French Territory's Peace Proposal Stumbles at 1st Hurdle
It wasn't until the early 20th century that local movements arose seeking greater autonomy, with some indigenous Kanak groups advocating for complete independence. The 1980s and 90s were periods of widespread violence and saw the assassination of Pierre Declercq, a leader of the UC and the formation of the FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front), which proclaimed a provisional government, leading to clashes with French authorities.
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