an election victory

Both sides claim an election victory

New Caledonia’s independ ence movement, the Kanak Socialist Nationalist Liberation Front (FLNKS), is proclaiming victory after the March French legislative elections even though it fielded no candidates.

The front had decided to boycott the poll and spent several weeks before the event lobbying support for the deci sion among the Kanak people and asking them not to vote.

The appeal overwhelmingly succeeded.

From the results, it is clear that the vast majority of Melanesians stayed away from the ballot boxes. Only 50 per cent of those eligible to vote throughout the territory did so.

And that propori

tion was largely made up of anti-independ ence supporters of the right wing RPCR party.

Two other groups also stood candidates, the Independents Union, made up of two parties not associ

ated with the FLNKS and Verite Fratemite Vivre Francais, made up of a group of disillusioned former National Front mem bers.

Between them these two or ganisations managed to poll only 11 per cent of the vote.

The remaining 89 per cent went to the RPCR’s two candi dates Jacques Lafleur and Melanesian school teacher, Maurice Nenou, who will now be the territory’s two repre sentatives in the French Parlia ment.

The FLNKS boycott decision was made for two reasons to underline the view that the elections were the concern of France, not Kanaky, which is the name given by the front to their planned independent New Caledonia, and under the new

proportional representation sys tem it would have been unlikely that any FLNKS candidate would win a seat.

There was, however, also a very important third considera tion that of the front’s unity.

Unity, to the FLNKS, has been vital in establishing the front as a serious representative of the Kanak people. And that image was in grave danger of falling apart in the lead-up to the poll with one of the more militant parties, FULK, deman ding a boycott and the more moderate and more widely supported Unione Caledo nien, led by Jean-Marie Tjibaou supporting participation.

The brawl could have spilled

The French national elections may not radically alter any equations in New Caledonia as the Kanaks continue their independence campaign in the face of determined opposition from the mainly French right wing groups. SUE WILLIAMS in Noumea surveys the battleground as both sides wait for the smoke to clear and for a sign from the new administration in Paris.

over into the public arena with the potential danger of fractur ing the movement.

In an effort to maintain its precious image of unity, Unione Caledonien virtually conceded defeat to FULK led by the then foreign affairs spokesman for the FLNKS, Yann Celene Uregei.

The moderates had also hoped this “victory” to Mr Uregei would silence his out spoken criticisms of the direction taken by the front’s leadership and cool his enthu siasm for soliciting support from countries outside the region, namely Libya and the govern ment of Colonel Moammar Gaddafi.

This hope was short-lived however. Mr Uregei took his right hand man, John Peu, the

FLNKS representative in Aus tralia and Pierre Quaeze, the front s delegate to the United Nations to Tripoli in March for an international conference of liberation movements including such organisations as the PLO.

The main policy-making body of the FLNKS, the Politi cal Bureau, had made it clear it did not want to be involved in the Tripoli meeting and wanted no truck with Libya.

It subsequently suspended Mr Uregei from his official duties. As a measure of its displeasure, the Australian gov ernment has also withdrawn Mr Peu’s visa, effectively preven ting him from returning to Aus tralia.

The suspension of one of its most senior members could certainly be a turning point for the front. The decision was unanimous among the front’s member groups, with the ob vious exception of the two FULK delegates.

This shows the moderates to be firmly in control and this is likely to be an impor tant factor in the front’s deal ings with the new right wing French government which has pledged itself to observe the wishes of the majority in New Caledonia on the inde pendence issue.

The new prime minister Jac ques Chirac has promised a referendum on independence in the coming months. He has also promised a restoration of law and order and a massive

investment program for the territory.

While this may sound like tough and decisive action and, while the anti-independentists believe it will mean an end to any talk of self rule, Mr Chirac’s plans don’t differ greatly from those drawn up by the previous socialist government.

Certainly, if a referendum is held, this year and everybody on the electoral roll is allowed to vote, the independence movement will lose.

However, Mr Chirac has not said that this will be the only referendum held. He could well announce another at a later stage.

But this is still in the realm of

speculation and, meanwhile, Tjibaou says he is concentrat ing on the impending vote whenever it may be held.

His greatest priority is the development of the regions.

Three of the four in the territory are

FLNKS strongholds.

At this stage Mr Chirac will probably leave the regions in place, with the possibility of a few minor changes to placate the right wing.

A disciplined and determined force which probably repre sents the greatest danger of a return to violence in these areas.

There are certainly groups within the rightist fold who are well armed and ready to fight if they feel threatened.

The situation has really be come one of “wait and see”.

Tjibaou has followed the rules of the game set out by the previous government and has put his cards on the table.

The next move will have to come from the new administra tion in Paris.