LONDON, Jun 20 (IPS) – The violence that rocked New Caledonia last month has eased. French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced a halt to changes to voting rights in the Pacific island nation, which was annexed by France in 1853. His attempt to introduce these changes sparked weeks of violence.
colonial heritage
There are 13 territories scattered around the world that were once part of the French Empire but never achieved independence. Their condition varies. Some regions, such as Guadeloupe and Martinique, have the same legal status as mainland France. Others have more autonomy. New Caledonia is in a category of its own. Following the 1998 Noumea Agreement, named after New Caledonia’s capital, France agreed to a gradual transfer of power. Currently, France determines New Caledonia’s defence, economy, elections, foreign affairs and migration policies.
The agreement came in response to an independence movement led by the country’s indigenous Kanak people. The Kanak make up about 40% of the population, with the remainder being smaller groups of European, Asian, Oceanian, and mixed heritage. The Kanak people suffered severe discrimination under French colonial rule and were confined to reservations for a time.
An independent movement that formed in the 1970s with the arrival of new Europeans to work in the nickel mining industry. New Caledonia is the world’s fourth-largest producer of nickel, a key material in stainless steel and increasingly in electric vehicle batteries. The nickel boom highlighted gaps in economic opportunity. Unrest exacerbated violence and eventually led to the Noumea Agreement.
The industrial downturn has led to increased economic conflict, worsening the poverty, inequality, and unemployment experienced by many Kanak people. Today, about a third of Kanak people live in poverty, compared to 9% of non-Kanaak people.
multiple referendums
The agreement created a diverse list of electors eligible to vote in elections and referendums in mainland France and New Caledonia. In this case, the registers are frozen and only people who lived in the country in 1998 and their children can vote. These restrictions were intended to give the Kanak people a greater say in the three independence referendums stipulated in the agreement.
Referendums were held in 2018, 2020, and 2021, and the independence camp lost each time. The 2020 vote was held with about 47% supporting independence. However, the December 2021 referendum was held amid a boycott by pro-independence parties, who called for a postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak, which began in September 2021, has killed 280 people, most of them Kanak. Independence activists complained that the vote affected traditional Kanak mourning rituals, making campaigning impossible.
Almost 97% of those who voted rejected independence, but the boycott meant that only about 44% of those eligible voted, compared to past turnouts of over 80%.
France viewed this referendum as marking the completion of the Noumea Agreement. Macron has made it clear that he considers the issue resolved and has appointed anti-independence figures to key positions. Independence activists argued that the vote imposed by France against their wishes was invalid and that another vote should be held.
After the agreement was signed, far-right forces began to gain prominence in France, as seen in the recent European Parliament elections. French politics and politicians have become more racist, with mainstream political parties, including Macron’s, turning to the right as the far-right National Rally grows in popularity. The ripple effect in New Caledonia is deepening polarization. New Caledonia’s anti-independence movement grew bolder as French politicians promoted a narrow understanding of national identity.
As China pursues closer ties with Pacific countries, Oceania’s strategic importance has also increased. The U.S. government and its allies, including France, responded by paying renewed attention to the long-neglected region. France may be less tolerant of independence than before, especially given the growing demand for electric vehicles.
Emergency
The immediate cause of the protests was the French government’s plan to extend the franchise to anyone who had lived in New Caledonia for more than 10 years. For the independence movement, this was a unilateral departure from the principles of the Noumea Agreement and a setback for the prospects for decolonization and self-determination. Tens of thousands of people have taken part in protests against the changes, which have been approved by the French National Assembly but are awaiting final confirmation.
On May 13, clashes between pro-independence protesters and security forces led to riots. Rioters burned hundreds of buildings in Noumea. Communities set up barricades and people formed defense groups. Eight people are reported to have died.
France declared a national emergency and deployed about 3,000 troops to quell the violence, a measure criticized by many in civil society as harsh. French authorities also banned TikTok. It is the first time an EU country has taken such a step and sets a potentially dangerous precedent.
Blocking social media platforms is never the answer!
French authorities blocked TikTok in New Caledonia for two weeks to quell protests. Find out why this action is unacceptable and always a violation of human rights: https://t.co/NFaTHvidXI
— Access Now (@accessnow) June 5, 2024
need to talk
Macron, who made a brief visit as the violence calmed down, said the electoral overhaul would be halted for talks. His decision to gamble on early elections in France after the European election defeat bought him time.
This time should be used to build bridges and address the obvious fact that many Kanak people do not listen. This goes beyond the franchise problem. There is a serious unresolved problem of economic and social exclusion. Many of those involved in the violence were young, unemployed Kanaks who felt that life had little to offer.
As a result of recent developments, New Caledonia is now more divided than it has been in decades. The issue of independence has not yet been resolved. Many Kanak people feel betrayed. For them, before the franchise can expand, France must agree to complete the unfinished process of decolonization.
Andrew Fermin He is Editor-in-Chief of CIVICUS and co-director and writer of CIVICUS Lens, and co-author of the State of Civil Society report.
© Interpress Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Interpress Service
