The World - News from May 8, 1989
French Premier Michel Rocard said elections in the South Pacific territory of New Caledonia will proceed as planned, reversing an earlier decision to postpone the balloting because of the slaying of two independence leaders. Rocard was among 5,000 who attended the funerals in the capital of Noumea of Jean-Marie Tjibaou, leader of the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front, and Tjibaou’s top assistant, Yeiwene Yeiwene. The two were killed on the island of Ouvea on Thursday by Djubelly Wea, a hard-line separatist opposed to Tjibaou’s moderate policies. Wea was killed by Tjibaou’s bodyguards after the attack.
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