Nuclear issues, New Caledonia’s

future, dominated union forum

HELEN FRASER reports from Noumea on the second meeting of the Pacific Trade Union Forum held there at the end of September.

September 26-28 saw more than 100 delegates from 13 Pacific countries in attend ance at the second Pacific Trade Union Forum in Noumea. The three themes of the conference and the chief objectives of the PTUF were a nuclear-free Pacif ic, regional solidarity, and independence for French territories.

The conference was opened by the Vice-President of New Caledonia’s Govern ment Council, Jean-Marie Tjibaou, who poetically de scribed the Pacific environ ment and the threats posed to this paradise by nuclearisa tion, militarisation and indus trialisation. French High Commissioner to New Caledonia, Christian Nucci, also gave an opening address, cautioning that free and frank discussion of the Forum’s controversial themes should not be allowed to undermine normal courtesies.

The ‘‘controversial themes’’ were quickly in troduced when Australian un ion leader, Bill Richardson, launched a stinging attack on the French Government for their continuation of nuclear tests. Mr Richardson, assis tant secretary of the Aust ralian Council of Trade Un ions, said that the story of nuclear testing in French

Polynesia was one of govern mental intrigue and decep tion, with France seeking military prestige and political power at the expense of the health of Pacific peoples. De spite pre-election promises, Mr Richardson claimed that the Mitterrand government has promoted an escalation of nuclear testing.

Mr Richardson urged the conference to increase pressure on the French Gov ernment to achieve an end to their nuclear tests. However, during the final session a de cision was postponed on a resolution to impose bans on French shipping and aircraft.

The proposed resolution also urged that “similar action should be considered to influ ence those governments who carry out nuclear testing, dump nuclear waste in the Pacific and who continue to mine uranium.’’

This was described as “lacking credibility’’ by New Caledonian unions, who ask ed that Australia, Japan, the U.S. and USSR be included in the boycotts because of their nuclear policies. After Australian unionist Pat Clancy replied that this would deprive Australian workers of jobs, the conference de generated into a series of mo tions and counter-motions.

Eventually it was decided

that the PTUF co-ordinating committee would meet as ear ly as possible to resolve the question of boycotts over the nuclear issue. But Australian union leaders made it clear that they were still free to take action at their own level against France.

New Caledonia Independ ence Front spokesman, Yann Celene Uregei, addressed the conference and called for un ion help in getting New Caledonia on the list of the United Nations’ Decolonisa tion Committee. Mr Uregei said he was disappointed with the recent South Pacific Forum held in New Zealand.

Australia, New Zealand and Fiji had opted to give France time to implement their prog ram of economic, social and judicial reforms for New Caledonia, rather than pressuring France at the UN level. However, Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, Father Walter Lini, said he will push for the inclusion of New Caledonia on the UN list. Mr Uregei accused Australia, New Zealand and Fiji of be ing more concerned with their economic ties with France than with solidarity among Pacific people.

A resolution supporting the IF demands was unanimously passed by the conference to strong applause. The confer-

ence also voted that IF spokesmen should visit each Pacific country to develop support, that union journals give publicity to the IF, that PTUF members gain support from their national govern ments, and that France be asked to negotiate a timetable for independence with the IF.

The Noumea conference saw the first participation of New Caledonia’s second trade union USTKE (Union of Exploited and Kanak Workers). Its general secret ary, Louis Kotra Uregei (nephew of Yann Uregei), told the conference that Kanak culture and society were being destroyed by col onialism. He said that non- Kanak workers should realise that their interest lay in the same struggle.

The conference, for which the Noumea venue was reluc tantly granted by the French administration, was held in the French Scientific Re search Centre (ORSTOM).

The French administration showed its interest in the Forum’s themes by the con tinual presence of a note taker.

The local printed press, having already made a fuss about the presence of a Prav da journalist, was quick to seize upon the charges of hy pocrisy and imperialism which were levelled at Aust ralian unionists over the nuc lear issue.

Conference convenor. Bill Richardson, issued a press statement on his departure, describing the conference as a success despite the attempts at disruption. He denied the claims of a Noumea daily that there had been intimidation or manipulation, and expressed regret that the conference or ganisers had not been given the right of reply to these charges through the local press.

Local unionist Louis Kotra Uregai.

Visiting unionist Bill Richardson.