exercises its sovereignty over the Kanak people~ the colonized indigenous people of that Territoxy. EMS/13 A/AC~l09/PV~l369 36 (Mr • Wamytanl It is still importcnt fer us to recall the words of our late President. Jean-Marie Tjibaou speaking befbre the Fourth Camnittee on 12 October 1987, on the ques.tion of New Caledonia. He explained our lilderstcnding of the term "colonization" in this way: "For 'Cfff people, colonization is the theft of our soil, the theft of our country~ the the ft ou: our homelMd. the the ft of our sorereignty~ the the ft of our right of self-determination, the theft of our history as a people and the theft of our right to decide our own future~ As a historical fact, colonization cannot be felt and lived in the same existential way by the usurpec and by the usurped." On 24 Septenber 1853 the French Governnent took p::>ssession of New Caledonia and usurped Kanak sorereignty: French colonialism was under way~ For the Kanak people -it was particularly violent and had evil and disastrous effects on the economic~ social crid cultural organization of the Kanak people. The policy of cantontrent, whereby the indigenous people were p.1shed into the interior end confined to sharply de fined and closed reservation s, had the direct result of opening great opportunities to new settlers, who came from France or were released from prison, to settle as stockmen Md farmers. The aim of that policy was to eliminate the Kanak people or at least to narginalize it in order to nake room for the pol icy of re p::>pula ting and colonizing the country • The dignity of the Kanak people was no longer recognized; lt fell victim to murder Md colonial repression; Reduced to a minority, it was forced out of the country' s p::>litical. economic and social lif:e. 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a historical and political statement about the colonization of New Caledonia and its impact on the Kanak people. It highlights the loss of sovereignty, violence, and marginalization of the indigenous people. The text does not discuss economic development, natural resources, or industry, but rather focuses on the cultural, social, and political aspects of colonization.

**Category**
Culture, Humanitarian aid and relief