Page 26 - IB AUG 2019

Opinion

‘Enduring Colonialism’ raises vexatious

questions for the Pacific Islands Forum

of metropolitan France in regional affairs of the Forum and the
dynamics of regional decisions could change to accommodate
the French voice.
However, the concern generated by the Agnon paper is fun-
damental to the whole question on the decolonisation process
and is likely to raise strategic complications on how PIF mem-
bers should accommodate this French voice. How can FICs, for
By Ambassador Kaliopate Tavola example, persist at the UN to push for decolonisation when the
prospects of increased French influence as a development partner,
JULIAN Agnon of Blue Ocean Law recently penned ‘Enduring are increasingly being programmed into regional activities? How
Colonization: How France’s Ongoing Control of French Polynesian can they support Pacific churches who have recently raised their
Resources Violates the International Law of Self-Determination.’ call for decolonisation of French Polynesia in particular?
The paper however is silent on the other French territories of New As can be expected, the clash between bilateral and regional
Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna. For New Caledonia, its route considerations will, inevitably, come into play. Geopolitics will
to independence is mapped out under the Noumea Accord and intrude. How can PIF members, especially PICs, reconcile these
the laws impacting its resources may vary from those of French considerations? There are those, supposedly, that can compart-
Polynesia. Wallis and Futuna has no equivalent accord. But all mentalise these considerations and make judicious regional
are listed under Part Four of the Treaty establishing the European decisions. It may not be easy. But it is doable.
Community as France’s overseas territories. However there are those who will find it difficult. Australia,
Such a claim of violation by France is likely to hit a raw nerve for instance, had sought French engagement in the Indo-Pacific
in the psyche of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members, geostrategic framework and continued to do so, as reported by
particularly of Forum Island Countries (FICs) that are actively The Australian last June. Australia, therefore, may not rock the
galvanising for French decolonisation at the United Nations. The French boat. New Zealand is likely to do the same given it had
legal verification of the violation, tendered by Agnon, will add indicated its acquiescence to Australia when both had consulted
fuel to the decolonisation process in the Pacific. prior to the imposition of Indo-Pacific.
PIF, in the first place, has to manage the situation presented Papua New Guinea can be capricious. When its former Prime
here. At first, when French Polynesia and New Caledonia became Minister had a state visit to Paris in 2016, he was reported to
PIF members, by way of a consensus resolution which was have said that he “would like to see PNG become a significant
subsequently acknowledged as being political, it was envisaged hub for France in the Pacific.” That bilateral sentiment that frames
by some that this might undermine decolonisation efforts in the national issues can get in the way of decisions to grow and unite
Pacific. This was concluded because once those two French ter- Pacific regionalism under its current Framework (The Framework
ritories were let into the PIF, it would lead to increased presence for Pacific Regionalism).
Vanuatu, on the other hand,
can be a fence-sitter on regional
issues and decisions aimed at cir-
cumscribing French engagement
in Pacific regionalism. Ni-Vanuatu
are beneficiaries of a new French
initiative to travel visa-free to New
Caledonia. Furthermore, consider-
ing the country’s condominium
history involving France and Great
Britain and the remnants of the
colonial shared power structure on
ni-Vanuatu and their culture, it can
be envisaged that their balancing
act of fence sitting can topple on
the side of the metropolitan player
that happens to be the flavour of
the month. This can be favourable
or unfavourable depending on the
issue being discussed.
In retrospect, however, such un-
dermining of Pacific regionalism is
not new. The sapping of PIF’s foun-
dation through the preponderance
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor and Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga at the most recent PIF. of national and bilateral sentiments
Forum leaders are grappling with decolonisation issues in the Pacific. Photo: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
26 Islands Business, August 2019