists: 10 killed including 2 brothers Jean Marie Tjibaou.
As tension mounted anywhere in the Territory and to avoid the escalation in a very
unfavorable ratio of strength 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 all the "events of 1984".
The success of Thio, Eloi Machoro tries to continue its occupation strategy and graduated
violence. January 11, near La Foa, the death of young Yves Tual, near Roger Gaillot,
triggers a "loyalist" riot in Noumea. Edgard Pisani ordered the "neutralization" 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 proper care. Many testimonies from both
sides tend to prove that some members of the GIGN avenge the insult came from the
disarmament Thio.
The colonial power had probably get the return to order in Noumea offering "Loyalists" the
death of their public enemy number one. They will also express their joy and commandos
attempt to attack the morgue to get the head of Eloi. The state of emergency and curfew
were enacted primarily to Kanak, as a real collusion has been established between the
settlers and the security forces. 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 (between the 2 towers presidential election in a bloody
showdown between Chirac and Mitterrand), a 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" the SERP 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. The Noumea
Accords of June 1998 provide for the holding of a self-determination referendum in the
next 20 years or at the latest in 2018 with an electorate "frozen" to the voters in 1998
and permanent residents for more than 20 years before the end 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 today
out of a population of approximately 250,000 people), and pride; and civilization, without
being in contact with the intact market system is still alive (cf. Charter of the Kanak
people initiated this year by the Customary Senate). And it is a victory in itself for the
little people who had the misfortune to fail there over 4000 years on a stone which is so
much gold.
The claim of sovereignty remains as the need for support for anti-colonial metropolis.
Today the Kanak people is less united than before and the FLNKS is no longer able to bear
alone its slogans. 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.
"The blood of the dead is still alive" , last words Tjibaou, minutes before his
assassination in Wadrilla, 4 May 1989.
Daniel Warrior, former co-chair of the AISDPK
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?En-1984-Le-FLNKS-secoue-la
