Roch Wamytan: “New Caledonia is not France”

New Caledonia’s National Assembly president, Roch Wamytan, stressed the desire of the indigenous Kanak people for self-determination and sharply criticized France for “demeaning” a visit by a top Pacific leader to the French territory.

Louis Mapou, leader of the independence faction of the New Caledonian government pause The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Ministerial Committee decided to ban it from travelling to the conflict-ridden region due to differences with the Paris government.

The Pacific Islands Forum confirmed in a statement on Thursday that the planned visit by the prime ministers of the Cook Islands, Fiji and Tonga (the forum troika) had been postponed because the New Caledonian government had identified “a series of issues relating to due process and protocol”.

In an exclusive interview with New Zealand’s Pacific Radio on Wednesday, Wamitan acknowledged that the leaders’ visit was “very important” but accused the French government of hijacking the process for its own ends.

“Their presence is very important as they will lead a high-level investigation to find a sustainable solution to the crisis in Kanak/New Caledonia,” Grand Chief St. Louis said.

“Unfortunately, the Pacific Islands Forum postponed the visit as there was no consensus among the parties on the organisation and running of this office event.”

A source close to French President Emmanuel Macron said that despite Mapu withdrawing his consent for the visit, they were still pressing ahead with plans and had set up a committee to oversee it.

France’s top diplomat in the region, Veronique Roger-Lacan, also told RNZ Pacific Paris decision Although New Caledonia also has foreign policy responsibilities, no one is allowed to enter the territory.

“Paris is always open to dialogue,” she said.

But Wamitan called her comments “inappropriate” and said it was the New Caledonian government that initially “took the initiative to invite the Pacific Islands Forum delegation”.

“(Roger-Lacan’s) remarks were not appreciated because they were tantamount to telling local political leaders that France was in charge,” he said, adding: “I think it is unhealthy for senior civil servants to receive the Troika in the absence of a government president. It devalues ​​the function of our guests.”

“I ask the ambassador to be mindful of his words and actions, especially in the current context. This is a typical colonialist stance.”

In theory, the law provides for the sharing of these competencies, but in practice the interests of Pacific Islands Forum member countries take precedence over those of New Caledonia, he said.

He reiterated that the French government intends to control the subjects and objects of this mission.

“(Paris hopes) to use voters’ condemnation of the rebellion to discredit demands for independence.”

“Every crisis has lessons to learn”

Vamitan said once tensions ease and the two sides resume dialogue, leaders can “consider what to do next.”

The violence broke out on 13 May after the French parliament passed controversial constitutional amendments lifting the freeze on the electoral roll for local government elections in New Caledonia.

The riots have left more than a dozen people dead and more than 2,000 people arrested, including hundreds of arbitrary arrests and detentions.

Vamitan said that “every crisis has lessons” and people need to listen to the grassroots voices.

“The Kanak people will never give up their independence,” said Wamitan.

“Despite all the agreements and the public policies based on them, inequalities continue to become more and more evident and we must rebuild, but we must undoubtedly see things with new eyes to guarantee a lasting peace.

“For this, we must understand once and for all that New Caledonia does not belong to France. We are in the process of decolonization and the French government must complete it.”

He said there was no other choice.

“The French government must restore its impartiality in the management of the decolonization process in New Caledonia.

“It is absolutely imperative that the French government … lead our country towards complete liberation and sovereignty,” Vamitan insisted.

He claimed that Paris was “hindering” the decolonization process because of the Macron government’s bias in the process.

“They made the democratic process unfair to the Kanak/Indigenous people of New Caledonia by maintaining a third referendum while we remain indifferent to the loss of life and mourning,” he said.

However, Roger Lacan has previously stated that France’s approach was fair despite holding traditional mourning ceremonies during the third and final independence referendum (held under the Agreement) and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

UN human rights experts express alarm

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights A statement was issued on Wednesdayexpressing shock at the plight of the indigenous Kanak people.

“We are particularly concerned about allegations of the existence of heavily armed settler militias opposed to independence,” the experts said.

“The authorities have taken no steps to disband and prosecute these militias, which raises serious rule of law concerns.”

The UN experts urged the French Government to safeguard the rule of law and continue to cooperate with the Special Committee on Decolonization and the Kanak customary authorities to respect the irreversible principle of the Nouméa Accord.

They said the Noumea Accord, signed in 1998 between the French government and the independence movement and anti-independence parties led by New Caledonia’s indigenous Kanak people, outlined a gradual and irreversible transfer of power from France to New Caledonia, which would trigger a series of referendums on self-determination.

“Until New Caledonia achieves full sovereignty in line with France’s commitments, the agreements reached under the Accord must be constitutionally guaranteed,” they said.

“The attempt to abrogate the Noumea Accord seriously undermines their human rights and the integrity of the entire decolonization process.”

“The French government has failed to respect the fundamental rights of participation, consultation and free, prior and informed consent of the Kanak indigenous peoples and their institutions, including the Customary Senate,” the experts warned.