The main independence party in New Caledonia, the FLNKS, asked Emmanuel Macron to explicitly renounce convening Congress to adopt the contested electoral reform at the origin of the current crisis, according to a letter consulted by AFP.
The Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) urges the head of state to be “explicit in his remarks by clearly stating that he will not convene the Versailles Congress and is therefore abandoning (the) constitutional reform”.
“Such an announcement will allow […] to ease current tensions for a resumption of discussions on the future of New Caledonia”, estimates the political office of the FLNKS, which brings together the vast majority of independence movements in the French archipelago in the South Pacific.
Marginalizing the Kanak indigenous population
The vote by the Senate and then the National Assembly on the constitutional bill reforming the Caledonian electorate for the provincial elections arouses hostility from the independence camp, which believes that the text will marginalize the indigenous Kanak population.
This reform fueled violent riots which left seven dead, hundreds injured and considerable damage costing an estimated one billion euros. During his lightning visit to the archipelago on May 23, Emmanuel Macron indicated that there would be “no forceful passage” to have the text adopted but no “going back” either.
“These remarks unfortunately remain misunderstood on the ground, since they in no way guarantee the abandonment of the contentious constitutional reform,” underlines the FLNKS in its letter. “This incomprehension poses a real difficulty and prevents our activists from being receptive to the call for calm and appeasement,” they continue.
According to the authorities, the city of Nouméa has returned “entirely” under the control of the police, but, despite the clearing operations, roadblocks persist and the independence activists remain determined to continue their mobilization. The international airport has been closed since the first violence and the night curfew implemented throughout the territory maintained until June 10.