Thio in the Spotlight

For both pro-and anti-independ ence forces the south east coast mining town of Thio is a symbol; for the FLNKS the town represents the strong hold of the 1984 campaign to disrupt the territorial elections and to destabilise the countryside. It was the base of mil itant leader Eloi Machoro who kept the town under seige for three weeks, and who was killed in 1985 by French troops. For the loyalists Thio is the “martyr municipality” as Bernard Pons described it during a brief visit to the town in August.

The FLNKS gained control of the municipality of 3000 (of whom about 2,500 are Kanak) in 1985 and Mayor Louis Maperi said his priorities in the period since have been on basic social needs for Kanaks of health, education, housing, roads and running water. Ma jor problems, Maperi said, are juvenile delinquency, alcoholism and drug taking.

Measures undertaken by Maperi in clude the training of paramedics in each tribal village as part of a preventative medicine campaign, the establishment of a technical advisory body for the im provement of housing with tribes, con tinuing towards the total electrification of the municipality, and the setting up of small-scale agricultural and live stock production by Kanak villagers.

Where the SLN nickel company is con cerned demands for increased employ ment of Kanaks in the Thio mining centre have been met to a degree, and pollution control is being addressed.

Kanaks and Wallisians have set up a successful trucking company in the town that services the SLN.

But Maperi points out that there is “almost no contact between races here at Thio”. When Overseas Territories Minister Pons visited Thio, Maperi boycotted the ceremonies, and he de

dared that on the day of the referen dum, “I’ll go fishing.” He predicts that results in Thio will reflect the same level of support for the pro-and anti-inde pendence parties that existed in the council elections of 1985.

Thio’s deputy mayor, Jacques Lo quet, did attend the reception for Ber nard Pons. A European who works at the SLN company, Loquet is also a member of the FLNKS and devoted considerable time and effort to the FLNKS campaign in Thio of 1984-85.

In his speech to the minister, Loquets called for “respect for the right to be different” in Thio, “despite the diffi culties ahead”, and said he hoped the day of the minister’s visit would give to all the population a message of peace and tolerance.

“Each person must understand that the future of this territory must first come through the cohabitation of

members of the population. The search for ways to live together is an old theme that is often expressed but rarely ap plied. .. we are convinced that Thio will outdo itself in this regard as it has al ways done there are many people of goodwill here, many more than people believe.” Loquet concluded with “Vive Thio, Vive France” which surprised many in the territory and drew com ment in the local media. “But I didn’t say Vive Caledonie Francaise,” Loquet stressed.

“Two years ago I would never have said such a thing, but here I think we’re in a crisis situation. Instead of hiding behind a tree and leaving the ground free, I decided to come out and say something. But also to show the Cale donian population that despite the dif ference of ideas amongst us, that I am an elected official at the service of all administrations.”

The late Elol Machoro rallies FLNKS supporters in Thio just before his death.