Statement Prepared by Eloi Machoro of the Kanak Nation (New Caledonia) for Presentation at the Third General Assembly of the World Council of Indigenous Peoples
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DOCUMENT: MACHORO.TXT
STATEMENT PREPARED BY ELOI MACHORO OF NEW CALEDONIA
FOR PRESENTATION AT THE THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
WORLD COUNCIL OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
1. GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND
NEW CALEDONIA IS PART OF THE MELANESIAN ARCHIPELAGO, WHICH
CONTAINS THE INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES PAPUA NEW GUINEA, THE
SOLOMON ISLANDS, VANUATU, FIJI AND TONGA. NEW CALEDONIA IS
THE SOLE TERRITORY IN THIS GROUP OF COUNTRIES THAT REMAINS
THE COLONY OF A EUROPEAN POWER. IT IS LOCATED 1,500 KM TO
THE WEST OF AUSTRALIA, AT ABOUT THE SAME LATITUDE AS
TOWNSVILLE. THE MAIN ISLAND, SOME 200 KM LONG AND 30 KM
WIDE, CONTAINS THE CAPITAL, NOUMEA; IN ADDITION THERE ARE
THE THREE SMALLER LOYALTY ISLANDS.
2. A BRIEF HISTORY
FRANCE CLAIMED POSSESSION OF NEW CALEDONIA IN 1853. SINCE
THEN, FRANCE HAS SENT SETTLERS THERE; IT HAS ALSO USED PARTS
OF NEW CALEDONIA AS PENAL SETTLEMENTS. THE BEST LAND WAS
THUS TAKEN FROM THE INDIGENOUS KANAKS AND GIVEN TO SETTLERS
OR USED FOR PRISON AREAS.
THIS WAS NOT PASSIVELY ACCEPTED BY THE KANAKS, WHO REVOLTED
IN 1878 AND AGAIN IN 1917. BUT THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT USED
THESE REVOLTS AS A PRETEXT TO CRUSH THE KANAKS AND TAKE MORE
LAND FOR FRENCH SETTLEMENTS. MANY KANAKS WERE DEPORTED FROM
NEW CALEDONIA TO QUEENSLAND AND TAHITI. OTHERS WERE SENT TO
OTHER PARTS OF NEW CALEDONIA POPULATED BY DIFFERENT
INDIGENOUS GROUPS. THIS CREATED TENSIONS AMONG DIFFERENT
KANAK GROUPS CLANS ETANGERS WHO HAD BEEN TRANSPORTED FROM
OTHER PARTS OF NEW CALEDONIA.
AT THE SAME TIME THE FRENCH EMBARKED ON A POLICY OF CULTURAL
GENOCIDE, REPLACING THE NATIVE CULTURE WITH FRENCH WAYS. THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH COLLABORATED WITH THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT IN
TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE KANAK CULTURE. UP UNTIL NOW ALL
EDUCATION HAS BEEN IN FRENCH, IGNORING THE 36 KANAK
LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN NEW CALEDONIA. YOUNG KANAKS ARE EVEN
TAUGHT THAT THEIR ANCESTORS WERE THE GAULS! ONLY THE
PROTESTANT EDUCATION IS BILINGUAL.
THE ONLY CULTURE RECOGNIZED AND MAINTAINED BY THE GOVERNMENT
AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS FRENCH CULTURE; INDEED, THE
FRENCH NEVER RECOGNIZED A KANAK CULTURE.
3. COMPOSITION OF-THE POPULATION
THERE ARE ABOUT 160,000 PEOPLE LIVING IN NEW CALEDONIA
TODAY. THIS INCLUDES:
(a) 60,000 KANAKS
(b) 25,000 "CALEDOCHES" - DESCENDANTS OF THE SETTLERS
WHO HAVE BEEN IN NEW CALEDONIA FOR SEVERAL
GENERATIONS.
(c) OTHERS:
i) NATIVE PEOPLE FROM OTHER FRENCH COLONIES -
MARTINIQUE, REUNION, GUADELOUPE, WALLIS AND
FUTUNA ISLANDS, TAHITI.
ii) FRENCH CITIZENS FROM VIETNAM, ALGERIA,
VANUATU, WHO WERE EXPELLED FROM THESE
COUNTRIES AFTER INDEPENDENCE.
iii) DESCENDANTS OF THE LABOURERS FROM NEW
HEBRIDES, JAPAN, JAVA, AND INDONESIA, WHO
WERE IMPORTED TO PROVIDE THE FRENCH SETTLERS
WITH CHEAP LABOUR.
