New Caledonia crisis: French opposition MP asks Paris to decolonize its Pacific territory

By Esra Taskin

ARNOUVILLE, France (AA) - A French opposition lawmaker has urged President Emmanuel Macron's government to decolonize New Caledonia, its South Pacific territory, where violent protests erupted in mid-May after Paris passed a constitutional reform aimed at reducing the indigenous Kanaks' electoral influence, killing at least seven people.

Carlos Martens Bilongo, a deputy in the National Assembly from the Unbowed France party, believes the South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia, which has been under French control since 1853, should be decolonized.

"The bill should be withdrawn, Congress should not meet to approve it, and a genuine dialogue should be sought to restore calm.

"I believe it is possible, but success necessitates a long and ongoing dialogue. Regardless of our differences, I believe we must work toward decolonizing these lands," Bilongo told Anadolu, referring to New Caledonia comprising dozens of islands in the South Pacific.

New Caledonia gained autonomy through the Noumea Agreement in 1998, which restricted voting rights to those who resided on the island before 1998 and their descendants to prevent the indigenous population from becoming a minority.

The indigenous Kanaks believe the French government's constitutional reform initiative violates the 1988 Noumea Accord. The proposed changes would allow French citizens who have lived on the island for at least 10 years to vote in local elections.

On May 13, protests began in response to a French constitutional reform that would marginalize the indigenous Kanak people in elections. Police and gendarmes were deployed throughout the island to quell the Kanaks' legitimate demands, particularly in Noumea, the capital.

Two days later, the New Caledonia administration banned TikTok and declared a 12-day state of emergency. According to French official sources, seven people were killed and more than 370 were detained during the unrest.

- 'This land was free 170 years ago and yet was colonized later'

Bilongo's party opposed the reform in parliament, arguing it exacerbated tensions in New Caledonia.

He stressed that New Caledonia is one of 17 regions around the world that should be decolonized.

"France has always maintained a special dialogue with its overseas territories, particularly with Kanaky. This land was free 170 years ago but was colonized later," Bilongo said, emphasizing the importance of adding more voters to the electoral register for local elections.

The Kanaks boycotted New Caledonia's independence referendum in 2021 due to mourning traditions related to losses from the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted, criticizing the French government's decision to hold the referendum despite the extraordinary circumstances around the world.

- 'This reform endangers 40 years of reconciliation'

The French opposition lawmaker said after President Macron left the island on May 22, another person died, despite residents' desire to hear from him regarding the withdrawal of the constitutional reforms.

"The Matignon and Noumea agreements in 1988 and 1998 fostered a sense of reconciliation and shared destiny among the people. But this reform jeopardizes 40 years of reconciliation," he remarked.

Bilongo expressed concern for New Caledonian children attending school amid the cultural chaos, questioning how they would forge a common destiny in such an environment.

He noted that even Sonia Lagarde, Noumea's mayor from the ruling Renaissance party, opposed the reform and was not consulted on it by Paris.

He stressed that there must be a political solution to the island’s situation, adding that Lagarde believed politicians' approach was incorrect and was exacerbating the situation.

- 'This is almost a civil war'

Bilongo stressed the importance of New Caledonia's progress toward independence, saying traveling between Paris and the Pacific territory takes 24 hours and requires adjustment to different time zones and lifestyles.

He believed that New Caledonia could easily establish relations with neighboring islands, which would be preferable to having Paris make decisions for the island.

He expressed hope for peace and calm on the island, saying under the current circumstances, he doubted two houses of the French parliament would meet to give final approval to the constitutional reform that would marginalize the indigenous Kanak people in elections.

"We saw the images. This is almost a civil war," Bilongo said, adding that the damage to the territory amounted to €200 million (approximately $216 million).

*Writing by Gizem Nisa Cebi in Istanbul