New Caledonia A referendum on independence from France is scheduled to be held this weekend. This is the third and final poll aimed at ending the decolonization process initiated 30 years ago.
For those who have witnessed the first two referendums, it is in stark contrast to the vote scheduled for December 12th: instead of countless Carnaki flags or decorated houses, balconies, roadsides, pickup trucks and even people’s red and white And the blue French tricolor flag before voting in 2018 and 2020, there is nothing to see this year. On the Place des Cocotiers (Place des Cocotiers) in the center of the capital, Noumea, only the constantly patrolling police cars disrupted the tranquility as part of the enhanced security measures during the voting period.
The Karnak National Front, formed by a coalition of pro-independence political parties, called for the postponement of voting and asked Kanaks not to participate, believing that the pandemic’s blockade measures and traditional mourning ceremonies prevented normal campaign activities. The indigenous population of the archipelago-40% of the total population and more likely to vote for independence-is disproportionately affected by Covid-19. Of the 276 Covid deaths in the Territory, more than 60% occurred in Kanak and other Pacific Islander communities.
“The health status has not yet stabilized, and the second wave of risks still exist and are real,” FLNKS said in a statement last month. “Today, most people who die of Covid are Pacific Islanders, and most of them are Kanak.”
Adolf Wamitan lives in San Luis, a village of Kanak near Nouméa. He said: “For us Kanak, mourning is not only sadness, but also an important part of custom.”
He lost an aunt due to the epidemic. The Kanak mourning ceremony takes one year. All clans meet with their leaders, and everyone plays an important role. “Referendum? We have other things to think about,” Wamytan said.
He voted in the last referendum, but said he did not want to vote this year. He supported the FDC’s position on voting, but said he would not do it blindly.
In the past 20 years, as part of the decolonization process, efforts to rebalance the economy and politics to benefit the indigenous people have basically failed. Of New Caledonia’s 280,000 population, 50,000 live below the poverty line, and Kanaks make up more than 70% of the poor. Although two of the territory’s three provinces are controlled by pro-independence parties, the third and richest province, Noumea’s hometown, is ruled by pro-French parties.
“We know they [Kanak politicians] In a difficult situation, France is a very powerful country to challenge, but the situation here is still unsatisfactory,” Wamitan said. “The indigenous people have no vision and are looking for jobs and participating in Caledonian social life. Encountered great difficulties. “
In the town of Païta in N’dé, Kanak youth also felt abandoned; there was a great disagreement between the young people and their political leaders. Marc Gaïa, 28, works in a nickel mine, an industry that is vital to the region’s economy-New Caledonia is the world’s third largest nickel producer. “But I deeply regret that the elders chose to encourage us to work primarily in the mines, rather than in the agricultural sector or in activities that would not destroy our land,” he said. “All we produce here is nickel! … Our living conditions are very difficult, because everything here is so expensive that it is difficult for us to obtain the necessities.”
High risk in France
After the “incident”, the people of New Caledonia promised to hold a referendum as part of the peace process, a quasi-civil war that killed dozens of people in New Caledonia in the 1980s.
The agreement, called the Nouméa Agreement, was signed in 1998 and allows long-term residents to vote on the future political status of New Caledonia and the transfer of sovereign powers of defense, foreign policy, currency, police, and courts.
Although the text attempts to give more power to indigenous peoples, the Karnak’s call for not participating in the December vote has received little sympathy in France.
Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of Overseas Territories, told Europe 1 Last month’s radio station: “It’s a democratic right not to participate.” But he later added on Twitter: “This is our responsibility [presidential] The deadline for completion of this agreement signed in 1998 is five years, and the future is planned. “
The stakes in France are high. In the last two referendums, the support rate for independence increased from 43% in 2018 to 47% in 2020. As more and more voters who support independence join, the prospect of separation has become a reality.
However, France’s overseas territories give it the second largest sea area in the world, and New Caledonia also has important geostrategic significance. Just after Australia withdrew from the submarine deal with Paris and announced the Orcus alliance, its losses will further weaken France’s position in the Indo-Pacific region.
By retaining the date of December 12, French President Emmanuel Macron, who faces next year’s general election, also ensured that votes that may now support the status quo will take place during his term-his main opponent is shaping the far right. This largely opposes the independence of New Caledonia.
The French government has the support of local parties that oppose independence. “If we are still French, it is because all ethnic groups-Cardochians, Kanaks, Vietnamese, Javanese, etc.-will vote’no’ three times,” said Nicholas May, leader of the North Carolina Newborn Party. Zdorf said.
‘Will react’
Some people worry that dissatisfaction with voting may turn into violence-just like in the past. The 1987 independence referendum organized by France and boycotted by the Kanak National Front was frustrating. In the end, members of the coalition took 27 unarmed gendarmerie, a prosecutor and several members of the French army hostage to force the issue of independence. Negotiations. The military attack on the cave where they were held ended the incident, but resulted in the deaths of 19 kidnappers and two rescuers.
This year, France sent 2,000 military police to strengthen security, an unknown number of soldiers, several armored vehicles, and even increased court personnel to deal with those who might be arrested and prosecuted more effectively.
While calling for calmness, Daniel Goa, chairman of the Caledonian Union, chairman of the Caledonian Union, and the largest member of Caledonia, said in a statement that he could not control “uncontrollable youth.” Anger. In St. Louis, Wamitan agreed: “Faced with the results we know in advance, there will be a reaction. This may be intense and short-lived, but there will be a reaction.”
The FDC leaders also stated that they will send a letter to the UN committee that monitors the voting to question its validity.
Faizen Wea is a young man from the Gossanah tribe whose members were kidnapped in 1987. He said he felt “betrayed by my own politicians.”
“The times are chaotic. For example, independent politicians force everyone to be vaccinated. Why? Everything is chaotic. But one thing remains: we have not given up the idea of freedom and independence. We don’t want to stay in France because we can’t bear it. The Kanak people are drowned in the idea of the French. We have the right to enjoy our freedom and our country, just like everyone else Pacific Islands. Our time will finally come. ”