4. POLITICAL STATUS OF THE TERRITORY
(a) OWNERSHIP OF LANDS AND MINERALS IN 1853 FRANCE TOOK
POSSESSION OF ALL THE LAND. SOME WAS GIVEN TO
SETTLERS AS PRIVATE PROPERTY, SOME WAS ALLOCATED TO
THE KANAKS AS "RESERVES". BUT THESE RESERVES REMAIN
FRENCH PROPERTY. THE REST OF THE LAND WAS KEPT FOR
THE STATE AND THE TERRITORY ADMINISTRATION.
ALL MINERAL DEPOSITS BELONG TO THE STATE. NEW
CALEDONIA IS THE THIRD MOST IMPORTANT EXPORTER OF
NICKEL. THERE ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANT DEPOSITS OF
CHROME AND OTHER MINERALS.
FRANCE ALSO LAYS CLAIM TO ALL SEAS WITHIN 200 MILES
OF NEW CALEDONIA. THIS AREA CONTAINS VAST
QUANTITIES OF MINERAL-BEARING "NODULES" AN
IMPORTANT ENERGY RESOURCE FOR THE FUTURE. IT
POSSIBLY ALSO CONTAINS LARGE PETROLEUM DEPOSITS.
FRANCE HAS ALSO MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE
AMERICANS AND JAPANESE FOR COMMERCIAL FISHING.
IT IS ALWAYS FRANCE THAT MAKES THESE DECISION; THE
EXPLOITATION OF NEW CALEDONIA'S MINERAL RESOURCES
PROVIDES MONEY FOR THE FRENCH, BUT ONLY POLLUTION
FOR THE KANAKS.
(b) STATUS OF LANDS
THE KANAKS LIVE ON LANDS WHICH THEY WORK IN ORDER
TO LIVE, BUT WHICH BELONG TO THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.
THIS SYSTEM OF "USUFRUIT" IS REMINISCENT OF THE
MEDIEVAL SERF SYSTEM. ALL PEOPLE WHO ARRIVED AFTER
COLONIZATION CAN OWN PROPERTY BUT THE KANAKS,
AS A COMMUNITY, HAVE NO SUCH RIGHT. HOWEVER, THE
GOVERNMENT DOES ALLOW INDIVIDUAL, KANAKS TO OWN
LAND. THIS HELPS DESTROY THE UNITY OF THE KANAK
COMMUNITY BY ENCOURAGING SOME INDIVIDUAL KANAKS TO
INTEGRATE INTO EUROPEAN-STYLE SOCIETY.
(c) STATUS OF THE PEOPLE
TWO TYPES OF LEGAL STATUS ARE RECOGNIZED:
i) COMMON LAW STATUS FOR FRENCH "NATIONALS"
ii) SPECIAL STATUS FOR THE KANAKS
THESE ARE NOT EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW. FOR EXAMPLE, IN
"MIXED MARRIAGES" THE INDIVIDUAL WITH "SPECIAL
STATUS" LOSES IT AND GAINS "COMMON LAW STATUS".
THIS IS YET ANOTHER MEANS OF SUPPRESSING THE
IDENTITY OF THE KANAK PEOPLE. ALL CHILDREN OF SUCH
MARRIAGES HAVE "COMMON LAW" STATUS, AND LOSE ANY
CLAIM TO SPECIAL LAND RIGHTS. EVEN THE CHILDREN OF
MIXED DE FACTO RELATIONSHIPS HAVE COMMON LAW
STATUS.
(d) POLITICAL POWER - STILL HELD BY FRANCE
SINCE NEW CALEDONIA IS A FRENCH TERRITORY, IT IS
GOVERNED BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF FRANCE - THE HIGH
COMMISSIONER.
A LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY IS ELECTED DIRECTLY BY THE
NEW CALEDONIA POPULATION AND ELECTS IN ITS TURN AN
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WHICH IS PRESIDED OVER BY THE
HIGH COMMISSIONER. THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
POPULATION MAY THUS MAKE LAWS, BUT ONLY THOSE LAWS
WHICH AGREE WITCH THE FRENCH CONSTITUTION.
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER IS AT THE SAME TIME PRESIDENT
OF THE LOCAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE OF THE
FRENCH GOVERNMENT 20, 000 KILMOTRES AWAY. SO IN NEW
CALEDONIA WE SAY THAT THE HIGH COMMISSIONER "HAS
TWO HATS". BUT HE IS PRIMARILY A FRENCH EXECUTIVE,
EXERCISING POWER IN SUCH VITAL AREAS AS
IMMIGRATION, SECONDARY EDUCATION, DEFENSE, POLICE,
COMMERCE, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA, HEALTH, AND
THE BUDGET. IN OTHER WORDS, ALL IMPORTANT ISSUES
ARE DECIDED BY FRANCE.
