France-New Caledonia stoush over fact-finding mission

[Pelican Press 0]

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France-New Caledonia stoush over fact-finding mission

A regional fact-finding mission to New Caledonia is set to be deferred, watering down hopes of a breakthrough to the political impasse at this month’s Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.

Prime ministers and presidents from the region, including Anthony Albanese, are meeting in Tonga next week for the annual gathering of leaders from the blue continent.

Top of the agenda is the situation in New Caledonia, which descended into ********* in May following voting reforms by colonial power France.

Weeks of diplomacy had resolved that the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) would send three prime ministers – of Fiji, Tonga and Cook Islands – to Noumea to discuss sensitivities with key parties.

It was hoped those talks could take place prior to the PIF Leaders Meeting beginning on August 26, but with just a week remaining it appears unlikely.

Radio NZ and other regional outlets report tension between the governments of France and New Caledonia over the mission.

Representatives of France and New Caledonia will be in Tonga, but only New Caledonia is a full PIF member and has a seat at the table for key meetings.

The New Caledonian government contains pro-independence figures, including President Louis Mapou and President of the Congress Roch Wamytan.

“(The) French state decided to control alone (the) subject and object of the mission as well as its future conclusion,” Mr Wamytan told Radio NZ.

“French state wants to see what will come out of this mission and wants the mission only to denounce the ********* in New Caledonia.

“We consider this as an unacceptable form of humiliation … our Oceanian home, the PIF, cannot be so belittled.

“This is the reason why President Mapou refused to endorse this backward-looking behaviour by the administrative power towards a non-self-governing territory.”

A source close to the French state said arrangements for the visit had been made and it remained possible this week should the parties choose.

Ten people have been ******* in the unrest. French President Emmanuel Macron visit in May, along with hundreds of police from mainland France to quell the disorder.

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