Caledonia Militant Assails Voting Delay

New Caledonia’s pro-independence leader, Jean-Marie Tjibaou, accused the French government Friday of backing away from its responsibilities toward the troubled South Pacific territory.

Tjibaou said the decision Thursday to postpone a referendum on independence until after 1986 parliamentary elections shows a lack of political courage.

However, he applauded a promised regionalization process, which he predicted will give nationalists a majority in at least two of four proposed regional councils.

More than 20 people have died since November in clashes between militants, called Kanaks, and white settlers opposed to an end to France’s 130-year colonial rule.