Rebels Reject Swap in Hostage Drama
Melanesian separatists rejected an offer Monday by three rightist elected officials to trade places with 23 French hostages.
Dick Ukeiwe, who represents New Caledonia in the French Senate, announced at a meeting of New Caledonia’s new regional assembly that he and two assembly members, Jacques Lafleur and Maurice Nenou, wished to “take the place of the hostages to bring an end to their ordeal.” All three are members of conservative Premier Jacques Chirac’s Rally for the Republic party.
Bernard Pons, French territorial affairs minister, praised the offer and said it could bring movement in the stalemated hostage drama. Noumea Mayor Jean Leques ordered all offices, shops, schools and bars closed at 4 p.m. in support of the idea.
But the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front rejected the offer and repeated its demand for a mediator to negotiate terms for a referendum on independence for the Pacific island territory.
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