Kanak Pro-Independence Leader Christian Téin To Remain In Mainland France Jail

Monday, 2 December 2024, 8:01 pm
Article: RNZ

Patrick Decloitre, Correspondent French Pacific Desk

Pro-independence Kanak leader Christian Téin will remain in mainland France jail for the time being, a Court of Appeal ruled in Nouméa on Friday.

This followed an earlier ruling on 22 October from the Court of Cassation, which is tasked to rule on possible procedural mistakes in earlier judgements.

The Court of Cassation found some flaws in the procedure that justified the case being heard again by a Court of Appeal.

On Friday, Téin's lawyer Pierre Ortet confirmed his client's detention in mainland France (in Mulhouse jail, North-east of France) has been maintained as a result of the latest Court of Appeal hearing behind closed doors in Nouméa on Friday.

But he also told local media he now intended to bring the matter to the European Court of Human Rights, as well as United Nations' human rights mechanisms, especially on the circumstances that surrounded Téin's transfer to France (on 23 June, 2024) onboard a specially-chartered plane, following his arrest in Nouméa on 19 June.

Nouméa Public Prosecutor Yves Dupas told local media in an interview on Friday that in this case, the next step should happen "some time in January" (2025), when a criminal chamber of the Court of Cassation is expected to deliver another ruling.

Reacting to recent comments made by pro-independence party Union Calédonienne, who maintains Téin is a political prisoner, Dupas said Téin and others facing similar charges "are still presumed innocent", but "are not political prisoners, they have not been held in relation to a political motive".

The alleged crimes, he said, were "crimes and delicts related to organised crime".

The seven charges include complicity as part of murder attempts, theft involving the use of weapons and conspiracy in view of the preparation of acts of organised crimes.

Téin's defence maintains it was never his client's intention to commit such crimes.

Christian Téin is the head of a Field Action Coordinating Cell (CCAT), a group created late 2023 by the largest and oldest pro-independence party Union Calédonienne.

From October 2023 onward, the CCAT organised marches and demonstrations that later degenerated, starting 13 May into insurrectional riots, arson and looting, causing 13 dead and an estimated 2.2 billion Euros in material damage, mainly in the Greater Nouméa area.

"The judicial inquiry aims at establishing every responsibility, especially at the level of 'order givers'", Dupas told local Radio Rythme Bleu on Friday.

He confirmed six persons were still being detained in several jails of mainland France, including Téin.

Three others have been released under judiciary control with an obligation to remain in mainland France.

"You see, the manifestation of truth requires time. Justice requires serenity, it's very important", he commented.

Late August, Téin was also nominated president of the pro-independence umbrella FLNKS at its Congress.

The August 2024 Congress was also marked by the non-attendance of two other main pillars of the movement, UPM and PALIKA, who have since confirmed their intention to distance themselves from FLNKS.

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