Latest news with #proindependence
ABC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Pacific Islands Forum officially locks partners and donor governments out of leaders summit
On the program today Critics and democracy advocates in Tonga have slam a controversial law to bring Tonga's foreign relations back under control of the King. Researchers warn the dengue outbreak in the Pacific will only get worse, as climate change fuels mosquito numbers. A viral video capturing a young woman being physically abused by a mob of male students on campus at the University of Technology in Lae sparks fierce online debate. In New Caledonia, pro-independence parties reject the Bougival Accord - a proposed framework aimed at restarting dialogue on the territory's political future. A 19-year-old Australian tourist is set to face court today in Cook Islands after being charged with making a false declaration. Australia and the Pacific commemorates the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific. And the wait is over for the Marshall Islands, who will step on the field today for their first ever soccer match.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
'Full sovereignty and independence': New Caledonia's FLNKS reject France's Bougival project
The independence flag at the FLNKS press conference in Noumea. Photo: AFP / Delphine Mayeur New Caledonia's pro-independence front, the FLNKS, on Wednesday formally confirmed its "block" rejection of the French-fostered Bougival project, signed on 12 July, although it was presented as an agreement between all parties to serve as a guide for the French Pacific territory's political future. This follows the FLNKS's extraordinary Congress held at the weekend in Mont-Dore, near Nouméa. Statements made on Wednesday widely confirmed the pro-independence umbrella's unanimous rejection of the document. The FLNKS confirmed on Wednesday at a press conference its rejection of the Bougival draft agreement and called for provincial elections to be held next November. Photo: AFP / Delphine Mayeur At the weekend Congress, FLNKS president Christian Téin (speaking via telephone from mainland France), had called on FLNKS to "clearly and unequivocally" reject the Bougival document. He said document demonstrated "the administrating power's (France) contempt towards our struggle for recognition as the colonised people". However, he called on the FLNKS to "remain open to dialogue", but only focusing on ways to obtain "full sovereignty" after bilateral talks only with the French State, and no longer with the opposing local political parties (who want New Caledonia to remain a part of France). Some of the mentioned deadlines, he said, were 24 September 2025 and eventually before the end of President Macron's mandate in April 2027, when French Presidential elections are scheduled to take place. Téin was also part of the 13 August media conference, joining via videoconference, to confirm the FLNKS resolutions made at the weekend. Apart from reiterating its calendar of events, the FLNKS, in its final document, endorses the "total and unambiguous rejection" of the French-fostered document" because it is "incompatible" with the right to self-determination and bears a "logic of recolonisation" on the part of France. The document, labelled "motion of general policy", also demands that as a result of the rejection of the Bougival document, and since the previous 1998 Nouméa Accord remains in force, provincial elections previously scheduled for no later than November 2025 should now be maintained. Under the Bougival format, the provincial elections were to be postponed once again to mid-2026. "This will be a good opportunity to verify the legitimacy of those people who want to discuss the future of the country", FLNKS member Sylvain Pabouty (head of Dynamique Unitaire Sud -DUS-) told reporters. Signatures on the last page of New Caledonia's new agreement Photo: Philippe Dunoyer As for the five negotiators who, initially, put their signatures on the document on behalf of FLNKS (including chief negotiator And Union Calédonienne Chairman Emmanuel Tjibaou), they have been de-missioned and their mandate deemed null and void. "Let this be clear to everyone. This is a block rejection of all that is related to the Bougival project," FLNKS political bureau member and leader of the Labour party Marie-Pierre Goyetche told local reporters. "Bougival is behind us, end of the story. The fundamental aim is for our country to access full sovereignty and independence through a decolonisation process within the framework of international law, including the right of the peoples to dispose of themselves." She said that, from now on, the FLNKS will refuse to engage in any aspect of the Bougival document. Part of this further Bougival engagement is a "drafting committee" suggested by French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls, aiming at elaborating all documents (including necessary bills, legal and constitutional texts) related to the general agreement signed in July. Anticipating the FLNKS decision, Valls has already announced he will travel to New Caledonia next week to pursue talks and further "clarify" the spirit of the negotiations that led to the signing. He said he would not give up and that a failure to go along with the agreed