White militants close

ranks in New Cal.

“Loyalist, but not an accom plice.” With these words the R.P.C.R. majority in the New Caledonian Congress rejected outright the nine ordinances drawn up by the French gov ernment for the new adminis tration of the territory.

The F.L.N.K.S. members of the congress, to save them selves from a defeat, abstained from the vote.

Three days had been set aside by the congress for de bate on the proposed regula tions. However, the action of the R.C.P.R. shortened the ses sion to a mere two and a half hours.

Despite the party’s refusal to acknowledge the ordinances by taking part in the debate, the nine documents had been carefully studied by all mem bers of the congress before hand. R.P.C.R. members to whom I spoke claimed the

proposals were quite unrealistic for the territory and yet another move by the French govern ment to force people to leave.

Some of these sentiments appear to have been shared by the high commissioner, Mr Fer nand Wibaux, who left for Paris just before the scheduled de bate to discuss the documents with the French minister for New Caledonia, Mr Pisani, and Prime Minister Laurent Fabius.

Certainly the land rights document is one of the most controversial of the nine, along with taxation and compensa tion.

Under the proposed land ordinance the Kanak people, or rather the tribes, since they are considered the owners rather than individuals, could claim any land which does not belong to the state, is ruled as an urban zone, is being used for military purposes, or which has been

designated for public works during the next five years. Land which is used for nickel mining could be claimed, but the min ing rights could not. The com panies involved would instead pay a leasing fee to the owner tribe and/or royalties.

The land claims would be handled by a special office set up to make valuations, finance the Kanak reclamations and settle disputes.

Under the French constitu tion a land owner cannot be forced to sell his holding unless it is in the national interest - for projects such as expressways and the like. Just how the French government will get around this point has not been made clear.

Similarly wide-sweeping is the proposed taxation ordi nance. Under the old system very few people in New Cale donia paid any tax. For exam ple the average wage-earner, on about Austslooo to $l2OO a month, has paid virtually nothing. Under the new propo sal, all those earning more than the equivalent of Austs7oo a month would pay.

The amount of tax proposed is scaled according to income, ranging from 5 per cent through to about 60 per cent, the same as in France, with a discount built in to cover the cost of living. There would also be a levy on the Kanak land used for agriculture which has previous ly been left untaxed. Taxes would also be increased for companies, although some fair ly generous concessions are offered to promote deve lopment.

All the income tax collected would go to the territorial budget while land tax and licen sing fees for businesses would go to the regional councils.

As for compensation, those people who have lost property during the violence of the last 12 months will not automatical ly get 100 per cent of the property’s worth back. Any thing up to Austs2o,ooo equivalent would be fully com pensated, but after that the

rates fall dramatically so that compensation for the average house worth between $60,000 and $lOO,OOO would be only 60 per cent. For property worth more than about $400,000 the compensation proposed is only 10 per cent.

Despite the opposition to the ordinances from the right there is not much they can do, even using their majority in the con gress, to change the situation.

The congress can only advise the French government on the document and make recom mendations.

However, given the strength of feeling against the ordi nances, and the unrest starting to appear in Noumea, it is almost certain there will have to be changes made if any admin istration in New Caledonia is to succeed.

Already there has been an upsurge in the tension through out the territory with activists on the right showing their de termination to fight the Mitter rand government’s plan.

An example of this was given on the night of Friday, October 25, when more than 200 loyal ists raided the nightclubs and bars frequented by the Kanaks in Noumea. Police intervened before any real violence began, keeping the two groups apart, and escorting the Kanaks back to their stronghold in the sub urb of Mont Ravel.

The angry Kanaks then set up barricades along the main road and began hurling rocks at passing cars. The result was about 20 people injured and more than 20 others arrested.

A few days later an arson attempt was made on the F.L.N.K.S. headquarters in Noumea. A group of 15 men attacked the two-story house with Molotov cocktails, burning the front of the building, and smashing windows and doors.

No one was hurt.

The raids by the loyalists were well-planned and were “just the start,” according to one organiser.

“We have shown the F.L.N.K.S. that we mean busi ness, that they cannot get away with their campaign of fear and aggression. We can do some thing as well. We are constantly pressured by the French gov ernment and the F.L.N.K.S.

We have had enough. ” Sue Williams in Noumea.