4 Jun 2015

New Caledonia's Naisseline dies

4:26 pm on 4 June 2015

A veteran New Caledonian politician, Nidoish Naisseline, has died of cancer aged 69.

Nidoish Naisseline

Nidoish Naisseline Photo: AFP

Mr Naisseline, who was a hereditary high chief from the island of Mare, obtained a sociology degree in Paris.

While being an assembly member since 1977, he formed the pro-independence LKS party in 1981 and became the president of the Loyalty Islands province in 1995.

He was also a signatory of the 1988 Matignon Accords which ended a phase of civil unrest.

In 2004, he became the head of the domestic carrier, Aircal, and the transport commission of the territorial Congress.