document would be "everyone's failure". The Bougival document envisages a path to more autonomy for New Caledonia, including transferring more powers (such as foreign affairs) from France. It also proposes to augment its status by creating a "State" of New Caledonia and creating a dual French/New Caledonia citizenship. The FLNKS stressed it still wanted to talk to Valls, albeit on their own terms, especially when he visits New Caledonia next week. However, according to the FLNKS "motion", this would mean only on one-to-one format (no longer inclusively with the local pro-France parties), with United Nations "technical assistance" and "under the supervision" of the FLNKS president. The only admitted subjects would then be related to a path to "full sovereignty" and further talks were only to take place in New Caledonia. As for the timeline, the FLNKS "motion" states that a "Kanaky Agreement" should be signed before 24 September, which would open a transitional period to full sovereignty not later than April 2027, in other words "before (French) Presidential elections". Goyetche also stressed that the FLNKS motion is warning France against "any new attempt to force its way", as was the case in the days preceding 13 May 2024. This is when a vote in Parliament to amend the French constitution and change the rules of eligibility for voters at New Caledonia's local provincial elections triggered deadly and destructive riots that killed 14 and caused damages worth over €2 billion (as a result of arson and looting). "It seems as if the French government wants to go through the same hardships again", Téin was heard saying through his telephone at the Wednesday conference. "Don't do the same mistake again", Pabouty spoke in a fictitious warning to Valls. In his message posted on social networks on Sunday (10 August), the French minister had blamed those who "refuse the agreement" and who "choose confrontation and let the situation rot away". At the same media conference on Wednesday, FLNKS officials also called on "all of pro-independence forces to do all in their power to peacefully stop the (French) State's agenda as agreed in Bougival". The FLNKS text, as released on Wednesday, also "reaffirms that FLNKS remains the only legitimate representative of the Kanak people, to carry its inalienable right to self-determination". Téin is the leader of the CCAT (field action coordinating cell), a group set up by Union Calédonienne late 2023 to protest against the proposed French Constitutional amendment to alter voters' rules of eligibility at local elections. The protests mainly stemmed from the perception that if the new rules were to come into force, the indigenous Kanaks would find themselves in a position of minority in their own country. Téin was arrested in June 2024 and was charged for a number of crime-related offences, as well as his alleged involvement in the May 2024 riots. He was released from jail mid-June 2025 pending his trial and under the condition that he does not return to New Caledonia for the time being. From his prison cell in Mulhouse (North-east of mainland France), Téin was however elected President of FLNKS in absentia late August 2024. At the same time, as part of the same August 2024 FLNKS meeting, CCAT was admitted as one of the new components of FLNKS, just like a number of other organisations such as trade union USTKE, the Labour party and other smaller pro-independence movement components. Also late August 2024, in a de facto split, the two main moderate pillars of FLNKS, UPM and PALIKA, at the same time, distanced themselves from the pro-independence UC-dominated platform, materialising a persisting rift within the pro-independence umbrella. They asked their supporters to stay away from the riot-related violence, which also materialised through arson, looting and the destruction of hundreds of local businesses, causing in turn thousands of job losses. UPM and PALIKA once again did not take part in the latest FLNKS meeting at the weekend. The two moderate pro-independence parties are part of the political groups who also signed the Bougival document and pledged to uphold it, as it is formulated, and keep the "Bougival spirit" in further talks. The other groups, apart from UPM and PALIKA, are pro-France (Les Loyalistes, Rassemblement-LR, Calédonie Ensemble, as well as Wallisian-based Eveil Océanien. FLNKS, even though five of their negotiators had also signed the document, has since denounced them and said their representative had "no mandate" to do so. Whereas pro-France parties had carefully chosen to not comment on the latest FLNKS moves until they were made public, the official rejection was met by a joint communiqué from Les Loyalistes and Rassemblement-LR. In a long-winded text, the two outspoken pro-France parties have "deplored" what they termed "yet another betrayal". They confirm they will meet Valls along Bougival lines when he visits next week and are now calling on a "bipartisan" committee of those supporting the Bougival text, including parties from all sides, as well as members of the civil society and "experts". They maintain that the Bougival document is "the only viable way to pull New Caledonia out of the critical situation in which it finds itself" and the "political balances" it contains "cannot be put into question".
