The support of the Moderates

Moderates by the French

However, while the plan and much of the finance for the plan to take over Tanna and Santo came from Michael Oli ver and his Phoenix Foun dation, this plan could not have been implemented without the full endorsement, support of and direct assistance from the Condominium Powers, most actively, if not solely, French Government officials, the gen eral settler population, their mixed-race (part-French, part New Hebridean) descendants, and businessmen and planters of various ethnic backgrounds but most of whom have opted to be governed under French law.

Earlier, it was stated that Peacock combined with Oliver and the Moderates to im plement his land schemes.

Eventually, Oliver replaced Peacock and continued to move towards the implementation of his plan.

In 1974, the parties of the Movement Autonomist des Nouvelles Hebrides (MANH) and the Union des Communautes des Nouvelles Hebrides (UCNH) were formed as a direct reaction to the increased strength of the

Coin minted in USA for the organisation which calls itself the Nagriamel Federation Bank.

The head is that of Jimmy Stevens who is referred to as ‘President Moly’.

Vanuaaku Party and the continued protests this party waged on behalf of New Hebrideans.

Their respective platforms were (for MANH); 1. The steady evolution of the territory towards an auton omous status, as opposed to immediate independence as called for by the Vanuaaku Party. 2. The establishment of municipal councils as the basis of political awareness and man agement so as to strengthen the ruling power of the settler minority population, which resided mainly in the urban centres. 3. Progress towards a Terri torial Assembly-type govern ment, so that places like Vila, Santo and Tanna could be governed by the French colon community. It is important to note here that this is the same policy that was proposed by Former French Foreign Minis ter of Overseas Territories Pierre Messmer who was Min ister when MANH was formed.

The UCNH platform was: 1. To involve all communi ties in the New Hebrides in the affairs of the Party. However, it should be noted that the New Hebridean involvement would have been limited to involvement in the party, while party leadership would have been in the hands of the set tlers. 2. To bring the Administra tion’s failures to its attention. 3. To energetically cam paign for law reform (rather than independence) for the general benefit. 4. To take action considered necessary to ensure the main tenance of respect for the law (which is still in the hands of the French and the British).

Since 1979, MANH has formed a coalition with Nagriamel in Santo and merged into a collection of groups which represent the same interests. New Heb rideans of French training or French descent have coalesced with these parties to form the basic political foundation for the implementation of Oliver’s plan. These are the Moderates with whom Oliver combined and effectively engineered and manipulated the recent events in Tanna and in Santo.

However, these parties could not have effectively engineered and implemented their plans for the take-over without the knowledge, consent and in volvement of the French of ficials. It is widely known for instance that the Societe Franqaise des Nouvelles Hebrides (SFNH), the French land-holding company with which most French settlers are involved, or in which they have a direct interest, has shares owned by the French Govern ment. Yet, this economic inter est only forms part of the basis for the French Government interest in the New Hebrides.

It is also clear that the French want to maintain a presence in the Pacific so that they may maintain their military and economic stronghold in New Caledonia, and continue to conduct their nuclear testing in French Polynesia. To have an independent, non-aligned and nationalist government in the New Hebrides, which supports the independence movement in New Caledonia, would pose too much of a threat to their military and economic strength in the South Pacific.

Hence, this serves to explain why, from the inception of the Vanuaaku Party, its presence has been a thorn in the side of the French. It also further explains why there has been and will continue to be absol ute inaction when the New Hebrides Government has called upon it to use its police

and mobile units to quell the anti-government take-overs of Santo and Tanna.

In addition, it has come to the New Hebrides Govern ment’s attention that a French gendarme generally referred to as ‘Fat Willie’ engineered the military training of New Hebrideans in Nagriamel, and co-ordinated the takeover in Santo. It was also reported that for the past several months, a French warship has been docking at Santo at least once a month. It has docked at the small rather than the main wharf, thereby avoiding Cus toms. Its arrival has generally occurred in the late afternoon or evening, and it has generally left again the following day. It is believed that this ship has been used to deliver arms, food and supplies to Nagriamel.

Finally, a New Hebrides Government official who was attending a conference last Friday in Noumea, was informed that a French UTA plane left Noumea late on Tuesday afternoon, the evening before the early Wednesday morning take-over of Santo,

with leaders of the Moderates and members of the Phoenix Foundation aboard. This inter national flight should legally have landed in Port-Vila first before going on to Santo. Be cause these Moderates were in Noumea to meet with French Territories Minister Paul Dijoud, it is the government’s belief that Mr Dijoud had full knowledge of the planned take over, and that it was done with his and the French Govern ment’s endorsement. This would also account for the French threat of a complete official pull-out so that the government would be left virtually defenceless.

For all of these reasons, the New Hebrides Government does not feel that it should rely upon the French government for protection, as this govern ment is in fact a part of the conspiracy to overturn our only legitimate democratically elected government.

Hence, we hereby reiterate our request for UN military assistance to protect the people and land of the Republic of Vanuatu.

Jimmy Stevens

Mike Oliver-AAP-AP picture