Latest news with #CCAT
Local France
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Local France
French deal on New Caledonia 'state' hits early criticism
Following deadly protests that rocked New Caledonia last year, Macron called for talks to break a deadlock between forces loyal to France and those seeking independence. After 10 days of negotiations near Paris, French officials and a delegation of 18 New Caledonian pro-independence and anti-independence representatives reached agreement on Saturday to create a "State of New Caledonia" within the French Republic. READ ALSO: New Caledonia politicians agree on statehood while remaining French The text, which still requires French parliamentary approval and to pass a referendum in the territory, provides for the creation of a Caledonian nationality and the sharing of powers. But it won few supporters in the archipelago. The signatories of the draft agreement admitted during a meeting with Macron on Saturday evening that they were struggling to win over opponents of the deal that will be submitted to a referendum in February 2026. Joel Kasarerhou, president of civil society group Construire Autrement (Build Differently), called the agreement "stillborn", describing it as a "poor" replica of previous agreements and "lacking ambition and vision". Kasarerhou said the youth at the heart of the May 2024 uprising had been "forgotten or barely mentioned". He feared another "May 13" -- the date the 2024 riots began. Advertisement Crossing a 'red line' Home to around 270,000 people and located nearly 17,000 kilometres (10,500 miles) from Paris, New Caledonia is one of several overseas territories that remain an integral part of France. It has been ruled from Paris since the 1800s but many indigenous Kanaks resent France's power over the islands and want more autonomy or independence. Unrest broke out in May 2024 after Paris planned to give voting rights to thousands of non-indigenous long-term residents. Kanaks feared this would watere down their influence, crushing any chance of securing independence. Philippe Blaise, the pro-France first vice-president of Southern Province government, distanced himself from the accord, saying on social media he had discovered the contents of the agreement "like all Caledonians" after it was signed. Blaise said the text "crossed a red line" with the recognition of a "Caledonian state" and a "distinct nationality" -- incompatible, in his view, with French unity. Advertisement 'Betrayal' Several pro-independence figures said the accord was signed without a clear mandate from their base. Several social media posts by pro-independence activists condemned their representatives' signing of the deal. Brenda Wanabo-Ipeze, a leader of the pro-independence group CCAT, currently incarcerated in France, said: "This text was signed without us. It does not bind us." Melanie Atapo, president of the pro-independence USTKE union, which represents Kanak people, told AFP she was "surprised" by the agreement and that the signatories should "come back to share with the bases before signing". Another pro-independence leader with links to the pro-independence FLNKS party, speaking on condition of anonymity, called it a "betrayal", saying pro-independence negotiators have "given in on essential points" without militant approval.
LeMonde
13-07-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
French deal on New Caledonian state criticized in archipelago
An accord between France and New Caledonia, creating a state within a state and hailed by French President Emmanuel Macron as "historic," hit immediate fierce criticism in the Pacific archipelago on Sunday, July 13. Following deadly protests that rocked New Caledonia last year, Macron called for talks to break a deadlock between forces loyal to France and those seeking independence. After 10 days of negotiations near Paris, French officials and a delegation of 18 New Caledonian pro-independence and anti-independence representatives reached agreement on Saturday to create a "State of New Caledonia" within the French Republic. The text, which still requires French parliamentary approval and to pass a referendum in the archipelago, provides for the creation of a New Caledonian nationality and the sharing of powers. But it won few supporters in the archipelago. The signatories of the draft agreement admitted during a meeting with Macron on Saturday evening that they were struggling to win over opponents of the deal, which will be submitted to a referendum in February 2026. Joel Kasarerhou, president of civil society group Construire Autrement ("Build Differently"), called the agreement "stillborn," describing it as a "poor" replica of previous agreements and "lacking ambition and vision." Kasarerhou said the youth at the heart of the May 2024 uprising had been "forgotten or barely mentioned." He feared another "May 13": the date the 2024 riots began. Crossing a 'red line' Home to around 270,000 people and located nearly 17,000 kilometres from Paris, New Caledonia, one of several overseas territories that remain an integral part of France, has been ruled from Paris since the 1800s. But many indigenous Kanaks resent France's power over the islands and want more autonomy or independence. Unrest broke out in May 2024 after Paris planned to give voting rights to thousands of non-indigenous long-term residents. Kanaks feared this would water down their influence, crushing any chance of securing independence. Philippe Blaise, the pro-France first vice president of the Southern Province government, distanced himself from the accord, saying on social media he had discovered the contents of the agreement "like all New Caledonians" after it was signed. Blaise said the text "crossed a red line" with the recognition of a "New Caledonian state" and a "distinct nationality": incompatible, in his view, with French unity. 'Betrayal' Several pro-independence figures said the accord was signed without a clear mandate from their base. Several social media posts by pro-independence activists condemned their representatives' signing of the deal. Brenda Wanabo-Ipeze, a leader of the pro-independence group CCAT, currently incarcerated in France, said: "This text was signed without us. It does not bind us." Melanie Atapo, president of the pro-independence USTKE union, which represents Kanak people, told AFP she was "surprised" by the agreement and that the signatories should "come back to share with the bases before signing". Another pro-independence leader with links to the pro-independence FLNKS party, speaking on condition of anonymity, called it a "betrayal," saying pro-independence negotiators have "given in on essential points" without militant approval.
ABC News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Melanesian lidas bung long Fiji
Pro-independence supporters hold flags of the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) and a banner reading "Free our activists, stop repression" (C) during a rally in support of the independentists who were arrested, in Noumea on June 22, 2024. 11 members of the Cellule de Coordination des Actions de Terrain (CCAT), including the leader, were arrested.
