Indigenous Kanaks in Kanaky New Caledonia sprang into revolt last month in response to moves by the colonial power France to undermine moves towards independence in the Pacific territory. David Robie background the issues as France gears up for a sudden snap general election in a bid to stave of a far-right government.
Pacific civil society and solidarity groups today stepped up their pressure on the French government, accusing it of a “heavy-handed” crackdown on indigenous Kanak protest in New Caledonia, comparing it to Indonesian security forces crushing West Papuan dissent.
New Caledonia’s Kanak national liberation movement has told the UN Decolonisation Committee that France has “robbed” the indigenous people of their independence and has appealed for help.
Revealed: What Roch Wamytan and the Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) delegation told French Prime Minister French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne in Paris about the future of Kanaky New Caledonia.
The Pacific year has closed with growing tensions over sovereignty and self-determination issues and growing stress over the ravages of covid-19 pandemic in a region that was largely virus-free in 2020.