Page 16 - IB March 2018 Edition

Politics

‘At the dawn of a new day’ mission to New Caledonia this month, to
monitor the work of these Special Admin-
istrative Committees, as they finalise the
voting roll that will be released publically
in August.
FLNKS Congress FLNKS: Union Calédonienne (UC); Parti for automatic registration of all indig-
The FLNKS Congress reaffirmed its call
de Libération Kanak (Palika); Rassemble-
calls for “full ment Démocratique Océanien (RDO); and enous Kanaks of voting age, echoing a
Union Progressiste Mélanésien (UPM).
central concern of the Rassemblement des
The first President of the FLNKS, Jean-
indépendantistes et nationalistes (RIN).
sovereignty” Marie Tjibaou, was assassinated in 1989 The RIN is a loose network outside the
and the position was later filled by Palika’s
FLNKS that includes more radical pro-
Paul Neaoutyine and UC’s Roch Wamytan.
But since 2001, the independence coalition independence groups like the Parti Travail-
liste (PT), Dynamique Unitaire Sud (DUS),
has been unable to agree on a President. the USTKE trade union confederation and
To avoid potentially divisive debates over individual activists.
leadership, the Arama Congress decided UC President Daniel Goa has floated the
to leave the position vacant and instead idea of re-incorporating all pro-indepen-
appointed UC President Daniel Goa as its dence forces - including political parties,
official spokesperson within New Caledo- trade unions and churches - within the
By Nic Maclellan nia, the region and internationally. FLNKS. However this idea was not ac-
cepted by Palika and UPM at the Arama
Debating the path forward congress. Instead, the congress resolu-
AS New Caledonia’s FLNKS independence As the largest and oldest member of tion called on “independence supporters,
movement met in congress last month the independence movement, UC has long progressives and nationalists to support
near the northern town of Poum, the called for the adoption of full, sovereign the planned accession to full sovereignty
theme highlighted the importance of the political independence. The other FLNKS and to re-join the structures created by
coming year: “Yet Tim Men Ta Yabwat” (At members have been more open to varia- the FLNKS to undertake a campaign at
the dawn of a new day). tions of political status. Palika President local level.”
After decades of campaigning, a deci- Paul Neaoutyine has declared his party This aims to reinforce the “Comités Na-
sion on New Caledonia’s political status is open to discussing “l’indépendance tionalistes et Citoyens” (CNC), a network
is looming. The exact date is still to be avec partenariat” (independence with of local action groups in tribes and towns
announced, but New Caledonia’s refer- partnership), which would establish New across the country. The CNC were created
endum on self-determination must be Caledonia as an independent nation but in 2016 as a structure for independence
held before the end of the year, after a with an ongoing relationship with France. supporters to campaign together at the
20-year transition established by the 1998 Despite these differences, the FLNKS grassroots, regardless of political affili-
Noumea Accord. congress “reaffirmed its objective to have ation.
Opponents of independence believe that the country accede to full sovereignty in
they will win the vote and retain their the referendum scheduled for this year Young people share their vision
current status within the French Repub- 2018.” This spirit of cooperation was evident
lic. After generations of settlement and If New Caledonia’s Congress cannot amongst young Kanaks at the Arama
migration, the indigenous Kanak people agree on a date for the referendum by May meeting. A key feature of the congress
are a minority in their own country, so this year, the French State must hold the was the strong presence and coordina-
mobilising independence supporters in referendum at least six months before next tion of young people, who have not been
the lead up to the referendum is all the Congressional elections in May 2019. For involved in longstanding political jousting
more important. this reason, everyone is gearing up for a amongst their elders, often dating back to
th
The 36 Congress of the Front de referendum in late October or November, the 1970s.
Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste preparing for a public campaign in the Each of the FLNKS member parties
(FLNKS) met at Arama on 3-4 February. months before the vote. has a separate youth wing, but younger
The meeting provided a crucial opportu- One of the central concerns for indepen- delegates caucused together and issued
nity for delegates and activists to build dence supporters has been to meet the le- a joint statement from the congress. The
common understanding on issues that gal requirement that potential referendum youth declaration called for “a sovereign
have long been debated within the broad voters must be registered on the general Kanaky-New-Caledonia, as a multi-
independence coalition. electoral roll. The Congress called on inde- cultural, secular, democratic and united
For many years, there have been in- pendence activists appointed to the Special republic.” The united youth network will
ternal tensions over leadership, how to Administrative Committees which register organise a series of cultural and sporting
negotiate with conservative pro-French voters “to maintain the greatest possible events during 2018, so that “young New
parties and the best path for a transition vigilance during the forthcoming work Caledonians, whoever they may be, can
to a new political status. But with only to update the special lists and especially join the movement for national unity so
months remaining until the referendum, those for the referendum.” our country can access full sovereignty.”
there is a need to promote unity amongst The United Nations Special Committee New Caledonian leaders across the polit-
the four political parties that comprise the on Decolonisation is expected to send a ical spectrum will meet with French Prime

16 Islands Business, March 2018