Recent violence on the South Pacific Island of New Caledonia, stems from long-standing tensions dating to the 1800s, said K.J. Noh, an expert on Asia-Pacific geopolitics.
Noh criticized France for failing to honor its promises of independence referendums for New Caledonia, manipulating outcomes, and using the coronavirus pandemic and legislative changes to ensure anti-independence results, while historically exploiting and oppressing the Kanak people.
He told Anadolu that New Caledonia, which became a French colony in 1853, had endured "exploitation, oppression, and abuse" by France. "The Kanak people were enslaved, sold, and discriminated against," he said about the island's native population
In the 1960s, France "brutally" responded to the Kanak socialist national liberation movement, said Noh. "They tortured and killed off most of its leaders, often in very brutal ways. And in the 1980s, this became so extreme that it hit the level of a civil war."
He underlined the 1988 Matignon Agreements promised three independence referendums to the people of New Caledonia in exchange for calm.
"Promised a referendum on independence within 10 years. That promise was not kept, France betrayed. They did everything they could to undermine it over a period of 10 years," he said.
Noh said the previous referendums, which favored anti-independence outcomes, were manipulated by France's policies.
He criticized France for using the COVID-19 pandemic to influence the 2021 referendum.
"They (locals) requested that France delay the referendum until the following year. The French said no. In fact, they actually saw it as an opportunity," he said.
Noh also condemned a recent law proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron and passed by the French legislature, that allows new immigrants from France and Europe to vote in future referendums.
"(When they are) allowed to vote in any future election or in any future referendum that essentially seals the deal," he noted.
Underlining the 1870s saw France sending 22,000 immigrants to New Caledonia, Noh said the historical context has contributed to the island's current near-civil war state. "Macron is looking at an extraordinary, difficult situation right now. But I believe that he and his coteries are strongly committed to suppressing and tamping down any rebellion and any future move toward independence, because the French are still wedded to the imperial and colonial traditions," Noh added. "I believe that Macron is desperate. I think they're desperate to shore up their own multinational interests in New Caledonia.”
- Blaming Azerbaijan 'absurd'
Noh criticized Western media for remaining silent about New Caledonia's plight.
"This is a powder keg that has been building for at least three or four decades. They are hoping that they can suppress it without too much attention," he said about France.
He dismissed Paris' attempt to blame Azerbaijan for the unrest as "absurd," noting that the desire for independence dates to the 1960s. "I think it is really ridiculous to blame other countries when these are all issues that can be laid on the doorstep of France," added Noh.
- Clashes in New Caledonia
New Caledonia experienced violent clashes last week between French police and those opposing constitutional reform that would grant voting rights to more than 25,000 French residents on the island.
The ongoing fighting has resulted in six deaths and has led to the declaration of a state of emergency.
The Kanak population makes up about 40% of its 300,000 residents. Despite three referendums in 2018, 2020, and 2021, independence supporters have not reached the 50% threshold.
When the new law comes into force, it is expected that the Kanak population's proportion in the electorate will decrease, and they will not be able to secure the necessary votes for independence in future referendums.
