New Caledonia is preparing for the final independent vote from France | Political Issues

Voters will go to the polls in New Caledonia on Sunday for the third and final referendum on independence in the French-dominated Pacific.

The Independent Council saw an increase in the number of previous two independent referendums from France, which took place in 2018 and 2020.

But the decision of its major parties to boycott the final referendum has sparked controversy ahead of the December 12 election.

“We have called on our human rights activists and our members not to prevent this election from taking place, and thus, to show that we do not oppose democracy,” said Victor Tutugoro, spokesman for New Caledonia’s Kanak and the Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS). ), a member of an independent coalition known as the Independence Strategic Committee, told Al Jazeera.

“Even though France has for years wanted more people to leave Europe and the Pacific regions are being trained to make the Kanak population smaller in their country.”

New Caledonia, once a province of France and now overseas and independent, is located in the South Pacific, about three hours east of Australia.

He was granted three referendums on future political elections in the 1998 Noumea Accord, an alliance between French leaders and territories aimed at addressing political and economic grievances among the islanders, known as the Kanaks, and granting New Caledonia independence.

Pro-France supporters narrowly won the first and second referendums, saying 56.7 percent and 53.3 percent of the vote respectively.

After a third vote, Philippe Gomès, leader of the faithful Caledonia Together party, announced in an interview with the local newspaper, Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes: “The real issue is: How do we get back to France? The new Caledonians are tired of independence “We must create a single – isolation and non-isolation – – conditions for New Caledonia that are freed from the negotiations of independence.”

But the French government’s idea that have a final referendum this month in order to avoid a French presidential and parliamentary election next year has angered independent parties. With the help of Pacific island nations he called for a vote by the end of next year.

Independent parties have said a sharp rise in the number of cases of COVID-19 this year, which led to the closure of the people in September and October, as well as a significant period in the funeral procession among Kanak residents, has hampered their preparations. for votes.

The question of loyalty

France has sent a task force to oversee the referendum. New Caledonia has a population of about 271,407, of which 41.2 percent are Kanak and 24.1 percent are from Europe, mainly France, from France. Local and long-term residents are eligible to vote, but the turnout is expected to be much lower than 85.6 percent of those who voted last year.

“It is clear that an independent referendum with minorities will not have the expected effect,” Caroline Gravelat, a law professor at the University of New Caledonia in Noumea, told Al Jazeera.

“The FLNKS ‘decision not to vote is a political issue, but it does not affect the meaning of the results because the difference between’ yes’ and ‘no’ votes would probably not be so great until the ‘yes’ and’ no ‘votes. yes’ it would have won, “he said.

However, Tutugoro makes it clear that his party will not accept the results for the benefit of the faithful.

“We have already announced that we will not be aware of this and will oppose the French public, the Pacific region and the rest of the world. We have already begun the work of public awareness … , the people of Kanak, the first people, the colonialists and the so-called freedoms, do not exist, “he said. said Al Jazeera.

“How reliable would it be without participation?”

The effects of the stigma, land grabbing, and extortion of the Kanaks led to violent protests in New Caledonia in the 1980’s.

In the first referendum held in 1987, prior to the Noumea coalition, the pro-independence activists, who were outraged by the right to vote for the newcomers to the region, also boycotted. Major pro-France victories sparked violent protests, and reconciliation between French leaders and regions reached a climax in the 1988 Matignon treaty, aimed at redressing inequalities 10 years later, the Noumea Accord, which promoted the vision of ” shared authority “.

New Caledonia State Independent President Louis Mapou (left) greets former opposition leader Thierry Santa of Le Rassemblement’s right-wing party in Noumea last month. Doubts have arisen before the December 12 vote [File: Theo Rouby/AFP]

Even so, islanders still suffer from extreme poverty compared to those from Europe and while New Caledonia has a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in Melanesia’s $ 37,448, unemployment in Kanak is estimated at 38 percent.

In February, the independent parties strengthened their position in the provincial government with six of the 11 executive seats in the Executive, the legislature of the region. They oppose their call for self-determination, although a few allies are ready to consider the “independence of France”.

Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online.

“What worries the opposition parties is the right to self-determination. They see it as remaining in the French colony when New Caledonia will be able to retain greater ‘freedom’ or independence and greater freedom. In that sense, France is a force to be reckoned with, ”said Gravelat.

European officials also contribute 1.5 billion euros ($ 1.69bn) to the region each year, which they will remove if the government stays.

New era

The faithful believe that the early results of “no” could boost economic confidence, with France warning that “yes” could lead to an uncertain future and a migration of 10,000-24,000 people from New Caledonia.

French President Emmanuel Macron also wants to see New Caledonia remain stable as it contributes significantly to France’s maritime power reaching the Indo-Pacific, providing access to large nickel reserves and contributing to its growth. the economic sector only.

Whichever way the vote goes on Sunday, it will mark the end of the Noumea agreement and the start of negotiations for a new treaty on relations between France and New Caledonia. Another request for citizens to ratify the new agreement, overseen by the French government, which launched elections next year, is expected to take effect by June 2023.

“The referendum period is still open and France will have a period of strong elections after the re-election of the president of the Republic and his international conference. We will be vigilant and see the situation,” Tutugoro said.

New Caledonia is a land of great wealth and poverty and unemployment, especially among the Kanak people. [File: Theo Rouby / AFP) (AFP)

Volunteers visit the Lelos shanty town in Noumea in September during the coronavirus lockdown. Irrespective of the outcome on Sunday, Kanak leaders want a concerted effort to tackle inequality [File: Theo Rouby/AFP]

Both sides of the political divide continue to promote the idea of ​​a united future.

“A ‘better future’ and a ‘shared future’ are not appropriate in New Caledonia, they are important,” Gravelat said.

But Tutugoro emphasizes that any united future “seeks to combat social inequality in this country; in the fight against poverty and the growing inequality of the affluent, injustice and tax evasion, extortion, illiteracy … are built on social justice. ”

The disruption of Sunday’s referendum election is a sign of deep divisions among the people of New Caledonia and the risk of frustration and dissatisfaction in the coming months.