RNZ News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
New Caledonia's politicians to get police protection following death threats
Demonstration in support New Caledonia against the unfreezing of the electoral body, Place de la Republique, in Paris. 25 May 2024. Photo: AFP / Fiora Garenzi / Hans Lucas New Caledonian politicians who inked their commitment to a deal with France on 12 July will be offered special police protection, following threats uttered especially on social networks. The group to benefit from such measures includes almost twenty members of New Caledonia's parties, both pro-France and pro-independence, who took part in deal-breaking negotiations with the French State that ended on 12 July 2025, and a joint commitment regarding New Caledonia's political future. The endorsed document envisages a roadmap in the coming months to turn New Caledonia into a "State", but within the French realm. It is what some legal experts have sometimes referred to as "a State within the State", while others saying this was tantamount to pushing the French Constitution to its very limits. The document is a commitment by all signatories that, from now on, they will stick to their respective positions. The tense but conclusive negotiations took place behind closed doors in a hotel in the small city of Bougival, near Paris, under talks driven by French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls and a team of high-level French government representatives and advisors. It followed Valls's several unsuccessful attempts, earlier this year, to reach a consensus between parties who want New Caledonia to remain part of France and others representing the pro-independence movement. Left to right: pro-France leaders Sonia Backès, Nicolas Metzdorf, Gil Brial with FLNKS chief negotiator Emmanuel Tjibaou Photo: Nicolas Metzdorf But to reach a compromise agreement, both sides have had to make concessions. The pro-French parties, for instance, have had to endorse the notion of a State of New Caledonia or that of a double French-New Caledonian nationality. Pro-independence parties have had to accept the plan to modify the rules of eligibility to vote at local elections so as to allow more non-native French nationals to join the local electoral roll. They also had to postpone or even give up on the hard-line full sovereignty demand for now. Over the past five years and after a series of three referendums (held between 2018 and 2021) on self-determination, both camps have increasingly radicalised. This resulted in destructive and deadly riots that broke out in May 2024, resulting in 14 deaths, over €2 billion in material damage, thousands of jobless and the destruction of hundreds of businesses. Over one year later, the atmosphere in New Caledonia remains marked by a sense of tension, fear, uncertainty on both sides of the political chessboard. Since the deal was signed and made public, on 12 July, and even before flying back to New Caledonia, all parties have been targeted by a wide range of reactions from their militant bases, especially on social media. Some of the reactions have included thinly-veiled death threats in response to a perception that, on one side or another, the deal was not up to the militants' expectations and that the parties' negotiators were now regarded as "traitors". Since signing the Paris agreement, all parties have also recognised the need to "sell" and "explain" the new agreement to their respective militants. Most of the political parties represented during the talks have already announced they will hold meetings in the coming days, in what is described as "an exercise in pedagogy". "In a certain number of countries, when you sign compromises after hundreds of hours of discussions and when it's not accepted (by your militants), you lose your reputation. In our can risk your life", moderate pro-France Calédonie Ensemble leader Philippe Gomès, who was part of the negotiations, told public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie La Première on Wednesday. Pro-independence FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front) chief negotiator Emmanuel Tjibaou, as early as Saturday 12 July, was the first to envision negative repercussions back in New Caledonia. "To choose this difficult and new path also means we'll be subject to criticism. We're going to get insulted, threatened, precisely because we have chosen a different path", he told a post-signing debrief meeting hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. In 1988, Tjibaou's father, pro-independence leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou, also signed a historic deal (known as the "Matignon-Oudinot accords" with pro-France's Jacques Lafleur, under the auspices of then Prime Minister Michel Rocard. The deal largely contributed to restoring peace in New Caledonia, after a state of quasi-civil war during the second half of the 1980s. The following year, he and his closest associate, Yeiwéné Yeiwéné, were both shot dead by a man who was identified as Djubelly Wéa, a hard-line member of the pro-independence movement, who believed the signing of the 1988 deal was a "betrayal" of the indigenous Kanak people's struggle for sovereignty and independence. "Nobody has betrayed anybody, whichever party he belongs to. All of us, on both sides, have defended and remained faithful to their beliefs. We had to work and together find a common ground for the years to come, for (New) Caledonians. Now that's what we need to explain", pro-France Rassemblement-LR leader Virginie Ruffenach said. In an interview earlier this week, Valls said he was very much aware of the local tensions. "I'm aware there are risks, even serious ones. And not only political. There are threats on elections, on politicians, on the delegations. What I'm calling for is debate, confrontation of ideas and calm". "I'm aware that there are extremists out there, who may want to provoke a civil war...a tragedy is always possible. "The risk is always there. Since the accord was signed, there have been direct threats on New Caledonian leaders, pro-independence or anti-independence. We're going to act to prevent this. There cannot be death threats on social networks against pro-independence or anti-independence leaders", Valls said. Over the past few days, special protection French Police officers have already been deployed to New Caledonia to take care of politicians who took part in the Bougival talks and wish to be placed under special scrutiny. "They will be more protected than (French cabinet) ministers", French national public broadcaster France Inter reported on Tuesday.
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Still a lot of work to do following New Cal's 'historic' deal
The jury is still out on whether an historic deal signed by New Caledonia's pro and anti independence parties in Paris will bring an end to the impasse over the territory's future political status.
ABC News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Is New Caledonia's agreement, championed by Macron, a 'new chapter' or a 'betrayal'?
