Page 25 - Islands Business September 2023

New Caledonia New Caledonia

that there’s nothing to worry about in New Caledonia and that administering colonial power, can address. On issues affecting
New Caledonia remains French. This wasn’t for the region – it the Kanak people, there is no use talking with the others. It is
was for him. He wants New Caledonia to be part of his Indo- not just that they don’t understand, it’s that they don’t want
Pacific axis, without understanding that we are already part to understand.”
of the Melanesian axis.
“Our Kanak people are really angry after his visit, angry at Cultural clashes
him,” Wamytan added. “In his speech, Macron said that he Last November, meeting PNG Prime Minister James Marape
was ‘personally hurt’ that we didn’t attend his meeting. But in Bangkok, Macron said: “France is close to Papua New
he has personally wounded thousands of Kanak, through the Guinea due to its geographical proximity to New Caledonia.
stolen referendum on 12 December 2021, which has created a However we share much more: a Melanesian culture and
barrier that makes it difficult to work with him.” common projects regarding energy transition and biodiversity
protection.”
Debates over New Caledonia’s status In Port Vila last month, Macron began his speech with
In Noumea, Macron said a new political statute should a few sentences in Bislama, words warmly welcomed
replace the 1998 Noumea Accord. He called for tripartite by the audience. But repeatedly saying that France is a
negotiations in Paris in September, to forge an agreement on Pacific country doesn’t make it so. For many people across
electoral rolls for New Caledonia’s provincial assemblies and Melanesia, France is a European colonial power. It’s still listed
Congress (the next local elections are due in May 2024). by the UN General Assembly as an administering power of
However the Noumea Accord is embedded in the French non-self-governing territories. Despite the welcoming crowds
Constitution. In order to change the electoral rolls to add during his unprecedented visit to independent Vanuatu and
more voters before May, Macron must convene both houses Papua New Guinea, there are many unresolved colonial
of the French parliament in early 2024 to amend the disputes that still rankle.
constitution. He stressed “there will have to be a change in In Port Vila, for example, kastom chiefs and MPs called on
the Constitution and this change will be held.” President Macron to negotiate on the contested maritime
Despite this pledge, his timetable is already under boundary between Vanuatu and New Caledonia. MP for Tanna,
pressure. Last month, a report from the French Senate Legal Johnny Koanapo said: “President Macron should declare
Commission warned the French government that it should not that Matthew and Hunter are an integral part of Vanuatu,
rush to reform the Constitution and introduce new electoral and therefore should direct that processes are done by the
rolls, without prior agreement between both supporters and two countries to finalise the delimitation of our maritime
opponents of independence in New Caledonia. boundaries.”
“This status cannot be ratified by legislative, organic or France’s claim over Umaenupne (Matthew) and Umaeneag
even constitutional provisions without having been preceded (Hunter) islands – and the EEZ around them – is also rejected
by an agreement,” their report confirmed. “Otherwise, the by indigenous leaders from New Caledonia. In 2009, the
polls could not take place under conditions that were both FLNKS and members of the Kanak Customary Senate joined
fair and acceptable to all parties.” the Vanuatu government to sign the Keamu Accord, which
Roch Wamytan is a chief FLNKS negotiator in the current recognises Vanuatu’s historic claim over the islands.
dialogue with the French State. The veteran UC politician
said: “The Senators have already reported that there must Climate action
be a compromise agreement in New Caledonia before there Throughout his tour, President Macron highlighted the
is any constitutional change in France. It’s complicated for importance of climate action. In New Caledonia, he visited
him.” Tiouandé tribe near Touho to look at coastal erosion; in
As Islands Business went to press, the FLNKS delegation Vanuatu, he signed the Ifira Call for Climate Action Now; while
were still planning to join the next round of talks in Paris, the PNG stopover included talks with the Marape government
but not engage in trilateral negotiations until long-standing on forestry and biodiversity, issuing a Joint Statement on
concerns are addressed. Forests, Nature and Climate.
“At this stage, we will go to Paris in September, but In Papua New Guinea, there was a photo opportunity
only to continue the bilateral talks,” Wamytan said. “At as President Macron and Prime Minister Marape strolled
this time, we’re not considering the need for trilateral through a forest, before signing a partnership agreement
talks with the others [anti-independence parties], who are to “remunerate” the host nation for its efforts to preserve
completely aligned with the French State. Before us, there the primary forest. For PNG environment and community
are still questions that the French State must address, like organisations, however, these pledges appeared to be
the place of Kanak identity, the impact of colonisation and greenwashing, generating carbon credits to allow French fossil
reparations.” fuel corporations to continue polluting.
Wamytan added: “We have no problem talking with our On the same day as his forest walk, Macron attended
local partners about things that affect the people of New a function with executives of TotalEnergies, the French
Caledonia, on the nickel industry, the economy, health and
so on. But there are issues that only the French State, the Continued on page 30

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