French territory, New Caledonia, set to vote for independence on Sunday
People in New Caledonia, the French islands in the Pacific, are set to vote in a referendum on full independence from France.
More than 170,000 Caledonians will go to the polls on Sunday to say whether they “want New Caledonia to attain full sovereignty and become independent.”
Support for independence, however, seems to be largely split along ethnic lines, with indigenous Kanaks, who support independence and non-indigenous population, including those of European background.
The territory is home to 269,000 people, 39 percent of whom are indigenous Melanesians, known locally as Kanaks. Europeans make up 27 percent with other minority groups including Wallisians, Polynesians and Indonesians.
The Kanaks say they are marginalized and that they support the referendum to regain their rights, land and culture. Opponents of independence, however, say the New Caledonia, aided by French subsidies, has a higher standard of living than neighboring Vanuatu— a sovereign nation northeast of Caledonia.
Few expect that the Sunday’s referendum leads to Caledonia's independence with opinion polls suggesting between 69 and 75 percent will vote against it.
Hundreds of security personnel have been stationed around the island to avert any possible violence.
Results are expected to be released on Monday as French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe will be visiting the capital Noumea.
In the event of independence, France will continue to provide services and finance to the territory for a limited time. It will then pass a law that “will mark the end of New Caledonia’s membership” of the republic.
It will no longer use the French flag and its proposed name would be ‘Kanaky Nouvelle Caledonie’, recognizing both the Indigenous and colonial history.
President Emmanuel Macron has previously said he hopes that New Caledonia will remain in France, but said that his government will not take sides in the referendum.
‘Arab Nelson Mandela’ released after 40 years in France
Israeli fans clash with French supporters at Paris football match
Protests held in Paris against pro-Israel gala organized by far-right figures
VIDEO | Struggles of Palestinian women amidst war, displacement
VIDEO | Hezbollah rains attack drones down on elite Israeli brigade
VIDEO | US biased mediation fails
Leader: All captains of criminal, Zionist, terrorist gang must be prosecuted
Iran further raises its oil prices for Chinese buyers: Report
Iran to launch major pressure-boosting projects in South Pars
VIDEO | Escalation amid ceasefire talks
EU's Borrell says ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders binding
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
