Rock Pidjot (1907-1990), Philemon Pidjot (1914-1984), Raphael Pidjot (1960-2000)

Three men, two generations, and one family at the service of a common and shared destiny

Souviens-toi (Remember)! It’s the official motto, and the headline of a Review whose first edition was published in November, to commemorate the three men Pidjot. Roch is Plilemon’s big brother, himself father of Raphael. They come from the Pidjot Customary Clan, one of the eight clans that make up this tribe in the city. They are engaged in the same struggle, the recognition and emancipation of the Kanak and Caledonian people, incarnated in “Two colors, one people” motto!

Roch Pidjot Deo is a famous and well known Kanak with multiple facets. He is a founding member of the Caledonian Union Party and its first President. He was elected Government Counsellor, Minister of Agriculture, Member of Parliament of New Caledonia and Chairman of the separatist front. The “Old” has been so far the only Independent Member of National French Parliament, and Member of the Territorial Assembly for over 40 years. His wife Scholastique held an important rank among the customary clans of the South, a direct descendant of the last great chief of the Tribe Dumbéa.

Philemon Pidjot follows his brother’s footsteps in his political commitments. He was also elected as Government Counsellor and remained in Office until his death in 1975. Rock and Philemon traced in their own way, the political career of their nephew and son Raphael Pidjot.

Raphael is a graduate of Political Sciences from the French Grenoble University. He entered Jean-Marie Tjibaou’s cabinet in 1988, and took over the SMSP Company, the suitable economic tool for the Kanak community to access the market economy, in line with the economic rebalancing, advocated by the Noumea Accord. Activist of UC Party, Raphael Pidjot was in favor of a peaceful and economically sustainable independence. Mastering the economic fundamentals, combined with Kanak customary practices, he has to draw on one or the other to affirm the “decolonization” of the economy. He held the position SOFINOR CEO at his tragic death in 2000 at the age 40.

Saturday, November 28, several delegations gathered at Conception Tribe to pay tribute to the three persons. They include, Senator Pierre Frogier, members of Government, Customary Senate, NC congress, mayors, political parties’ representatives, media representatives and trade union organizations. A SMSP delegation including Marcel Thomas, Victor Toulangui, Yvette Sam and NMC Didier Ventura, was also present to honor and acknowledge the work carried out by Raphael Pidjot, including his personal involvement in SMSP and KNS development project. An exhibition of photos and memories of official documents was held along with the Archives of New Caledonia. A debate/ discussion allowed participants to share their stories and express their thoughts about these men’s lives and careers.

Jean-Lucien Pidjot explains “We formulate the hope that this commemoration of the” founding fathers “irrigates consciences, so that everyone becomes aware that the common fate was yesterday and we need tomorrow, strong in their memories and heritage, forge and shape the people and the country they have dreamed, but it is our duty to achieve.”

The post Remember! first appeared on SMSP.

“The word given” is a 52 minute documentary film carried out by Cinead that recalls the history of a mining company celebrating today its eighteen springs, a company which then had neither property nor mining title, that many thought dedicated to bankruptcy and which, eighteen years later, enters into the protected field of metallurgy.

“The word given” is the accomplishment of an intended reasoning which gives confidence to our dreams as well as the story which devotes a thoughtful glance, revealing and making perceptive what was far too long unsaid by the sacred-holy illusion of continuity.

“The word given” relates as a watermark the unusual itinerary of a child whose father’s life has been taken away by Koniambo, and who grew up in Noumea within a family of fellow citizen, far from his mother, Thi Binh, number A 649 sent to Sorrow (Chagrin mine).

This story is the one of a young man who could have been each one among us, of a young man coming from nothing and nowhere who by largest chances, was confronted to keep a promise.

This respected word given by André Dang to Jean-Marie Tjibaou became that of men and women who share with them a visceral attachment for this land of New Caledonia and who like them spared neither sweat, nor tears so that this promise is shared and become a vision.

“The word given” is an economic quest for emancipation, passing by the adhesion of a whole community to a project of society which enables today the association of our cultures to economic rebalancing, foundations of the construction of our common destiny.

The post Broadcasting of the film « The word given » on RFO-NC first appeared on SMSP.