An Independence Referendum in the South Pacific

For France it's a remote outpost and a remnant of their once great empire. For the native Kanak people, it's their home. On 4 October there will be a referendum on independence in New Caledonia and the Kanak people will have the chance to end French colonial rule in this part of the South Pacific.

The native Kanak people (who prefer the name ‘Kanaky’ rather than New Caledonia for their country) are overwhelmingly pro-independence, but are a minority of the population. They are outnumbered by a combination of people who are either French-born or the descendants of French settlers. Others known as the ‘Pied-Noirs’ were white people born in Algeria during French colonial rule, and relocated after Algerian Independence. People with such ties to France are generally ardent in their opposition to Independence.

Kanak people have had to deal with racism from settlers, and still suffer from institutional neglect and oppression. France also continues to strip the islands of its natural resources. New Caledonia is home to 25% of the world’s nickel resources. It is even said that nickel from New Caledonia was used by the French in the construction of the Eiffel Tower. French exploitation of the island's natural resources is a big reason in itself why the islands should go for independence.

During the 19th century the Kanaks were enslaved and many were sent to Australia and North America. Those who remained on the islands were moved into reservations in rugged mountainous areas. Kanak revolts were dealt with severely by the French. The leader of one uprising in 1878 was decapitated and his head put on display in the National Museum of Natural History in Paris.

It was during the 1970s that the Kanaks began to organise a concerted campaign for independence. The situation descended into an armed conflict between the French and Kanak people. France accelerated efforts to weaken the strength of the independence movement by encouraging more French people to relocate to the islands, strikingly similar to the 16th and 17th century British plantation strategy in Ireland. The conflict was brought to an end with the signing of peace agreements, which paved the way for Independence referenda; in 2018, 2020 (due to the failure of the last one) and 2022 (if this year's one fails).

In 2018 the islands rejected independence by approximately 56.7% to 43.3%. The breakdown of results by local area was striking in that communities with big indigenous populations voted massively in favour of independence, while areas dominated by French people were overwhelmingly against it.

It's quite possible that this weekend’s results will mirror those of 2018, however it still remains to be seen. And if there is even a small improvement on the 2018 result it might show a trend of a majority favouring independence by 2022.

le Ciarán Ó Meachair, Oifigeach Idirnáisiúnta