Unconditionally in favor of the Kanak people’s right to self-determination

Unconditionally in favor of the Kanak people’s right to self-determination Kanaky – the land of the Kanak people – has been under French colonization since 1853. At the end of the 1980s, the colonized Kanak people obtained, at least on paper, recognition of their right to self-determination, and a freeze on the electoral body for regional elections, to prevent them from becoming a minority in their own country. But today, the Macron-Darmanin government wants to impose an « unfreezing » of the electorate, to integrate 25,000 new voters (essentially colonists from mainland France). Macron’s stated aim, in July 2023: to permanently attach the island to France, secure its hold on its nickel reserves and develop the French military base.

On April 13, two demonstrations were held in Nouméa, each bringing together some 15,000 participants (representing over 10% of the island’s population). On one side, the settlers, decked out in tricolours and chanting « On est chez nous » (« This is our home« … 17,000 kilometers from Paris!), reminiscent of the « ultras » of « French Algeria ». On the other, in their thousands, the Kanak people and their political organizations and trade unions – as well as Melanesians and Europeans – demonstrated against the State’s « passage en force », brandishing the blue-red-green-yellow flag of national independence.

For the French Parti des Travail- leurs (Workers’ Party), the only position consistent with democracy is: against the « unfreezing » of the electorate, unconditionally alongside the Kanak people for their right to self- determination.

Dominique Ferré