New Caledonia denies independence from France in third vote | Election Issues

With 90 percent of the votes cast, 96 percent of voters voted ‘No’ at all, according to local media reports.

Residents of the Pacific region of New Caledonia have said so adavotera Undoubtedly to remain part of France in the third referendum suspended by independent groups, local journalists said.

Police assistance has been sent to an area known as the “stone”, which is very important in France and is part of a larger debate about the influence of the Pacific between Western and Chinese countries.

Local television station NC 1ere reported that, with 90,23 per cent of the votes cast, 96.32 per cent of voters voted “No” to stand on their own which will raise fears of unrest and questions about the legitimacy of the process.

French President Emmanuel Macron said New Caledonia would remain French.

“The Caledonians have chosen to remain French. They have chosen to do so freely,” Macron told television.

“We can not ignore the fact that voters will remain highly divided over the years … The transition period is now under way,” he added.

The islands of about 185,000 voters, 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) east of Australia, were given three independent referendums under the 1988 agreement to resolve the conflict on the islands.

Sunday attendance was 41.60 percent by 5 pm local time (0600 GMT).

After refusing to leave France in 2018 and last year, the latter was asked one last time: “Do you want New Caledonia to accept full sovereignty and independence?”

Independent activists boycotted the vote, saying they wanted it to be delayed until September because a “good campaign” was not possible with large numbers of coronavirus infections.

This can escalate ethnic tensions, with poorer Kanak people favoring their rights more than wealthy whites.

The Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), a major non-governmental organization, said the government’s insistence on advancing the referendum was “declaring war”.

“This referendum doesn’t make much sense because half the people voted not to vote,” Cathy, a bookseller who only mentioned her first name, told AFP at a polling station in Noumea.

“I left the natural instinct, which makes me happy with the team we will form afterwards,” he told AFP.

One of the five Indo-Pacific archipelagoes bordered by France, New Caledonia is the foundation of Macron’s plan to extend its influence to the Pacific.