Reunionese Communist Party: “Kanaky New Caledonia: Paris Must Release Deported Political Prisoners and Negotiate The Transition Period”
25 June, by
Following the escalation of repression in Kanaky New Caledonia and following the deportation of political prisoners in France, the Reunionese Communist Party "demands the immediate release of New Caledonian political prisoners held in France and their return to the country", "joins to the numerous organizations and States around the world which condemn Paris’s policy in Kanaky New Caledonia. “The PCR (Reunionese Communist Party) underlines that the world is changing and that Paris must accept the outstretched hand: negotiate a transition period,” specifies the press release.
The PCR invites to a meeting on Kanaky New Caledonia, on Saturday June 29 at 2 p.m. at the Parvis des Droits de l’Homme, Champ-Fleury in Saint-Denis.
For 6 months, the CCAT organized large peaceful demonstrations in Kanaky New Caledonia to protest against Paris’s desire to take the side of anti-independence activists by calling into question the Nouméa Decolonization Agreement. The objective is to make any return to independence impossible by making the Kanaks a minority in the electoral list called upon to express themselves on this issue.
By passing a constitutional bill to this effect, the government put an end to a 30-year period of peace. Since then, violence has been a daily occurrence. Armed anti-independence militias act with impunity, observers point out. Caledonians are forced to organize. The clashes left nine people dead.
Last week, repressive forces carried out a major operation targeting separatists. 11 people were arrested, they were treated like terrorists even though they were only campaigning for a just cause. They are therefore political prisoners. During the night from Saturday to Sunday, several were deported to prisons in France, 17,000 kilometers from their homes.
The PCR calls for the immediate release of New Caledonian political prisoners held in France and their return to the country.
The PCR joins the numerous organizations and States around the world which condemn Paris’ policy in Kanaky New Caledonia and demand the return of peace as well as respect for the right to decolonization.
The PCR recalls that in the eyes of the independentists, trust in Paris is broken. The Caledonian Union has set September 24 as the date of proclamation of the Declaration of Sovereignty of Kanaky New Caledonia. Around fifty states are already ready to follow. Their number will only increase given the intensification of repression. The negotiation of a transition period is proposed.
The PCR underlines that the world is changing and that Paris must accept the outstretched hand: negotiate a transition period. We urgently need to find ways of dialogue. The mediation of an international organization now appears to be the only guarantee of neutrality in the process of returning Kanaky New Caledonia to independence.
The PCR invites a meeting to exchange information on the situation in Kanaky New Caledonia and the prospects. Meet on Saturday June 29 at 2 p.m. at the Parvis des Droits de l’Homme, Champ-Fleury in Saint-Denis.
June 24, 2024
PCR press office