The issue was simply the possible explosion of the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), created in 1984, in the early days of the quasi-civil war of the 1980s in New Caledonia, to carry out the people’s demand for independence. Kanak. . It appears to have been averted, but unity appears clearly weakened, a few months after the May 13 insurrection that propelled a new generation of radical activists to the front.
Two pillars of the movement classified among the moderates, the Kanak Liberation Party (Palika) and the Melanesian Progressive Union (UPM), chose, during their last respective congresses, on the weekend of November 9 and 10, to withdraw from the organization of the Front. Therefore, the activists decided not to appoint more representatives to the political bureau, the governing body of the FLNKS. However, they indicated the fact that they would not abandon it, reserving the possibility of participating in the next congresses of the Front according to the topics. A nuanced stance that reflects his desire to preserve internal balances, while exposing the deep divergences that run through the movement.
Dissension has been expressed especially since the Caledonian Union (UC), the main component of the FLNKS, launched, at the end of 2023, the “cell for coordinating actions on the ground”, within the framework of the mobilization against the reform electoral, a topic that has ignited the debate. merge on May 13, after months of peaceful protests. The violence, which destroyed the achievements of several decades of peace, was strongly denounced by Palika figures such as Louis Mapou, head of the collegiate government of Nouméa, or Paul Néaoutyine, president of the Northern province. Since then, its two institutions have been in the crosshairs of the radicals and two lines have clashed: the first calls for calm to negotiate a political agreement on self-determination, the second wants to maintain pressure from the ground to better negotiate independence. from 2025. .
“Sometimes we will be together, sometimes we won’t”
By remaining members of the FLNKS, the Palika and the UPM do not compromise the fundamental principle of unity, but their withdrawal could complicate the discussions that the State hopes to relaunch on the future status of the territory. “Sometimes we will be together, sometimes we won’t”explained Charles Washetine, Palika spokesperson, on Friday, November 15, during a press conference.
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