Kanak Socialist Liberation
Encyclopedia
The Kanak Socialist Liberation is a Kanak pro-independence
and socialist
political party
in New Caledonia
, led by Nidoïsh Naisseline
.
The LKS was founded by a split in the Party of Kanak Liberation
(Palika) in 1981. The most radical members of Palika, which had been the base of the party since its creation, walked out criticizing the Palika's increasing moderation and increasing links with the metropolitan French Socialist Party (PS). Led by Nidoïsh Naisseline, a Marxist, it also refused to support Rock Pidjot
of the Caledonian Union
in the 1981 elections. However, the LKS moderated and it did not participate in the FLNKS
-led electoral boycotts in the 1980s. In the 1990s
, the party even started co-operating with the anti-independence Rally for Caledonia in the Republic
(RPCR) in the Loyalty Islands
. Thanks to this alliance, Nidoïsh Naisseline was president of the islands between 1995 and 1999. During this time, the LKS adopted a platform in favour of independence-association
and started early negotiations with the loyalists while the FLNKS refused talks until a mining dispute in the North
had been settled. The alliance with the RPCR ended in 2004, but the LKS has remained close to anti-independence parties, notably Future Together
. In fact, Christiane Gambey, a member of Future Together, is also a member of the LKS.
The LKS supports the Nouméa Accord
but wishes to renegotiate certain parts of it, such as replacing the collegial government (which is in practice a perpetual grand coalition
between loyalists and nationalists) by a fixed government pulling its support from a fixed majority in Congress.
In the latest legislative elections
of May 9, 2009, it won 1.92% of the popular vote, and 1 out of 54 seats in the Congress of New Caledonia. It has two seats in the Loyalty Islands
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
and socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, led by Nidoïsh Naisseline
Nidoïsh Naisseline
Nidoïsh Naisseline is a New Caledonian politician. A Kanak of the Nétché tribe, born on the island of Maré, he is an advocate of New Caledonian independence. He succeeded his father Henri as high chief of the Guahma district in 1973; on June 6, 2007, he stepped aside in favor of his son Dokucas....
.
The LKS was founded by a split in the Party of Kanak Liberation
Party of Kanak Liberation
The Party of Kanak Liberation is a socialist pro-independence political party in New Caledonia. It is a component of the National Union for Independence, which in turn is one of the two components of the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front ....
(Palika) in 1981. The most radical members of Palika, which had been the base of the party since its creation, walked out criticizing the Palika's increasing moderation and increasing links with the metropolitan French Socialist Party (PS). Led by Nidoïsh Naisseline, a Marxist, it also refused to support Rock Pidjot
Rock Pidjot
Rock Pidjot was a New Caledonian politician. He served in the National Assembly of France from 1964 until 1986; in that time he sat as a member of five parties, ending with the French Socialist Party. His nephew is Charles Pidjot, who also became a politician in New Caledonia-References:...
of the Caledonian Union
Caledonian Union
The Caledonian Union is a pro-independence political party in New Caledonia. In the latest legislative elections of May 10, 2009, the party won around 11.65 % of the popular vote, and 9 out of 54 seats in the Territorial Congress.-History:...
in the 1981 elections. However, the LKS moderated and it did not participate in the FLNKS
Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front
The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front is a militant socialist pro-independence alliance of political parties in New Caledonia. It was founded in 1984 at a congress of various political parties, mainly indigenous but also of disgruntled and progressive New Caledonians of European...
-led electoral boycotts in the 1980s. In the 1990s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
, the party even started co-operating with the anti-independence Rally for Caledonia in the Republic
Rally for Caledonia in the Republic
The The Rally–UMP is a conservative political party in New Caledonia, strongly supportive of the French status of the region; it is affiliated with the French Union for a Popular Movement.-History:...
(RPCR) in the Loyalty Islands
Loyalty Islands
The Loyalty Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific. They are part of the French territory of New Caledonia, whose mainland is away. They form the Loyalty Islands Province , one of the three provinces of New Caledonia...
. Thanks to this alliance, Nidoïsh Naisseline was president of the islands between 1995 and 1999. During this time, the LKS adopted a platform in favour of independence-association
Free association
Free association may refer to:*Free association , a clinical technique of psychoanalysis devised by Sigmund Freud*Free Association, a musical group formed by David Holmes for the Code 46 soundtrack...
and started early negotiations with the loyalists while the FLNKS refused talks until a mining dispute in the North
North Province, New Caledonia
The North Province is one of three administrative subdivisions in New Caledonia. It corresponds to the northern and northeastern portion of the New Caledonian mainland.The provincial government seat is at Koné....
had been settled. The alliance with the RPCR ended in 2004, but the LKS has remained close to anti-independence parties, notably Future Together
Future Together
The Future Together is a center-right political party in New Caledonia supporting the maintenance of political and administrative ties with France....
. In fact, Christiane Gambey, a member of Future Together, is also a member of the LKS.
The LKS supports the Nouméa Accord
Nouméa Accord
The Nouméa Accord of 1998 promises to grant political power to New Caledonia and its original population, the Kanaks, until the territory decides whether to remain within the French Republic or become an independent state in a referendum to be held between 2014 and 2019...
but wishes to renegotiate certain parts of it, such as replacing the collegial government (which is in practice a perpetual grand coalition
Grand coalition
A grand coalition is an arrangement in a multi-party parliamentary system in which the two largest political parties of opposing political ideologies unite in a coalition government...
between loyalists and nationalists) by a fixed government pulling its support from a fixed majority in Congress.
In the latest legislative elections
New Caledonian legislative election, 2009
Parliamentary elections were held in New Caledonia on 10 May 2009. Voters in New Caledonia chose 76 candidates for the French territory's three provincial assemblies. Fifty-four of these 76 members were also to become members of the Congress of New Caledonia...
of May 9, 2009, it won 1.92% of the popular vote, and 1 out of 54 seats in the Congress of New Caledonia. It has two seats in the Loyalty Islands
Loyalty Islands
The Loyalty Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific. They are part of the French territory of New Caledonia, whose mainland is away. They form the Loyalty Islands Province , one of the three provinces of New Caledonia...