French President Emmanuel Macron hailed it a historic "new chapter" for New Caledonia, bringing a peaceful end to devastating turmoil that has rocked the Pacific territory. Leaders from New Caledonia, one of Australia's closest neighbours, emerged from marathon talks near Paris on Saturday with a proposal aiming to settle its recent conflict over the question of independence from France. The deal would create a "state of New Caledonia" within France, and a New Caledonian nationality. Mr Macron called it a "bet on trust", leading to a "peaceful relationship with France". But the draft agreement stops short of granting independence from France, and involves significant compromises from parties on each side of the debate. Observers say regardless of Mr Macron's enthusiasm, the deal faces a long and uncertain path before it can take effect. They also say the proposal has no clear parallels, and will need explaining to the New Caledonian public, set to vote on it in a February referendum. So, how did it get to this point, how would the agreement work, and what needs to happen for it to take effect? Pro- and anti-independence groups, along with French officials, were locked in negotiations for 10 days. They were tasked with reaching a deal settling New Caledonia's future relationship with France. Ever since a majority of New Caledonians rejected independence from France in three referendums — including in a controversial third vote boycotted by pro-independence groups — leaders had not been able to agree on the way forward. Finally, parties resumed talks in February, a milestone that was lauded as an achievement in itself after tensions spilled over into violent unrest last year. But progress was initially slow, and despite efforts from France's Overseas Minister Manuel Valls to encourage compromise, early talks in New Caledonia didn't lead to an agreement. The discussions then shifted to Bougival, near Paris, this month when Mr Macron convened and parties tried again. Again, it appeared there would be no breakthrough, according to Denise Fisher, former Australian consul-general in New Caledonia. The talks changed course on Friday afternoon, when pro-independence leaders consulted with their political bureau until the early hours of the morning, before meeting with Mr Valls at 1am. When he convened the rest of the group at 6am on Saturday, a draft agreement was made. That evening, the parties announced the accord in a gilded hall at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris. The 13-page agreement calls for a ″state of Caledonia″ within the French Republic, which would be enshrined in France's constitution and could be recognised by other nations. It would also establish a "Caledonian nationality″, letting residents combine that status with French nationality. The deal calls for an economic and financial recovery pact that would include a renewal of the territory's nickel processing capabilities. A special congress will be held to finalise next steps, which could include more sovereignty for New Caledonia over issues of international affairs, security and justice, according to excerpts published by New Caledonia's public broadcaster. The accord could also eventually allow New Caledonians to change the territory's name, flag and hymn. But it doesn't grant independence to New Caledonia, whose status as a "state" would be inscribed within French laws. While it would give it some measure of autonomy over its foreign affairs, these would have limits stopping it from clashing with France's interests overseas, experts say. One potential clash could be the destination of its vast nickel reserves — which New Caledonia might want to sell within the region, but that France wants to stay within the European Union, Pacific journalist said. And under the agreement New Caledonia residents will, in the future, be allowed to vote after living 10 years in the archipelago — one of the primary issues that ignited the territory's civil unrest last year. It would differ from deals between other Pacific nations and their former colonial rulers, such as the "free association" agreement that gives Cook Islands broader power over its affairs from New Zealand. But it remained unclear how the arrangement — creating a state within a nation state — would work, Mr Maclellan said. He said there was no clear parallel elsewhere. "There's absolutely no precedent in French law — and this whole deal is framed in French law," he said. Mr Macron — and the parties striking the deal — have been eager to promote it. Mr Valls described it as "intelligent compromise". Emmanuel Tjibaou, New Caledonia's pro-independence member of the French National Assembly and son of the late independence movement leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou, said the accord would help "us get out of the spiral of violence". He described a ''difficult path'' ahead but one that would allow Kanaks and other Caledonians to move forward together while mending divisions. On the anti-independence side, politician Nicolas Metzdorf called it a compromise born of "demanding dialogue", and described the Caledonian nationality as a "real concession''. In Paris, the proposal will need support from France's National Assembly, which will vote on enshrining the changes in the constitution. And, it will need to pass a referendum in New Caledonia, where the proposal has already met backlash from some quarters. Those who signed the draft agreement admitted during a meeting with Mr Macron on Saturday evening that they were struggling to win over opponents of the deal. New Caledonian journalist Brigitte Whaap said while members of the public were relieved there had been progress and an agreement was proposed, some members of the pro- and anti-independence groups felt differently. "They are the ones who are feeling the most sensitive to it," she said. Philippe Blaise, the anti-independence first vice-president of Southern Province government, said the agreement "crossed a red line" by recognising a "Caledonian state" and a "distinct nationality", which he said was incompatible with French unity. Some pro-independence activists also took to social media to condemn 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, said she was "surprised" by the agreement and that the signatories should "come back to share with the bases before signing". Joel Kasarerhou, president of civil society group Construire Autrement (Build Differently), called the agreement "stillborn", describing it as "lacking ambition and vision". Mr 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. The pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) said in a statement on Monday that the agreement included "major advances towards the objective of bringing together, over time, all the elements of sovereignty". "All the elements set out in the draft agreement will be submitted to our structures for approval, with a view to a collective debate on the next steps to be taken, and to informing the public." Mr Maclellan said political leaders now had to return from Paris and sell the agreement to the public. '"To ordinary New Caledonians, there's going to be a lot of questions." ABC/AFP