5. THE CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION
THERE ARE THREE MAIN GROUPS IN THE TERRITORIAL ASSEMBLY:
(a) THE RIGHT WING, HOLDING 15 SEATS, OPPOSE
INDEPENDENCE WHICH WOULD THREATEN THEIR WEALTH. IT
IS A COALITION WHOSE POLICIES COINCIDE WITH GISCARD
D'ESTAING AND JACQUES CHIRAC IN FRANCE AND IS
SUPPORTED BY TWO MAIN GROUPS - THE WEALTHY
LANDOWNERS, AND THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION, BECAUSE
THEY CLAIM TO GUARANTEE THE AVAILABILITY OF WORK
FOR IMMIGRANTS. MOST OF THE FRENCH OFFICIALS ALSO
SUPPORT THIS PARTY.
(b) THE CENTRE, WITH 7 SEATS, SUPPORTED BY THE
"CALEDOCHES". THE CENTRE SUPPORTS GISCARD IN THE
FRENCH PARLIAMENT; IT FEARS INDEPENDENCE BECAUSE
THE CALEDOCHES WOULD LOSE THEIR LAND. THEY CLAIM TO
BE AS "CALEDONIAN" AS THE KANAKS; BUT THEY ALSO
LIKE TO SEE THEMSELVES AS FRENCH.
(C) THE INDEPENDENCE FRONT, WITH 14 SEATS. IN THE 1978
ELECTIONS, THEY GAINED 82% OF THE KANAK VOTE. IT
COMPRISES FIVE PARTIES, WHO ALL WANT INDEPENDENCE
FOR NEW CALEDONIA, THE KANAKS' HOMELAND. FOREMOST
AMONG THEM IS THE UNION CALEDONIENNE, WHICH WAS THE
FIRST PARTY CREATED FOR THE KANAKS IN THE 1950'S.
THIS FRONT AIMS TO GAIN COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE -
INDEPENDENCE IN THE CHOICE OF TRADING PARTNERS,
CURRENTLY IMPOSED FROM ABOVE BY FRANCE,
INDEPENDENCE IN THEIR POLITICAL ALLIANCES. ABOVE
ALL, THE KANAKS WANT TO BE THEMSELVES, WITH THEIR
OWN CULTURE, AND OWNING THEIR OWN LAND.
FRANCE CLAIMS THAT THE MAJORITY OF NEW CALEDONIANS
DO NOT WANT TO BE INDEPENDENT. THIS IS ONLY TRUE
BECAUSE FRANCE STACKS THE VOTE. SINCE THE 1950'S,
IT HAS ORGANIZED IMMIGRATION FROM THE FRENCH
TERRITORIES AND ENROLLMENTS OF TEMPORARY ARMY
PERSONNEL, IN ORDER TO SWAMP THE NATIVE VOTE. IN
THIS WAY IT MANIPULATES THE ELECTORATE,
CONTRAVENING THE UNITED NATIONS PROCLAMATION WHICH
RECOGNIZES THE RIGHT OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO SELF
DETERMINATION.
6. CONCLUSION
I HOPE THAT THIS BRIEF STATEMENT WILL SHOW YOU THAT THE
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF NEW CALEDONIA HAVE MANY OF THE SAME
PROBLEMS AS THE OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. WE ARE
READY TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR STRUGGLE AGAINST THE
IMPERIALISM OF THE GREAT NATIONS, FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THEIR
OWN RACE AND CULTURE AND FOR THE POSSESSION OF THEIR LANDS.
WE SUPPORT THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES IN PARTICULAR AND WE
CLOSELY FOLLOW PROGRESS OF THEIR STRUGGLE. WE FIND IT EASY
TO IDENTIFY OURSELVES WITH THEIR POSITION. LIKE THEM WE ARE
THE BLACKS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC. LIKE THEM WE ARE FIGHTING
FOR THE POSSESSION OF OUR LANDS AND FOR THE RECOGNITION AND
SURVIVAL OF OUR CULTURE, FOR JUSTICE AND FOR THE RIGHTS OF
MAN.
WE HAVE FOUND THAT WORDS SUCH AS THE RIGHTS OF MAN ARE
COMPLETELY MEANINGLESS WHEN THE IMPERIALIST POWERS MEET TO
DISCUSS ISSUES LIKE NICKEL IN NEW CALEDONIA AND URANIUM IN
AUSTRALIA.
WE EXPRESS OUR REGRET AT NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE PART IN THIS
CONFERENCE AS DELEGATES BUT HOPE THAT THIS WILL CHANGE AT
THE NEXT MEETING.
IN CONCLUSION, I CAN SAY THAT, IF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE
DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER IN MANY RESPECTS, THEY ARE UNITED
AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN A COMMON BATTLE.
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