RNZ News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Téin released from French jail after appeal fails
New Caledonia's CCAT leader Christian Téin speaks during a press conference held at Union Calédonienne headquarters in Nouméa. Photo: RRB A Court of Appeal in Paris on Thursday ruled for the release of Kanak pro-independence leader Christian Téin from custody, almost one year after his arrest in New Caledonia. His release conditions include regular judicial summons and residing at his partner's residence, in north-eastern France, which is also a region where he spent the past twelve months in jail, pending his trial. In an earlier ruling on 3 June, the three magistrates, after interviewing Téin on 27 May, found there were insufficient grounds to keep him in custody. Their initial ruling, which was upheld on Thursday after appeal, was that the Kanak leader should be released from jail, but that he should be kept under judicial supervision and prevented from returning to New Caledonia or interfering with persons related to the case. This was appealed by the public prosecution . Téin, 57, is the head of a Field Action Coordinating Cell (CCAT), a group created late 2023 by New Caledonia's largest and oldest pro-independence party Union Calédonienne. Reacting to the latest ruling, one of Téin's defence lawyers said this was "a first victory, but the battle goes on". The same ruling of "release under judicial control" also applied to four other militants who also spent the past twelve months in several prisons in mainland France. Since his arrest in June 2024 and his transfer (with others) by plane from New Caledonia to mainland France, Téin has been jailed in Mulhouse. In late August 2024, Téin, from his Mulhouse jail, was also nominated, in absentia, president of the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), of which the Union Calédonienne party is a dominant member. In January 2025, the case, initially investigated out of Nouméa, was removed from the former investigating judges in Nouméa and transferred to a panel of three Paris judges. On 30 May, another person part of the group that was transferred to France in June 2024 was allowed to return home to New Caledonia - Frédérique Muliava, a former Congress staffer . French president Emmanuel Macron confirmed he would host fresh political talks to foster a comprehensive agreement between all tendencies (pro-independence and pro-France) of New Caledonia's political spectrum. Photo: Screenshot Présidence de la République française Speaking to Pacific leaders earlier this week in Nice, France , at a 'Pacific-France' summit on the margins of the UN Oceans conference, Macron said he would host the New Caledonian talks in Paris, in the "coming weeks". Macron said this fresh roundtable was part of efforts to come up with "a new project". He told Pacific leaders building a political solution for New Caledonia was still work in progress "with a lot of humility, together."
RNZ News
08-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
French court postpones release of Kanak leader following appeal
Christian Téin Photo: LNC A Parisian appellate court has delayed the release of New Caledonia's Kanak pro-independence leader, Christian Téin, from custody following an appeal by prosecutors. Téin, 57, is the head of a Field Action Coordinating Cell (CCAT), a group created late 2023 by New Caledonia's largest and oldest pro-independence party Union Calédonienne. From October 2023 onward, the CCAT organised a series of marches and demonstrations that later degenerated (starting 13 May 2024) into months of civil unrest, arson and looting, causing 14 dead and an estimated €2.2 billion in material damage, mainly in the Greater Nouméa area. Since his arrest in June 2024 and his transfer (with others) by plane from New Caledonia to mainland France, Téin has been jailed in Mulhouse (north-eastern France). Late August 2024, Téin, from his Mulhouse jail, was also nominated, in absentia, president of the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), of which the Union Calédonienne party is a dominant member. In January 2025, the case, initially investigated out of Nouméa, was removed from the former investigating judges in Nouméa and transferred to a panel of three Paris judges. Téin's lawyers said they welcomed the "new approach" by the Paris judges. In a ruling last week, three magistrates found that following Téin's latest hearing, on 27 May 2025, found no sufficient grounds to keep him in custody. They decided that the Kanak leader should be released from jail, but that he should be kept under judicial supervision and prevented from returning to New Caledonia or interfering with persons related to the case. In response, the prosecution immediately appealed the ruling. The Parisian Appellate Court will now hear the case on 12 June. Nicolas Metzdorf Photo: LNC Reacting to the latest ruling to postpone hearings until 12 June, one prominent and anti-independence leader in New Caledonia, Nicolas Metzdorf (who is also an MP for New Caledonia at the French National Assembly), said he was concerned that Téin's "untimely" release could "upset the balances" of political talks currently underway to find a consensus between all political parties regarding New Caledonia's future. "I think what we need above all is serenity, calm and people who are willing to build," Metzdorf told public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie La Première on Friday. French President Emmanuel Macron Photo: AFP / POOL / JEANNE ACCORSINI The talks between all New Caledonia's political groupings, both pro-France and pro-independence, resumed early 2025, fostered by French minister for overseas Emmanuel Valls. Even though Valls managed to bring back all sides to the same political table, the talks once again stalled on 8 May, after an attempted "conclave" in New Caledonia. This was mainly because prominent anti-independence parties strongly objected to Valls' proposal to introduce a "sovereignty with France", including the transfer of key powers from Paris to Nouméa, a dual Kanak/French citizenship and an international standing. Since then, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced his intention to convene all parties once again, this time in Paris in early July, for fresh talks. On 30 May, one of the pro-independence leaders who was also transferred to France last year, could return home to New Caledonia. Frédérique Muliava , a former Congress staffer, was part of a group of six who were charged in relation to the May 2024 riots. Under her new judicial requirements, set out by the judge in charge of the case, Muliava, once she returns to New Caledonia, is allowed to return to work, but is not to make any contact with other individuals related to her case and not to take part in any public demonstration.
