New Caledonia crisis: “We are meant to be united!” says Patrice Godin, member of the National Dialogue Collective

On 19 June, New Caledonian civil society members came together to promote the restoration of peace through dialogue. Road obstacles have prevented them from reaching the northern provinces. Over the past month, most of their meetings have been held in the municipalities of Greater Nouméa.

READ ALSO : La fForming a “national collective” to resume dialogue

The idea of ​​coming together to form a society is not an abandoned idea.

• Willingness to form a community

Members of the collective met with people living nearby, people at the dam, people from all communities, from all opinions, trying to gather grievances, anger, and pain.

“At this moment, our operations are limited to the greater Noumea area.” In the interests of free speech, these meetings will not be made public. “What we actually felt in the meetings with the actors was that there was a desire for dialogue, that the idea of ​​forming a society together was not an abandoned idea, and that this was our collective goal. The day after May 13 was formed to help achieve this dialogue.”

• Finding a path to dialogue

How to find the path of dialogue? According to anthropologists:It is the politicians’ responsibility to find it. There will be a political debate. It is not their responsibility. On the other hand, the collective will do everything possible to give civil society a voice: the bosses, the unions, the employees, the consumers, everyone. ”

People are hungry for dialogue, and the idea of ​​creating a society together is not an idea that has been abandoned.

• A feeling of unfairness, a misunderstood youth

Collective members have the opportunity to have young people’s voices heard.”Young people who are increasingly urbanized. This is also one of the areas we have to think about in the coming months. We see that most of the young people in Kanak and Oceania in general are urbanized. Therefore, she has different benchmarks, references and expectations than her elders: her father and grandfather. ”

According to anthropologists, “It is important to bring these issues to the table, not to avoid them. We must provide ourselves with the means to collectively reflect on all issues that have been mishandled or ignored.“”.

Today, she feels misunderstood and a victim of injustice. You have to hear these cries. Not just these young people, but society as a whole needs to understand. It’s important to put these issues on the table, not avoid them.

• Emmanuel Tjibaou enters politics

Patrice Godin worked alongside the late independence leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou. In the legislative elections that ended last July, Emmanuel Tjibaou was elected. The second independentist since Roque Pichot Elected between 1964 and 1986. This was a historic election, with Caledonian Union senators and representatives entering Parliament for the first time.

“For those who knew Emmanuel Tjibaou, he was first and foremost a researcher and a cultural actor. He was committed to being politically vocal, in line with his cultural vision, his cultural status, and his vision as an independentist, a vision that carried on his father’s legacy.”

• The legality of the ballot box

Anthropologists remain confident thatWhen someone claims to support dialogue, practice will tell what role MPs will play in the coming months in resuming dialogue. The flag bearers affirm their beliefs but say we are not radical. That is what the legislative elections showed. “

“Everyone has a fairly clear position. We will see if they are capable of discussion, if they are capable of changing the situation in New Caledonia in relation to the political system they belong to, if they manage to make their voice heard from New Caledonia to Paris 1. One thing is certain: they were elected.

• Is New Caledonia’s pluralistic society in danger?

She is always in danger. As early as the 1960s, New Caledonia inherited a desire to live together, which was marked by the First Caledonian Union, which was established after the Second World War. With the seizure of power by the New Caledonian Government in 1963, this common life was called into question by the Jaquineau Law and the Bilot Law in 1969.

In meetings in recent weeks, anthropologists have felt that:Despite what is happening now, despite the difficulties ahead, despite what we can consider the failures of the past, the opportunities that have undoubtedly been missed, this society wants to form a society precisely. We are destined to unite“”.