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New Caledonia

WHAT COMES NEXT IN NEW

CALEDONIA?

By Nic Maclellan ment in mid-2022, before entering negotiations on the future
political status of New Caledonia.
New Caledonia’s third referendum on self-determination
under the Noumea Accord has returned an overwhelming Drop in turnout
majority against independence: 96.5% of people who went to In a rare display of unity, the independence movement
the polls voted No to independence, with only 3.5% voting Yes formed a “Strategic Committee on Non-participation” (CSI-NP)
for an independent and sovereign nation. However, this bald as a coalition of political parties, trade unions and customary
figure is not a true representation of sentiment amongst New leaders. Even though voting is not compulsory in France, both
Caledonians, with tens of thousands of indigenous Kanak and previous referendums had seen turnout greater than 80%, so
other independence supporters refusing to participate in the the call on independence supporters to stay away from the
vote on 12 December. poll was be an indication of attitudes to independence. In
Turnout for the referendum nearly halved in comparison response, supporters of independence – Kanak and non-Kanak
to previous votes in November 2018 and October 2020. A – stayed at home, worked in their gardens, went to church or
coalition of independence parties had called for “non-partici- went fishing. Participation in this poll nearly halved compared
pation” in the vote, and the unified, peaceful and disciplined to last year, from 85.69% in October 2020 to 43.9% on 12
boycott by independence supporters creates a significant December.
problem for France. Based on this, the CSI-NP rejected the credibility of the
In a special broadcast on the night of the referendum, vote in a statement: “Independence forces grouped under
French President Emmanuel Macron said: “Tonight, France the banner of the CSI-NP do not recognise the legitimacy and
is more beautiful because New Caledonia has decided to validity of this ballot, which was stolen from them. This ref-
stay.” But while anti-independence leaders have triumphantly erendum is not in accordance with the spirit and the letter of
welcomed the result, the outcome of the third and final the Noumea Accord, a process of decolonisation. It also fails
referendum under the 1998 Noumea Accord is not the end of to comply with United Nations resolutions that include New
the story. Caledonia on the list of non-self-governing territories.”
The size and strength of the “nonparticipation” movement Alongside the four member parties of the FLNKS, the CSI-NP
has encouraged the leaders of the independence movement includes the smaller coalition Mouvement nationaliste pour
Front de Libération Nationale Kanak and Socialiste (FLNKS) la souveraineté de Kanaky (MNSK), the left wing Parti Travail-
and their quest for independence is undiminished. In coalition liste (PT) and Dynamique Unitaire Sud (DUS). The trade union
with other pro-independence parties and trade unions, the confederations Union Syndicale des Travailleurs Kanak et
FLNKS will now wait for the election of a new French govern- Exploités (USTKE) and Confédération Nationale des Travail-

Islands Business, December 2021 21