Colonial statutes

Press, 30 April 1988, Page 22

Colonial statutes

WHEN THE FRENCH Socialist Party swept to power in 1981, it raised hopes in the Kanak independence movement that decolonisation would begin. Already in 1979 the party had pledged self-determination for the Kanak people, who are a now a minority 43 per cent in their homeland. • I ■ } However, the socialists responded only with a series of wide-ranging land, judicial, social and econimic reforms in 1983 — but they were regarded as too little, too late by the Kanaks. 1984 Lemoine Statute: Named after the socialist Overseas Territories Minister Georges Lemoine, this was a five-year statute of autonomy to be followed by a referendum on independence in 1989. This was rejected by a majority ..of Kanak parties because there was no clear timetable to independence or proposal for electoral reform. 1985 Pisani-Fabius Statute; Named after the New Caledonian Affairs Minister Edgard Pisani and Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, this was enacted in response to the 1984! insurrection by Kanaks. It offered New Caledonia.a 2*A-year transition period of regionalisation before a referendum on "independence in association with France.” The Kanaks agreed to this and won control of three out of four regions in the elections that year. 1986: The conservative Jacques Chirac Government elected in March. 1986, moved swiftly to strip the power and reduce funding of the regions and to reverse land reforims returning the land .to traditional Kanak owners. September, 1987, Referendum: Boycotted by all pro-independence parties with peaceful demonstrations. The ballot was not held in accordance with United Nations self-determination guidelines and no electoral reform was carried out. ’ -- I January, 1988, Pons Statute: The final: act in reversing the social, political and economic gains made by Kanaks in previous years. The April 24 election finally stripped Kanaks} of many of their rights.