History Lessons

AMID CALLS from FLNKS leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou for kanaks to arm themselves in open defiance of New Caledonian law and from RPCR loyalists that virtually every member of the FLNKS be jailed for inciting revolution in gleeful adherence to New Caledonian law pro-independence Melanesians are recognising the essentially long-term nature of their struggle and are working toward economic, social and ed ucation strategies that will build a base from which an in dependent Kanaky can move to true nationhood.

These strategies are vital to the creation of meaningful

“kanakhood”, and likewise to the birth of an educated, experienced group that may one day steer Kanaky through the increasingly dangerous waters of the political Pacific.

But today, the fact that opportunities are denied to Me lanesians is a matter of record. And the denial of those opportunities, in the light of Mr Tjibaou’s call to arms, is a danger to every inhabitant of New Caledonia.

FLNKS spokesman Yeiwene Yeiwene points to statu tory inequalities that place kanaks at a disadvantage in virtually every area of regional and individual better ment, as potential fuel for unrest: fuel that, in addition to proposed changes to New Caledonia’s internal adminis tration, could well kindle the kanak revolution the French would seem to desire.

Such a revolution would cost lives needlessly, and would serve only to further erode France’s already shaky pres tige in the Pacific. It would make a mockery of French

claims to philosophical and moral superiority, and would lead to condemnation of the most damning kind: sanc tions that could topple an economy worryingly dependent on European Economic Community trading advantages, and sanctions that would certainly topple whichever met ropolitan government was responsible.

France is not alone in its apparent inability to learn from history, yet its tragic recapitulation of the past need not continue. Indochina need not have led to Algeria; Tahiti and New Caledonia are not inevitable consequences of Algeria. Even the FLNKS has entreated France to cover itself in glory, not ashes, by devising and implementing policies that reflect a true appreciation of other nations’ bitter colonial heritage. Kanak independence would be greatly to France’s advantage, both on a domestic level and in the eyes of Pacific nations, watching and hoping that the "‘Pacific century” will be ushered in by a gesture wor thy of the republic that sent the words liberte, egalite,fra ternite echoing around the world.

FLNKS leader Tjibaou: chilling warning to French.