Baku hosts opening ceremony of Congress of Independence Movements from French-colonized territories

Baku hosted Wednesday the opening ceremony of the first Congress of Independence Movements from French-colonized territories. Organized by the People's Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe with the support of the Baku Initiative Group, the Congress was attended by leaders from more than 15 political parties and independence movements from Corsica, Melanesia, Polynesia, the Caribbean, and the Antilles islands, all of which are experiencing French colonialism.

The idea of holding the congress originated from the political parties and movements fighting for the independence of the French overseas territories.

Three organizations from the Dutch colonies of Bonaire and Sint Maarten attended the Congress as guests of honor.

In his opening remarks, Abbas Abbasov, Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group, said: “Members of the independence movement were illegally arrested by the French police during the recent riots in New Caledonia. They were treated like terrorists and secretly taken to Paris and subjected to various tortures, among whom were also women with young children.”

He underlined that the Baku Initiative Group would provide assistance to the families of political prisoners and lawyers defending them. Noting that the family members of some of these political prisoners also participated in today's event, Abbasov added: “The Baku Initiative Group announced a scholarship that enables the young people living in French colonies to study in Azerbaijan’s higher educational institutions. Beginning this year, the young people from these areas can benefit from this scholarship.”

Speaking at the event, Jean-Jacob Bicep, Secretary General of the People's Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe, expressed his gratitude to the Government of Azerbaijan for supporting the organization of such a Congress in Baku.

The opening ceremony also featured the screening of a video highlighting the successful activity of the Baku Initiative Group over the past year.

Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group Abbas Abbasov made a brief presentation on the annual report on activities of Baku Initiative Group.

The event, which continued with discussions on the theme "New Caledonia's path to independence and new challenges", heard remarks by other speakers.

In his remarks, New Caledonia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Mickael Forrest expressed his gratitude to the Government of Azerbaijan and all the people who made it possible for them to be present here.

“We must strengthen our platforms, engage in discussions. We need to structure our political activities in a way that allows us to respond to challenges.

The Baku Initiative Group has given us a valuable opportunity, and we should make the most of it. We also need to think about different future platforms by coming together. We should secure our place in the new world order,” added Minister Mickael Forrest.

Isabelle Kaloi, a member of the Congress of New Caledonia, mentioned that everyone knows what has happened in New Caledonia since May 13. “By visiting Azerbaijan and attending this congress, we firmly declare that the actions of the French state against us are unacceptable and we strongly condemn it. We mean racist policemen. The written reports and what people say about it are still far from becoming realities. Consequently, our people are not properly treated, and the region is currently gripped by conflicts and fires. The problems that have arisen over the years are becoming more widespread by the day,” she underscored.

Kaloi said that the measures taken in this regard, of course, do not solve the problem completely. "I would like to say that we were subjected to repression. The reason for all this is, unfortunately, the abolition of our electoral rights. This was done by the French state, suppression of our rights is inadmissible and unacceptable. We have prepared proposals, and the majority welcomed this proposal. But the French government did not want to listen to us. In general, the decision to impose restriction on the right to vote means going against voters, our culture and self-determination," Isabelle Kaloi added.

The member of New Caledonian Congress once again expressed her gratitude to the Baku Initiative Group for the organization of the congress.

In her remarks, Maria Saliga, Member of New Caledonian Congress, described the actions of the French state as unacceptable, emphasizing the need to discuss this issue at the international level.

During the discussions, the speakers underlined that the French authorities should recognize their right to self-determination and support the independence process. They highlighted the damages caused to the economic and cultural development of their country as a result of the colonial policy, drawing attention to the importance of ensuring the protection and development of the rights of the local population.

The Congress also featured discussions on the theme "Emergence of the International Liberation Front".

The two-day Congress will offer participating parties an opportunity to explore ways to coordinate efforts in overcoming French colonialism by creating a unified platform for closer association in the struggle for independence. Representatives from the colonies will discuss the most effective experiences and strategies in the fight for self-determination.

The congress aims to increase international awareness about the numerous crimes and illegal actions committed by the French government against the indigenous peoples of these territories and draw attention to colonialism, one of the major challenges of the 21st century.