Four people have died and hundreds have been arrested amid recent protests in New Caledonia, a French overseas island territory in the Pacific Ocean.
The protests followed a recent Bill in the French parliament, aimed at giving voting rights to French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for more than 10 years.
The Kanaks generally favour independence, while European-origin groups and other immigrants want French rule to continue.
AdvertisementThe Bill will allow French residents, who have lived for more than 10 years in New Caledonia, to cast votes in the provincial elections.
However, others argued for the French residents’ rights.
Four people have died and hundreds have been arrested amid recent protests in New Caledonia, a French overseas island territory in the Pacific Ocean. France announced a state of emergency there on Wednesday (May 15) for at least the next 12 days.
The protests followed a recent Bill in the French parliament, aimed at giving voting rights to French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for more than 10 years. This sparked a backlash among other, older residents. However, the Bill was passed on Wednesday and now awaits presidential assent.
France has controlled the island since the mid-19th century, resulting in a significant French population. Why has the Bill caused this reaction now? We explain.
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First, how did France come to rule New Caledonia?
New Caledonia is located around 1,500 km to the east of Australia. Indigenous groups, specifically the Melanesian Kanak people, have inhabited it for a few thousand years. Western colonial interest in the island began with the arrival of British explorer James Cook in 1774. In 1853, it was annexed by France – beginning a long period of control over the island.
New Caledonia, located to the east of Australia, on map. (Screengrab/Google Maps) New Caledonia, located to the east of Australia, on map. (Screengrab/Google Maps)
France initially used it as a penal colony for exiling its prisoners, similar to how neighbouring Australia was used by the British.
According to a 2023 article from Paco Milhiet, then a Visiting Fellow at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) of Singapore, successive waves of French, European and Asian immigration followed.
“After living through discrimination and land spoliation under the colonial authority, the Kanak people gradually gained access to civil rights after the Second World War. However, they remained largely on the margins of economic development,” Milhiet wrote.
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In modern times, the Kanaks have often attempted to protest French rule, even as other countries in the region gradually gained independence from colonial rule. Things took a volatile turn in the 1980s, with extremist actors also playing a role.
This led to transitional agreements being signed for the country’s future political and economic systems. In 1998, the Nouméa Accord was signed between France and New Caledonia for granting limited autonomy to the island.
Further, three referendums have been held – in 2018, 2020 and 2021 – on the question of independence. In all three cases, the majority voted against independence.
However, in the 270,000-strong island, with 41% Melanesian Kanaks and 24% people of European origin (mostly French), views on politics are greatly dictated by ethnicity. The Kanaks generally favour independence, while European-origin groups and other immigrants want French rule to continue.
What does the new Bill say?
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The Bill will allow French residents, who have lived for more than 10 years in New Caledonia, to cast votes in the provincial elections. Many pro-independence Kanaks see this as a possible marginalisation of their votes’ significance. According to a Le Monde report, several left-wing French MPs also criticised the Bill in Parliament.
However, others argued for the French residents’ rights. “It is no longer acceptable that today, the proportion of voters excluded from the right to vote in provincial and congressional elections is close to 20%,” MP Philippe Gosselin of the Republicans party was quoted as saying by Le Monde.
Also, the island has strategic significance for France in terms of its location. With heating US-China competition and rivalry, the Pacific has emerged as a zone where both countries are competing for influence. While France is a US ally, it has also maintained ties with China, with Chinese President Xi Jinping visiting the country just a few days ago.
According to Reuters, French President Emmanuel Macron has said he will “delay” his approval of the Bill, and invite representatives of New Caledonia to discuss a settlement. “However, he said a new agreement must be reached by June, or he will sign it into law,” the report said.
